TEACHING LARGE CLASSES IN THE LAW SCHOOL: LESSONSAND CHALLENGES FROM THE NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL

Abstract

The Nigerian Law School is the largest law school in Africa. It started the training of lawyers in 1963. Annual enrollment in the school currently averages 5000. Students of the Nigerian Law School are graduates of the law faculties of Nigerian universities and universities in other jurisdictions. Attendance at the Nigerian Law School for Bar vocational training is a mandatory requirement for qualification to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the legal profession. The school runs a multi campus arrangement training students in subjects on the practice of law. The smallest class has about 300 students, with the largest having about 1500 students. Whilst there are arguments against teaching law in large classes, the experiences and lessons from the Nigerian Law School demonstrate how the institution has adapted successfully. Some of these include uniformity in the instructions received by students; and it is also cost effective. In highlighting some challenges, the advantages of the Nigerian arrangement will demonstrate peculiarities that should be of interest to experiences in other jurisdictions.