Pedagogical Renaissance: A Disquisition on the Changing Face of Legal Education in Contemporary Nigeria

Abstract

Legal Education in Nigeria has undergone radical transformations since its formal establishment in 1962. In this article, the authors present an expository discussion on the nature, history, structure, regulation, objectives and impact of legal education in Nigeria. The discourse begins with an examination of the conceptual foundations and a historical overview of the evolution of legal education in Nigeria, particularly exploring the multidimensional nature of legal education and key roles and contributions of central regulatory institutions and agencies, including thew Council of Legal Education, the Nigerian Law School, the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the Body of Benchers, among others. The paper then proceeds to analyse both adjectival and substantive components of legal education, highlighting its socio-economic, ethical and professional significance. Employing descriptive and analytical research methodologies, the study evaluates the contributions of legal education to the development of the legal profession, law practice, law reforms, democratic governance, the rule of law, and the overall progress of Nigeria. While acknowledging that a pedagogical renaissance is underway, the authors advocate for a more robust and effective regulation and comprehensive re-imagination of Nigeria’s legal education system to ensure a more effective alignment with prevailing global standards and international best practices. This study is foundational in nature, setting the stage for the second part of the discourse, which is dedicated entirely to articulating specific reform proposals and pragmatic strategies for addressing persistent challenges facing legal education in Nigeria.