Law faculties to train own lawyers, twice a year bar exam under new Legal Education Bill-Dafeamkpor

Ghana may soon witness a dramatic overhaul in the way lawyers are trained, as a new Legal Education Bill heads to Parliament with promises to democratize and decentralize the process.

Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, described the current legal training structure as monopolistic and plagued by corruption. A lawyer himself, the MP declared that bold reforms are on the way.

Dafeamekpor revealed that the effort to transform legal education began as far back as 2018, when entry into the Ghana School of Law became, in his words, “acrimonious, contentious, and eventually corrupted.”

According to him, evidence emerged that some individuals were admitted into the law school without sitting for the required entrance exams — a breach he says was confirmed by the General Legal Council’s own disciplinary committee.

"Eleven students were admitted through the back door, and that was only the figure put out to minimise damage. My sources say the actual number was over 33," he asserted. "Yet, to date, the public is unaware of what actions were taken against them."

Key Provisions of the Proposed Bill

The new bill, he explained, will empower every accredited institution offering academic LLB programs to also run professional law training, effectively ending the Ghana School of Law’s long-standing monopoly.

Under the proposed structure:

The faculty will train law students in both academic and professional disciplines.

All students, regardless of institution, will sit a centralized bar examination.

The bar exams will be conducted twice annually — in January and July — with successful candidates being called to the bar in the following months.

“This is not just a reform; it’s a legal education revolution,” Dafeamekpor stated. “We want accessibility and fairness. If you pass the bar, you’re called. Simple.”

Ghana School of Law to Compete, Not Dominate

The Ghana School of Law, under the new regime, would become just one of many institutions training future lawyers.

“It must compete,” he said. “It will train its own students and prepare them for the bar like everyone else. No more gatekeeping.”

He questioned the logic behind institutions being labeled “law faculties” when they’re restricted from training fully qualified lawyers.

“What is the essence of a law school if you can’t train a lawyer?”

Broadening the Legal Profession’s Role

Dafeamekpor was quick to dispel the common belief that all lawyers must practice in court.

“Not everyone who is called to the bar ends up in litigation. Many enter corporate law, governance, or advisory roles. We need that diversity.”

He emphasized the importance of legally trained minds in public institutions and assemblies across the country to guide critical policy and legal decisions.

A Promise to Deliver — Fast

Asked when the bill might be passed, Dafeamekpor was confident, noting that it might even be considered under a certificate of urgency.

He also revealed that he has written a detailed article on the subject, set to be published on Thursday, outlining the full rationale and roadmap for the proposed transformation.