Legal Clinics and Professional Skills Development in Nigeria

Abstract

The educational sector has a direct bearing on the social, economic, political and scientific development of a nation hence there have been increased anxieties, in recent times, about the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s educational system. The growing concerns stem from the quality of our university graduates, which has become less than satisfactory and the law graduates are no exception. Thus there is a growing demand for reforms not only in the training of lawyers but of the entire educational system in Nigeria.

The declining professional skills of lawyers has taken an alarming trend over the last decade with the result that, clients most often do not get value for money paid for legal services and society does not also feel the much needed impact of lawyers. The present situation is attributed to a number of factors ranging from inadequate curriculum, inadequate manpower and training facilities both in the universities and the Nigerian Law School, to unfavourable government educational policies.