already a lawyer in the us, how can i be a lawyer in nigeria?

by Rubie O'Connell 5 min read

(1) Have complete a law degree of an approved university. (2) Have completed the course of professional training at the Nigerian Law School. (3) Have produced a qualifying certificate to the Benchers (4) Have been enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court.

Full Answer

What is the role of a lawyer in Nigeria?

At the end of the training,you would sit for the Bar part 2 Examination and if you pass you would be called to the Nigerian Bar. In Nigeria ,a Lawyer practises as a solicitor and Barrister.

How do you become a lawyer?

Alison Monahan wrote about legal careers for The Balance Careers. She is a lawyer and founder of The Girl's Guide to Law School. Most lawyers in the U.S. follow a typical path to practice: law school, then the bar exam, plus a few additional requirements. But some law professionals are trained abroad.

Is being a lawyer in Nigeria a walk in the park?

For Jessica, it was a rude awakening that being a lawyer in Nigeria is not a walk in the park – a totally different experience from her university days, “Law school was hellish. Being in Lagos campus had its pros and cons. We always had a lot of tasks, deadlines and many other things going on at the same time.

How do I become a foreign-trained attorney?

All other foreign-trained attorneys must complete a Master of Laws (LLM) degree program that meets certain qualifications before they can sit for the bar exam.

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How to become a lawyer in Nigeria?

First, you will have to study the law course in any of the Nigerian universities offering law as a course and afterward proceed for an additional course in the Nigerian Law School.

What are the advantages of being a lawyer in Nigeria?

One of the advantage of being a lawyer is that they have vast variety of jobs, but however, their stipends may not be much compared to what medical doctors collect as salary in Nigeria. Legal practitioners in Nigeria are paid based on the duration of working experience and also dependent on the type of organization they are working for.

What do government lawyers do?

Having a career here is preferred for one reason that government lawyers work with the government in formulating legal issues. They work for state lawyers general, open safeguards, head prosecutors, and the courts. And at the federal level, they examine cases for the Ministry of Justice and other government lawful organizations.

What is a legal advisor?

A Legal Advisor is basically a legal professional who gives legal direction or advises to an enterprise. They additionally give general legitimate exhortation about corporate choices in regards to corporate development, mergers or different practices. Legal Advisors work in the branches of the courts as a private adviser.

What is a legal analyst?

Legal Analyst. Legal is yet another career opportunity in the law industry. These lawyers are legal experts who back or help attorneys or groups of lawyers in exercising their functions. They lead legal research, collect archives and proofing, keep up databases and track, arrange, survey and record reports of the cases.

What is a barrister?

Barrister. A Barrister is more like a legal advisor and they have special functions which involves: taking cases for courts and councils, drafting legal proceedings, looking into thinking, theory and history of law, and offering master legal thoughts to the law court.

What is a solicitor?

A solicitor is a legal expert who manages more issues in the court of law. A aspirant who wishes to see into being a solicitor must have legal characterized capabilities. They will have to study the law course in the college before going to the law school to be trained.

What to do if you don't become an attorney?

If You Don't Become an Attorney. You can also use your foreign law degree in a number of ways without becoming a fully-admitted state bar member. One common option is to become a foreign legal consultant (FLC). An FLC is a foreign-trained lawyer who has set up a limited practice in the U.S. Thirty-one states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S.

What are the requirements for a law degree in Georgia?

Georgia imposes two requirements: You must have received your education from a school that was sanctioned or recognized by your foreign government, and you must also be admitted to practice law there. Washington requires that the law school you choose for your LLM degree must be approved by the Board of Governors.

How many hours of LLM do you need to sit for the bar in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has permitted foreign-trained students with LLM degrees to sit for the bar since 2012. The degree must include 700 minutes of instruction per semester credit hour and must be completed in no less than two 13-week semesters.

How long is the bar exam?

The bar exam typically takes place over two days. The first day is a multiple-choice test covering laws that aren't necessarily unique to any one state. The second day's test focuses on the law in the state in which you want to practice.

Is it easier to get into the bar in California than in New York?

Like New York, the California State Bar has relatively liberal admission standards for foreign lawyers. In fact, it might be even easier to sit for the bar exam here than it is in New York.

Do you have to pass the multistate exam to become a lawyer?

Most states require that you pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam as well. Law school studies in the U.S. are rigorous, and students come out with a specific set of skills and a knowledge set that helps them study for and pass the bar.

What is the process of becoming a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer in the US is a complicated process, particularly for foreign nationals. One of the most important steps in the process is the bar exam. A bar examination is a test intended to determine whether or not a candidate is qualified to practice law in a specific jurisdiction.

How long is the bar exam?

The bar exam is taken in several parts over at least two days. Most states will dedicate one day to the Multistate Bar Examination, a multiple choice exam covering topics not specific to the law of any one state, such as Contracts, Torts, Property, Constitutional Law, and Evidence.

Can foreign lawyers sit for the bar in New York?

In New York, one of the jurisdictions most open to foreign lawyers, this would allow foreign lawyers to sit for the bar without being forced to complete any further law school study in the US. Fortunately for anyone taking the bar as a foreign lawyer, preparing for the bar exam is a typical—if daunting— challenge.

Foreign lawyers in Canada: How to become Accredited by the NCA?

Many foreign-trained lawyers find themselves unable to practice law in Canada because their credentials are not recognized.

What is the National Committee on Accreditation?

The National Committee on Accreditation (or NCA) is a standing committee of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC). According to the FLSC website:

The NCA Assessment

Internationally trained lawyers can apply for the NCA assessment at any time, even prior to coming to Canada (citizenship and residency are not looked at during the assessment process). FLSC identifies the following formalities that are necessary in order for the NCA assessment to be processed:

After the Assessment

Each application is looked at on an individual basis, evaluating candidates’ experience and qualifications, the length of the program and subjects of studies, academic performance, the type of legal system where education was acquired, and other similar criteria.

The NCA Exams

Applicants that received their NCA assessment can register for the NCA examinations. Each examination follows an open-book, paper-and-pen, pass-or-fail format, and lasts approximately 3 hours. Candidates must pre-register for each exam session, and they can do that as early as 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the exam.

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State-Specific Regulations—New York

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The New York Board of Law Examiners administers the New York bar exam and has dedicated requirements just for foreign-trained lawyers who want to practice there. A foreign-trained lawyer will fall into one of two categories in this state: Their foreign educations will transfer to the U.S. system, or they won't. Education will us…
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California Requirements

  • Like New York, the California State Bar has relatively liberal admission standards for foreign lawyers. In fact, it might be even easier to sit for the bar exam here than it is in New York. Foreign-trained lawyers who have been admitted to practice law in a jurisdiction outside the U.S. are often eligible to take the bar exam in California without completing any additional requirements. A for…
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Other States

  • Foreign-trained lawyers can gain admission to the bar in 34 other jurisdictions as well, all with varying rules. In almost all cases, the ABA must first review and approve your foreign law degree. This can take a year or more. You can sit for that state's bar if the ABA gives you a nod of approval and you meet the state's other requirements. Only V...
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Go Back to School If Necessary

  • Completing the specified graduate education in your area of study should be high on your priority list in the states where only an LLM is required. The states that allow foreign-trained attorneys to sit for the bar exam after earning an LLM require specific courses and subjects covered, so look up the requirements in each state before settling on an LLM program. Some states offer acceler…
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The Bar Exam

  • The bar exam typically takes place over two days. The first day is a multiple-choice test covering laws that aren't necessarily unique to any one state. The second day's test focuses on the law in the state in which you want to practice. Most states require that you pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam as well. Law school studies in the U.S. are rigorous, and stude…
See more on thebalancecareers.com

If You Don't Become An Attorney

  • You can also use your foreign law degree in a number of ways withoutbecoming a fully-admitted state bar member. One common option is to become a foreign legal consultant (FLC). An FLC is a foreign-trained lawyer who has set up a limited practice in the U.S. Thirty-one states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have foreign legal consultant rules in place. There are also …
See more on thebalancecareers.com