How I Got a First Class at the Nigerian Law School

Achieving a first class at the Nigerian Law School is no easy feat. It demands strategy, consistency, the right mindset, and God’s grace. As someone who recently earned a first class in the 2% of 7,000+ students while running 16562 expressions while at it, I thought it important to share a practical guide that helped me on this journey. So whether you’re preparing for Law School or currently navigating it, these steps can make a real difference. 

Before you continue, I need you to note that this is my Practical and Personal Guide. I also want to mention that I gathered some of these tips from past students, and I applied to help me get a first class. I shared most of these tips on my LinkedIn Page here and you can connect with me.

1. Master the Basics Early

• Civil Litigation: Get Dewan’s textbook, it will clarify many confusing areas.

• Criminal Litigation: Focus on understanding charges, the examination of witnesses, and how to tender documents.

• Drafting: Draft every day. Buy an A4 pack, draft on paper, and file your drafts. It builds your confidence and precision over time.

2. Practice Past Questions Religiously

• Solve past questions from 2015 to 2025. Finish your post-externship syllabus during externship.

• Get 60-leaves notebooks or higher education. Practice answering past questions in the book.

• Jot down your answers; Law School has a pattern you must master. Past questions helped me so much!

3. Build the Right Environment

• Surround yourself with positive, brilliant people who support your growth.

• Your conversations should naturally revolve around Law School, books, and success strategies.

• Join study groups where you can discuss tasks, correct mistakes, and share knowledge.

4. Read Smart, Not Just Hard

• Always be reading — even during breaks. Read textbooks, Cundy Smith, and lecture notes interchangeably. I only had textbook for Civil though and my CAMA 2020.

• Before class: Preview topics.

• After class: Review and refine your notes.• Sleep at least 5 hours every night to stay sharp during lectures. This advice helped me a lot.

5. Leverage Spiritual Guidance

• Hold on to God. Work closely with the Holy Spirit — even regarding what and how to read.• Set clear visions. I made a vision board with my goal of earning a first class, I’d implore you do the same. Visualize and affirm your dream daily.Understand that Law School is beyond just reading. You must strategize. 

In my next posts, I’d share other tips with a link to my externship timetable and daily schedule in Law School to guide you on how to run yours.Let me know if this helped you and if you have any questions, ask in the comments and I’d try to answer them in my next posts.