Accra: On Thursday, March 26, 2026, passed the Legal Education Bill, paving the way for major reforms in Ghana's legal training system.
According to Ghana Web, the bill, which now awaits presidential assent to become law, introduces significant changes to how aspiring lawyers are trained and prepared for the Ghana Bar, in fulfilment of a campaign promise by President John Dramani Mahama.
Many legal experts, including US-based legal luminary Prof Stephen Kwaku Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, and Prof H Kwasi Prempeh of CDD-Ghana, have touted the passage of the bill, stating it breaks the monopoly of legal education in the country. They have noted that if the bill becomes law, it would address the structural bottlenecks and limited capacity in Ghana's legal education system, which have historically restricted access for law graduates aspiring to become lawyers.
The new bill proposes several key changes to the current legal education framework in Ghana. One of the most significant reforms is the abolition of the Ghana School of Law system, often referred to as 'Makola'. Currently, those wishing to practice law in Ghana must complete their training at this institution. However, under the new bill introduced by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine Akuritinga, prospective lawyers would no longer be required to attend the Ghana School of Law after obtaining their law degree (LLB).
Instead, the new system mandates three years of legal education to obtain the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Following this, LLB graduates will be required to participate in the clinical legal programme, known as the Bar Practice Course, at their respective institutions for an additional academic year.
The final step in becoming a lawyer under the new bill is passing the National Bar Examination. Dr Ayine explained that all LLB graduates who complete the bar practice course will be eligible to take this exam. He likened the new process to that of accountants, where once qualified to write the examination, candidates can sit for the exam administered by the Chartered Institute of Accountants, and upon passing, become chartered accountants. This reform aims to broaden access to legal education in the country.