The status of the Ghana Law School Entrance Exams and current routes to being a lawyer

The Ghana Law School Entrance Exams remain a central component of the admission process under the Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170). Section 45 of the Act mandates that any institution running a law program must set minimum standards for admission to assess a student's capacity to practice law effectively, and Section 45(1)(b) explicitly authorizes these institutions to "determine the minimum standards of admission through a fair and transparent entrance examination or any other standard". Section 45(3) specifies that the "minimum entry requirement for admission to the professional law practice training shall be determined and published by the Council and shall be binding on all institutions".

The Legal Education Act, 2026 (Act 1170) established the Council for Legal Education and Training to regulate the curriculum and standards for legal training. Section 92 stipulates that any Regulations, directives, or notices in force immediately before the Act's commencement remain in effect until they are specifically revoked or reviewed. Section 62(1) stipulates that any individual holding a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree must undergo professional training to qualify for the National Bar Examination. Section 23 prohibits any institution from offering Law Practice Training unless it has obtained accreditation from the Council.

Section 93 provides specific protections for those caught in the transition. Persons already enrolled at the Ghana School of Law before Act 1170 came into force are permitted to complete their Professional Law Course under the curriculum and enactments in place at the time of their enrolment. Students enrolled in law programs at institutions that do not hold an accreditation license may apply for Law Practice Training at the Ghana School of Law or any other institution that has secured a valid license. Individuals who obtained an LLB before the Act's commencement but have not yet started professional training are eligible to apply to