The Nigerian Law School: 2019 Review Of Grading System and Marking Scheme

The Council of Legal Education has reviewed the age-long Nigerian Law School negative marking scheme and grading system. This was announced by the Council of Legal Education in the NBA Annual General Conference (NBAAGC) 2019.

The Announcement Reads:

"Let me also report to this august assemblage that the Council of Legal Educaton in it's meeting of July 15, 2019 reviewed the grading system at the Nigerian Law School to the effect that the hitherto practice of assessing students at the Bar Examinations which was largely based on their least grades scored have now been revised accordingly. The effect of this review is that no students will be assessed by his/her least score any more." 

         

 The Nigerian Law School marking scheme and grading system has over the years attracted series of criticisms and calls for review by the public. The hitherto negative grading system could be attributed to the massive failures of the students after the Bar Final Examination                                                       
 In the Law school, students are taught the practical and procedural laws. The NLS curriculum is made up of five courses: Criminal Litigation, Civil Ligation, Property Law, Corporate Law, and Professional Ethics.
Thereafter, students will be posted for the Externship program to different courts and chambers for practical training. On returning to school, follows the presentation of portfolio assessment, and finally comes the almighty Bar final Examinations.

The NLS Negative Marking And Grading System

The Council of Legal Education, after the Bar final examinations based on the grading system of students on their lowest grades.
In the negative marking scheme and grading system; if a student gets 4As in four courses and 1C in one course, such student is graded on that of  his lowest grade 1C, the student may end up with Pass; the scale for assessment of the performance of the student is by that of his lowest grade. Accordingly, if a student gets 4As and 1B, then, his final grade will be a (2:1) Second Class Upper Division.

Therefore, a student who studied hard to get A-grade in Criminal Litigation, Civil Litigation, Property law, Professional ethics, and however scored a 'B' in Corporate law will come out with a Second Class Upper Divisions ( 2:1) as the final grade. To make a first-class, you must make 'As' in all the five courses; Equally, For Second Class Upper Divisions must score 'Bs' in all five courses.

 The Nigerian Law school law adopts an aggregate system, this requires a student to have a uniform grade in all the five courses.
The Council equally uses conference marking style with different levels of reviews and verification by distinguished members of the profession which sometimes include Professors, Judges, and senior lawyers.
         

Nigerian Law School Review of Grading System

Council of Legal Education New Marking and Grading System

The Nigerian Law School Law still uses the aggregate system but with modifications, this requires a student to have a uniform grade in all the five courses.
To make a first-class, you must make 'As' parallel in all the five courses.
For Second Class Upper, the score 'Bs' parallel in all the five courses.
 You  may make Second Class Lower if you core  A&B
'Cs' is third class
Cs & Ds will be calculated and reviewed before deciding which to award.

  Note: Basically to make First-class or Second Class Upper Divisions,  you must not have a mixture of grades; e.g A&B or B&C; it must be either 'As' parallel or Bs parallel.
           

        Below is Breakdown

• 70 - 100 = A 
• 60 - 69 = B 
• 45 - 59 = C
• 40 - 45 = D
• 0 - 39 = E

However, if a student scores 50 across all the five courses and scores below 50 in one course, it may be upgraded except the student score below 40.

Conditional Pass and Failed Student

 If a student fails one course, he has a conditional pass and he can apply to resit for only that course, however, when he fails only professional Ethics he will be forced to Resit for the Five courses. Equally, where he fails more than one course for instance 2 papers or more, he must do all the courses again, including those courses he had earlier passed and must to attend lectures and modules.

 Such students upon the payment of prescribed fee will apply for the resit exam. Failure to meet the attendance requirements, the Resit student will be denied writing for the Bar final resit. Examinations.  Now, students can only apply and resit for only the particular course he/she failed and nothing more.

Conclusion

 Professional Exams are graded on the basis of the pass and fail only, The Council of Legal Education is expected to adopt such international best practices as regards to professional Exams.

In Nigeria, other professional courses such as Medicine, pharmacy mong others adopted the grading system on the basis of the pass and fail which is the International best practices.
Moreover, in countries like the United State of America, Canada and Uk, the Bar Exams also use the pass and fail system. The Nigerian Law School should follow suit.


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