Do you want to know the salary of Nigerian lawyers?
In this article, you will find out how much Nigerian lawyers earn, the duration it takes to study law in Nigeria and how to become a lawyer in Nigeria.
The legal profession is one of the respected professions in Nigeria. When you have one issue or the other that needs legal attention, then a lawyer will be the one to call for advise and safe actions.
Before we look at the salary of Nigerian lawyers or how much lawyers in Nigeria earn per month. Deluxepreneur, we like to let you know how to become a lawyer in Nigeria and the duration it takes to study law in Nigeria.
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How to become a lawyer in Nigeria?
To become a lawyer in Nigeria, you need to earn a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree in any Nigerian university that offers law degree. Afterwards, you must finish the mandatory bar advocacy training program at the Nigerian Law School, which lasts for a duration of 1 year, and a qualifying certificate will be issued to you when you pass the law school. You are now free to specialize in any of the different areas of legal practice, such as family law, immigration law, corporate law, property law, etc., at any reputable law firm in the country.
Now let us talk about how long it takes to study law in Nigeria.
What is the duration to study law in Nigeria
The duration to study law in Nigeria is 5 years in any accredited Nigerian university that offers law degree. Afterwards, you will attend a Nigerian law school which last for one year before you can be a qualified lawyer in Nigeria.
In the university, it is very easy to identify law students because of their white and black outfit when they go for lectures. You need to be hardworking before you can practice law in Nigeria.
Admission requirements for studying Law in Nigerian universities
These are the admission requirements for law discipline into university in Nigeria.
- O’Level Result: Five (5) SSC credit passes in English Language, Maths, Government , Literature in English and CRK.
- UMTE/JAMB subjects Combination for Law*: Use of English, Government, Literature in English and CRK.
- Direct Entry into Law: Two (2) ‘A’ level passes chosen from Government, CRK and Literature in English.
Let us take a look at the salary of Nigerian lawyers or how much lawyers in Nigeria earn per month.
What is the salary of Nigerian lawyers?
The salary of a Nigerian lawyer is N60,000 per month for those working in a law firm or company. The salary of Nigerian lawyers is affected by:
- Experience
- Size of the Law Firm or company
- Self Improvement or ability to work
The salary of lawyers that work in firms or companies is determined by the size of the firm or company. Lawyers earn very big in multinationals and top companies in Nigeria. Lawyer who works in companies like Nigerian Breweries can earn an average of N500,000 per month.
Now that you have known the overall salary of Nigerian lawyers, keep on reading as Deluxepreneur break down the salary structures of Nigerian lawyers.
Salary structures of Nigerian lawyers
There are basically four levels of lawyers in every law firm namely:
- Interns,
- Junior Associates,
- Senior Associates and
- Partners.
Interns: Interns are lawyers who are not yet to be employed into the law firm. They usually work for some months before leaving the firm. Interns can be assigned to law firms after graduating or sometimes, law firms just recruit them to work. Here, lawyers work for free or paid. Only few law firms pay their interns in Nigeria. The salary of law intern is between N5,000 to N30,000 monthly.
Junior Associates: These are the type of lawyers that are newly employed into the law firm. They are called junior associates because they haven’t really stood their grounds or make a name for themself in the firm. The salary of Junior associate is from N15,000 to N100,000 monthly, depending on the size of the firm.
Senior Associates: These are lawyers that work fully for the firm. I mean, their employment is guaranteed to a large extent. To become a senior associate in a law firm, you must have been working as a lawyer for at least, 3 to 5 years. The salary of law Senior Associates is between N50,000 to N400,000 monthly depending on the size of the firm.
Partners: These are the big bosses in the law firm. As I have mentioned earlier, your experience will determine your salary. The more experienced you are, the more money you will get. Partners are usually those who opened the law firm or the owner of the firm and have practiced for at least 5 years. The salary of a partner in a law firm is immeasurable because it depends on the income of the firm or how much clients the firm is having. On average, a partner earns around N100,000 monthly (for small law firms) and N1,000,000 monthly (for big law firms).
Nigerian universities offering Law course
Below is the list of some accredited universities that offer law degree in Nigeria.
- University Of Benin, Benin City
- University Of Nigeria Nsukka
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- University Of Ibadan, Ibadan
- University Of Lagos
- Rivers State University Of Science And Technology, Port Harcourt
- University Of Uyo
- University Of Jos, Jos
- Nasarawa State University, Keffi
- Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
- Benue State University, Makurdi
- Imo State University, Owerri
- Niger Delta University , Wilberforce Island
- Kogi State University, Anyigba
- Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
- Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
- Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State
- Enugu State University Of Science And Technology, Enugu
- Osun State University, Osogbo
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu ojukwu University, Uli
- Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State
- Umaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina
- Afe Babalola University , Ado-Ekiti
- Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo
- Yobe State University, Damaturu
- Baze University, Fct, Abuja
- Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
- Bowen University, Iwo
- Igbinedion University, Okada, Benin City
- Nigeria Turkish Nile University , Abuja
- National Open University Of Nigeria
- Al- Hikmah University, Ilorin
- Lead City University , Ibadan
- Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
- Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo
- Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji
- Crescent University, Abeokuta
- Renaissance University, Ojiagu-Agbani, Enugu
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