What is the best university to study law in Nigeria? Law is a prestigious course; it is considered one of the most sought-after courses studied by Nigerian students.
When law is offered as a course, it demands high standards by most university bodies across Nigeria, and a high JAMB score is required by Nigerian institutions. However, if candidates still meet these requirements, one thing still matters, and that is the university where the students want to study the course.
There are actually no universities to study law in Nigeria, which is not the best. All accredited universities in Nigeria are the best because they have met some criteria before being granted accreditation status to offer law.
When we call all the best university to study law in Nigeria, as far as there are accredited ones, there are still some distinctions among these universities that we can point out that make one superior to others.
Various metrics are used to judge the best university to study law in Nigeria, and some of the metrics include NUC accreditation, quality of legal education, performance in law school, alumni success, and facilities and faculty strength within the school and across the federation.
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Top 10 Best University To study Law in Nigeria
1. University of Lagos (UNILAG)
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is the first best university to study law in Nigeria and offers and conducts law as a course under its faculty of law in the institution.
The University of Lagos offer four courses under law in the institution, which include commercial and industrial law, public law, private and property law and jurisprudence and international law, divided into 1977
The University of Lagos stands among the best universities to offer law in Nigeria due to its long existence as a university that offered law in Nigeria as far back as 1962, which makes the faculty one of the first founding faculties in UNILAG.
UNILAG is classified as one of the best institutions to study law in Nigeria by UNESCO. The university law faculty is equipped with a law library meant to aid both lecturers and students alike.
The university has a functioning moot court, an active moot society that includes both the institution’s students and those from other institutions, a law student association, and various religious bodies.
2. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Obafemi Awolowo University is recognised as one of the best institutions for studying law in Nigeria, offering various specialisations within its faculty of law, including public law, jurisprudence, private law, business law, and international law.
Established as one of the founding faculties in the institution, the faculty of law was established in the institution in the year 1962 to meet the need of training lawyers within Africa under Lord Denning.
Known as the best, the university has won several competitions in various moot court sessions that are held among institutions for law students in Nigeria.
The university is also known for its successful law alumni who have graduated from the institution and are doing well in their various careers.
3. University of Ibadan (UI)
The University of Ibadan is another one of the best in Nigeria for students to study law. The university offers law under its faculty of Law.
The faculty of law in the institution comprises four departments, which include private and property law, public law, commercial and industrial law and jurisprudence law.
Located in the vibrant old city of Ibadan and the most serene area of the university campus, the Faculty of Law at the University of Ibadan has produced excellent alumni.
The University Faculty of Law is one of a kind with its women’s law clinic, which is meant to empower women in matters regarding law around the nooks of Ibadan.
The faculty of law in the University of Ibadan also conducts public lectures, seminars and faculty publications for the purpose and advancement of legal education aside from classroom teaching.
The faculty also has a standard working e-library in the institution, which is funded by the MacArthur Foundation, and it is considered the best across the country. Also, the university has close working relationships with top law bodies, which include the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and others.
4. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is one of the best universities to go to in Nigeria for any individual who wants to study law in Nigeria.
The institution offers and runs its course under its faculty of law with various departments under it, which include International and Comparative Law, Commercial and Corporate Law, Customary and Indigenous Law, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Property Law and Private Law.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is considered as one of the universities with the most departments under law in Nigeria, with six departments. The faculty of law in Nsukka was considered part of the oldest faculty of law in Nigeria, established as far back as 1961 to educate citizens on their rights and duties.
The institution has produced over 12,000 graduates since its establishment and hundreds of postgraduate students.
The university has an active law clinic and a student club across all law departments. In 2024, at the Nigeria Bar Association Examination inauguration, 40 students of the institution achieved first class.
In February 2025 the university faculty of law was accredited and has received full accreditation to offer the course and is even allowed to increase the number of students from 200 to 250.
5. Ahmadu Bello University (ABUZARIA)
One of the best in the Northern region of Nigeria, ABU ZARIA takes its place as the best university to study law among the northern universities in Nigeria.
Ahmad Bello University (ABUZARIA) offers law under its faculty of law with multiple departments under it, which include Islamic Law, Public Law, Private Law and Commercial Law.
The faculty of law in the institution was established in 1962 alongside the creation of the faculty of law in UNILAG and OAU.
Considered the best in the northern region to study law, the faculties feature quality facilities that aid the law programme, which include classrooms, lecture theatres, a modern moot courtroom and a law library.
ABUZARIA offers robust Postgraduate in law, which include its postgraduate Diploma, Master of law and Doctor of Philosophy in Law.
The institution is in close relationship with the Nigerian Law Association to train Graduate from non-common law jurisdictions for remedial and Part I programmes.
6. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is among the best federal universities that offer law in Nigeria. The university offers law under its faculty of law with different departments under it, which include commercial and industrial law, jurisprudence and international law, private and property law and public law.
The faculty of law in the institution was established in 1981 and has full accreditation from NUC to operate and run the programme.
The institution is known for its strong curriculum that reflects 21st-century Nigeria and global law needs. The institution is notable for its major feat in law, which includes the best doctoral thesis in law, which was won by a lecturer in the institution in 2012, in which the same lecturer is a professor in the institution now.
UNIBEN is also noted for the quality products that it has produced, which have proved and done remarkable feats globally.
7. Lagos State University (LASU)
On the number 7 list is Lagos State University (LASU). LASU is the first state university to appear in the first seven best universities to study law in Nigeria, with federal universities topping the list of the first six.
While a state university, Lagos State University has found itself as one of the best state universities to study law in Nigeria.
Lagos State University offers law under its faculty of law with different departments under it, which include Business Law, International and Islamic Law, Jurisprudence and International Law, and Law and Private and Public Law.
Lagos State University Faculty of Law is known for its students’ exceptional performance at the Nigerian Law School and its active moot court activities, which are known to help students prepare before defending an actual case.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Jamb Cut off mark for Law in top Nigerian Universities?
While it varies but it highly recommended candidate score 270 and above to secure
Admission to study law in top Nigerian universities
Is Private University Law Degree accepted in Nigeria?
Yes as far the University is accredited by NUC to offer law in the institution.
Which University has the best Law faculty performance at Law school?
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is considered the best law faculty at the law school based on its 40 students who bagged first class.
What is the duration of studying Law in Nigeria?
Five years is the maximum number of years of studying law in Nigeria, plus an additional 2 years to study at Nigerian Law School to become a certified lawyer.
Can I transfer to a better law school after 100 level?
No, you can’t, while this is acceptable for most programmes. this is not often done by most Nigerian universities for law programmes.
Conclusion
When asking for the best university to study law in Nigeria, these universities can be so competitive that they can phase you out for admission for years, but if a candidate secured admission to any of the universities mentioned above, then he or she should consider himself or herself lucky.
Most Universities not making it to the list above does not mean the University is a bad institution to study law in Nigeria; as long as any University is accredited, you can succeed and build a career from there
A.O. S is a Graduate of Economics from Adekunle Ajasin University,he has been in the blogging space for 4 years and his major aim is helping Nigerian students understand the Education system at all level