Lowering of Law Degree Grade

Lowering of Law Degree Grade

Lowering of Law Degree Grade

The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee has approved the passage of the Legal Education (Amendment) Bill 2023, which proposes to reduce the criteria for law degrees in the country.The modifications proposed by Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino aim to remove rigidity from existing legislation that requires better grades for students pursuing a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree.

Babu Owino wants the criteria for grade B plain in English or Kiswahili abolished in the proposed amendments to allow as many students as possible to register for the course.”This change will enable LLB graduates without a B plain in English or Kiswahili to gain admission to the Kenya School of Law for the advocates’ training program, promoting career growth,” Parliament said in a statement.

Babu stated that a modest amendment to the Legal Education Act of 2010 would make it easier for Kenyans to obtain legal education and practice law.The MP, who studied Law and Actuarial Science, noted that the requirement was keeping potential legal practitioners out of the school.

Currently, the requirements for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in Kenya differ by institution. However, a mean grade of C+ (Plus) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or its equivalent is required.Students applying for the program must also have a B (Plain) in English or Kiswahili on their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.Alternatively, the student must have at least three Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) Principal Passes.Students may also begin their legal studies at the Diploma level and then progress to a Degree programme after receiving a credit pass in the examination from a recognized institution.

In addition to the preceding credentials, some institutions, particularly those at the  diploma level, may require applicants to have passed the Law Admission Test (LAT). The LAT is a standardised test designed to assess the academic aptitude of law  school applicants. The Council of Legal Education (CLE), the entity in charge of regulating legal  education in Kenya, administers this exam. The CLE also establishes the minimal academic standards for law school admission. These requirements are evaluated on a regular basis and may be modified at any  moment.