If you are passionate about justice, governance, rights, leadership, and the structures that hold society together, the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree provides you with a powerful pathway into the legal profession and public life. Law governs every aspect of society, from individual behaviour and business transactions to government actions and international relations. Through this programme, you learn how laws are developed, interpreted, and applied, and how legal frameworks shape social, political, and economic realities.
Your training helps you develop strong analytical thinking, disciplined reasoning, persuasive communication, and ethical judgment, qualities expected of future lawyers, policymakers, judges, corporate advisers, diplomats, and public officials. By studying cases, statutes, institutions, and legal theories, you learn to approach complex issues with clarity and confidence.
At OOU, the LL.B. Law programme prepares you for the intellectual demands of legal training, the professional expectations of the Nigerian Law School, and the broader skills needed to excel in society. You gain a strong foundation in national, regional, and international legal systems, enabling you to become a skilled advocate and a responsible legal professional.
Course Overview
The LL.B. programme offers a comprehensive and progressive education in Nigerian law, aligning with the NUC Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). You explore the fundamental areas of law that regulate personal rights, business relationships, state power, public responsibilities, and global interaction. As you advance, you learn to interpret legislation, analyse cases, draft legal documents, and engage in advocacy through structured academic and practical experiences.
Your study covers several key areas:
- Legal Methods and Reasoning: helping you understand how lawyers think, argue, and interpret laws.
- Constitutional Law: exploring the powers of government, human rights, federalism, and constitutional interpretation.
- Criminal Law: addressing offences, defences, criminal liability, and justice processes.
- Contract and Commercial Law: focusing on business transactions, obligations, and remedies.
- Tort Law: examining civil wrongs, liability, and compensation.
- Property Law: studying ownership, land rights, and the principles governing property transactions.
- Equity and Trusts: dealing with fairness, fiduciary duties, and trust relationships.
- Company Law: covering corporate governance, business entities, and regulation.
- Law of Evidence: training you in courtroom standards, proof, and admissibility.
- Jurisprudence: introducing legal philosophy, justice theories, and the foundations of law.
- Clinical Legal Education: giving you practical experience in advocacy, negotiation, and dispute resolution.
Through classroom teaching, case analysis, moots, legal clinics, research projects, and experiential learning, you gain the knowledge and skills required to succeed in legal practice, public service, corporate environments, and postgraduate studies.
Course Curriculum
The LL.B. curriculum is structured as a five-year programme for UTME students and a four-year programme for Direct Entry students, following the CCMAS. It builds your competence gradually from foundational legal concepts to advanced analytical work and professional-level skills.
At this stage, you are introduced to the legal system, basic reasoning, communication skills, and the foundations of legal study. Core Courses include:
- Legal Methods I (PUL 101)
- Legal Methods II (PUL 102)
- English for Legal Writing (LAW 101)
- Introduction to Logic (LAW 102)
- Communication in English I
- Nigerian Peoples and Culture
- Use of Library and ICT Skills
These courses help you understand how the legal system functions and how to think and write like a lawyer.
You begin studying the core branches of law in detail, learning to read statutes, analyse cases, and understand foundational legal obligations. Core Courses include:
- Constitutional Law I & II
- Nigerian Legal System I & II
- Law of Contract I & II
- Commercial Law I
- Entrepreneurship Studies
- Peace and Conflict Resolution
At this level, you build strong theoretical understanding and analytical grounding for higher-level legal study.
You deepen your expertise in substantive law areas and broaden your perspective on justice, rights, and business regulation. Core Courses include:
Criminal Law I & II
Law of Torts I & II
Commercial Law II
Human Rights Law
Public International Law
Applied Legal Research
You also begin participating more actively in moot courts and simulated advocacy exercises.
Your learning becomes more applied, integrating doctrine, procedure, and legal reasoning for professional practice. Core Courses include:
- Law of Evidence I & II
- Equity and Trusts I & II
- Property Law I & II
- Clinical Legal Education I & II
- Administrative Law
These courses strengthen your advocacy, client-handling, and legal drafting skills while exposing you to real-world problem-solving.
This is your final academic year, where you apply your knowledge to specialised topics and research. Core Courses include:
- Jurisprudence and Legal Theory I & II
- Company Law I & II
- Long Essay / Research Project (LAW 599)
- Taxation Law
- Labour Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
You complete a substantial research project demonstrating your ability to investigate legal issues, analyse authorities, and present arguments with clarity and academic rigour.
Entry Requirements
1. UTME Admission (Five-Year Programme)
To gain admission through UTME, you must have:
- Five O-Level credit passes, in not more than two sittings, including: English Language, Literature in English, three other Arts or Social Science subjects
- Sit for the UTME with English Language and three relevant Arts or Social Science subjects
- Meet the required UTME cut-off score
- Participate in and pass the University’s Post-UTME screening
2. Direct Entry Admission (Four-Year Programme)
To gain admission through Direct Entry, you must:
- Possess five O-Level credits, including English Language and Literature in English, plus one of the following:
- A two- or three-year Diploma in Law or a related field
- GCE/HSC A-Level passes in at least two subjects, including Literature in English
- A good honours degree in any discipline
All applicants must satisfy the University’s general admission guidelines.
Why study at OOU?
Studying Law at OOU gives you a balanced blend of academic depth and practical exposure designed to prepare you for real legal practice. You benefit from:
- A curriculum aligned with the professional expectations of legal education in Nigeria
- Strong coverage of core areas of law, such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Evidence, Property Law, Contract, and Torts
- Practical experiences through moot courts, legal clinics, advocacy exercises, and problem-solving simulations
- Access to lecturers who combine scholarly research with professional practice
- Development of key skills such as legal research, oral and written advocacy, legal drafting, negotiation, and analytical reasoning
- Opportunities that prepare you for careers in law, governance, corporate advisory work, dispute resolution, public service, and international engagements
Research Project
In your final year, you are required to complete a Long Essay, which serves as the capstone of your legal training. This research project allows you to explore a specialised area of law, apply advanced analytical skills, and demonstrate your ability to think and write like a legal scholar. Under supervision, you will:
- Choose a topic from any substantive or procedural area of law
- Conduct extensive legal research using case law, statutes, commentaries, and academic journals
- Analyse legal authorities and evaluate competing arguments
- Present a structured and well-supported legal essay
- Defend your findings in line with academic standards
This project enhances your research competence and prepares you for postgraduate study, professional training, and high-level roles requiring sound judgment and legal analysis.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with the LL.B. degree, you must satisfy the NUC and University regulations for academic performance and credit completion.
Academic Requirements
- Complete and pass all compulsory and elective courses in the programme
- Earn 150–180 credit units if admitted through UTME
- Earn 120–150 credit units if admitted through Direct Entry
- Maintain at least a 1.00 CGPA
- Complete and defend your final-year Long Essay.
Grading and Degree Classification
Your final classification is determined by your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), as follows:
Upon satisfying these requirements, you will be awarded the LL.B. (Hons) Law, a professional qualification recognised nationally and internationally for legal training, public service, and advanced studies.
Career Opportunities
An LL.B. degree opens a wide range of career pathways across legal, corporate, governmental, and international sectors. Your training in research, reasoning, communication, ethics, and problem-solving equips you for roles that demand clarity of thought and sound judgment. With this degree, you may work as a:
- Barrister & Solicitor (after Law School)
- Corporate Legal Adviser
- Legal Officer in government ministries and agencies
- Compliance & Regulatory Officer
- Human Rights Advocate
- Public Policy Analyst
- Legislative Aide or Legal Researcher
- Diplomatic or Foreign Service Officer
- Mediator or ADR Specialist
- Contract & Commercial Consultant
- Legal Executive in financial institutions
- Academic or Research Assistant
You may build your career in places such as:
- Law firms and chambers
- Corporate organisations and multinationals
- Government ministries, justice departments, and regulatory bodies
- Courts and judicial institutions
- Banks, insurance companies, and finance houses
- Non-governmental and human rights organisations
- International organisations and diplomatic missions
- Universities, research centres, and policy institutes
This programme prepares you not only for legal practice but also for leadership roles in sectors where analytical thinking, ethical judgement, and strong communication skills are essential.
How to Apply?
1. UTME Entry (Five-Year Programme)
- Choose Olabisi Onabanjo University as your first choice and select Law as your preferred course
- Sit for the UTME with English Language and three relevant Arts or Social Science subjects
- Possess five O-Level credits, including English Language and Literature in English
- Apply for and pass the University’s Post-UTME screening
2. Direct Entry (Four-Year Programme)
- Possess five O-Level credits, including English Language and Literature in English
- Hold a recognised Diploma in Law or related fields, A-Level passes (including Literature), or a honours degree
- Complete your Direct Entry registration through JAMB
- Upload transcripts and supporting documents on the OOU admissions portal
Course Coordinator
The LL.B. programme is coordinated by an experienced academic within the Faculty of Law who oversees curriculum delivery, student advising, and research supervision.
The current programme coordinator is:
Dr [Full Name]
Contact Information:
- Email:
- Phone:
- Office:
Course Overview
- Next Admission Process
- Current Academic Year
- Associated programmes = Undergraduate
- Course Duration = 5 Years
- Degree = LL.B.
- Faculty = Law
- Course Type = Full Time
- Course Delivery = On campus.
- Location = Faculty of Law, Main Campus.
- Scholarship opportunities