Bachelor of Law (LL.B)

Bachelor of law or the bachelor of laws (LL. B) as popularly known is an undergraduate degree course for individuals interested in a career in the legal profession. Law can be defined as a system of rules and principles within a given country that are enforced through social institutions to govern the behavior or impose penalties to the members whose the law(s) is enacted for. Professionals in this field are known as lawyers among other titles. Lawyers are legal experts who represent individuals and businesses in legal issues and disputes through judicial system.

Bachelor of law in Kenya

The Bachelor of Law is a four-year program designed to equip students with a sound knowledge of the principles of the Kenyan, regional and international legal systems. The curriculum includes a skills component which teaches students generic practical skills such as problem solving, analysis, research and legal skills such as legal writing, drafting and argumentation. Law students are required to make constructive use of the knowledge and skills they acquire by contributing to national development and the community through legal aid, community service, street law and similar outreach activities.

Students of the law course are empowered to critically assess, interpret and apply the law with a historical, comparative and jurisprudential background that is essential for a thorough and critical understanding of law and legal institutions. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will have the knowledge, skills and other competences needed to provide legal services nationally, regionally and globally.

To practice as an advocate in Kenya, law graduates are required to attend the one-year pupilage cum council of Legal Education training at the Kenya School of Law; leading to the award of the Diploma in Law, if they wish to practice as Advocates of the High Court of Kenya.

Bachelor of law requirements

Candidates interested in a bachelor of law in Kenya should meet the following entry requirements;

Kuccps law requirements;

Kuccps law requirement are as follows; KCSE mean grade of C+ and above, with least B plain in either English or Kiswahili. In addition, applicants should have good performances in the following three subjects; Subject 2 MAT A / MAT B or any GROUP II, Subject 3 any Group III, Subject 4 KIS or any GROUP II or 2nd GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V. The higher your grade, the higher the chance of securing a law course under Kuccps placement.

Self-sponsored students law requirements;

The requirements for KCSE bachelor of law is mean grade of C+ (plus), with at least B plain in either English or Kiswahili. Besides, the candidate must have good performance in the required cluster subjects.

In summary, whether pursuing the law course through KUCCPS placement or self-sponsored option, the grade you need to study law in Kenya is KCSE C+ (plus) and above. In addition, you must have good grades in the following bachelor of law subjects;

Subject 1 ENG/ KISW
Subject 2 MAT A / MAT B or any GROUP II,
Subject 3 any Group III,
Subject 4 KIS or any GROUP II or 2nd GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V.

Additional bachelor of law requirements in Kenya

Candidates interested in the bachelor of law who have higher qualifications or have not written the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) test, can apply for the course if they meet the following admission requirements.

A degree from a recognized university
At least three principal passes in the Kenya Advanced Certificate Education Examination
A credit passes in a diploma in law examination from an accredited institution with a C plain KCSE and C+ (plus) in English.

Bachelor of law course units

The bachelor of law programme units aims to empower the students with the skills they need to provide effective legal services. The course units may vary from one institution to the other. That notwithstanding, the following are some bachelor of law course units you will explore.

Law of contract
Legal research and writing
Legal systems and methods
Criminal law
Law of property
Family law
Constitutional law
Administrative law
Commercial law
Criminal law
Law of business association
Insurance law
Intellectual property law
Public international law
Electoral law
Children and the law
Environmental law
Jurisprudence
Banking law
Competition law
Tax law
Law of trusts
Law of succession
Alternative dispute resolutions
Professional ethics and responsibility
Human rights law
Conflict of laws
Labor law
International dispute resolution
Legal and legislative drafting
Public interest law
Law of refugees
And more

Becoming a lawyer in Kenya

If you are passionate about justice and fairness and interested in a career that can help other people get justice in a judicial process, then pursuing a bachelor of law course might be a good choice for you. In addition, you should be prepared to develop skills that can help you succeed in the legal field. Some crucial skills that lawyers should have are discussed below.

Lawyers must have excellent analytical skills as they help their clients resolve problems and issues; they should therefore be able to analyze large amounts of information, determine relevant facts and propose viable solutions to their clients. These professionals must also have good interpersonal skills because to remain relevant in the legal field, they must win the respect and confidence of their clients by building a trusting relationship, so that clients feel comfortable and share personal information related to their case.

Good problem solving skills are equally important as these legal experts must separate their emotions and prejudice from their clients’ problems and objectively evaluate the matter under reference; therefore, good problem-solving skills are important for lawyers to prepare the best defense and recommendation for their clients.

Lawyers must have good research skills as the process of preparing legal advice or representation for a client requires substantial research; Good research skills will help lawyers to find what applicable laws and regulations apply to a specific matter or case and present their defense appropriately.

Lawyers must also be effective communicators as they are hired by their clients to speak on their behalf; this therefore requires these professionals to be able to clearly present and explain evidence to a court judge. Equally important is good writing skills as lawyers need to be precise and specific when preparing documents, such as trusts, wills, and powers of attorney.

Work environment

Lawyers work mostly in legal offices. They also go to courts to represent their clients.

Work and career opportunities

With a degree in law in Kenya, you can work in the public or private sector. Graduates of this course can find work in areas such as; advocacy organizations, commerce, banking, legal aid agencies, government departments, commercial firms, working in management and a wide range of businesses. Graduates can also opt to start their own law consultancy practice.

Is bachelor of law marketable?

One of the greatest reason to pursue a degree course is job placement or entrepreneurship. There is no need to invest in a course that will not pay your bills. So, is bachelor of law a marketable course? The simple answer is yes. A law course can be marketable if it is fully aligned to your personality, skills and abilities. The skills acquired from a law school such as; analytical thinking, problem-solving, and communication are very marketable in wide environments.

Bachelor of law colleges and universities in Kenya

The legal education is quite accessible in Kenya. Those interested in a law course can explore different universities offering the course. The following is a brief list of universities in Kenya that offer law courses.

University of Nairobi (UoN)
Kenyatta university (KU)
Kabarak university
Kisii university
University of Embu
Chuka university
Daystar university
Moi university
Egerton university
Riara university
Africa Nazarene university
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
Mount Kenya University (MKU)
Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA)
Umma university

You may explore these courses.

You can widen you career choices by exploring the following courses.

Final word

Bachelor of law is a popular degree course in Kenya. The admission requirements of the course are KCSE mean grade C+ (plus) and above. In addition, you must have good grades in the following subjects; Subject 1 ENG/ KISW, Subject 2 MAT A / MAT B or any GROUP II, Subject 3 any Group III, Subject 4 KIS or any GROUP II or 2nd GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V. If you meet the minimum admission requirements, you can visit one of the universities offering the course to actualize your law career goals.