The Law Students’ Network (LSN) has sounded a strong warning to the government against pushing through its proposed Legal Education Bill without thoro
The Law Students’ Network (LSN) has sounded a strong warning to the government against pushing through its proposed Legal Education Bill without thorough stakeholder engagement, saying the rush to expand access must not come at the expense of quality.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 4, 2025, the Network expressed concern that the government’s plan to broaden entry into professional legal education in Ghana appears to be driven more by expediency than by a clear understanding of what needs to be fixed within the current system.
According to the LSN, critical questions remain unanswered on the proposed reforms — including funding, timelines, monitoring, and oversight.
Without addressing these gaps, the group says, the reforms risk undermining the credibility and standards of the legal training system.
Opposition to “Certificate of Urgency” Passage
The students are also objecting to reported plans to pass the Bill under a certificate of urgency.
They argue that this approach would deny the public and stakeholders — including law students, legal practitioners, the General Legal Council, and academia — the opportunity to critically examine the implications of the reforms.
“The Bill should not be rushed through Parliament without adequate scrutiny from stakeholders. Expanding access to legal education is important, but not at the expense of sacrificing quality on the altar of political expediency,” the statement read.
The issue of access to legal education has long been contentious in Ghana.
For years, the Ghana School of Law has operated as the sole institution authorised to train professional lawyers, with limited intake leading to thousands of qualified LLB graduates being denied entry each year.
The government’s new Bill is said to aim at liberalising the sector— potentially allowing multiple accredited institutions to offer professional law courses.
While this could significantly increase intake and address the backlog of applicants, critics, including the LSN, fear it could dilute quality if not matched with strong regulatory safeguards.
About the Law Students’ Network
The LSN describes itself as a platform for law students interested in policy development, research, and community engagement.
Its objectives include fostering intellectual exchange among students, promoting awareness of legal issues, contributing to national policy debates, and holding authorities accountable for the management of legal education.
The Network says it will continue to advocate for reforms that not only improve access but also preserve the integrity and standards of the legal profession in Ghana.
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