Ten years, many paths: Catching up with the first new professional law course class

Published December 30, 2025

In October 2015, about 250 students entered the Ghana School of Law to embark on what was an experiment in professional legal education. This cohort of students constituted the inaugural batch of the new professional law programme.

At that time, the managers of legal education in Ghana had reached a critical conclusion that the traditional two-year professional programme which focused almost exclusively on procedural study prior to enrolment at the Bar was inadequate. While newly enrolled lawyers were grounded in procedure, some struggled to transition effectively into practice. For these new lawyers, the courtroom, the law firms, and legal departments often appeared unfamiliar terrain.

The new professional law course thus introduced a recalibrated structure: one year of intensive classroom instruction, followed by a second year devoted to practical internship within law firms, legal departments, and the courts. This “crash programme,” as it was widely described, sought to bridge the gap between theory and practice, producing lawyers better equipped for the realities of professional life.

By 2017, the majority of the pioneering batch had been called to the Bar. Eight years on, their presence is felt across diverse sectors of national life. Members of the class now serve on the Bench, in corporate and commercial practice, arbitration and litigation, public service and security agencies, and in politics and governance.

On 19th December 2025, members of the first batch reconvened in fellowship, marking a decade since their first assembly as students of the new programme. The gathering was both nostalgic and reflective. Participants recalled the pressures and uncertainties of law school, candidly assessed their professional journeys, and shared experiences of victories, missteps, and the quiet growth that time affords. The atmosphere was one of laughter, reminiscence, and a collective recognition of having been part of a reform that has, by most measures, succeeded.

Looking forward, the group resolved to deepen their engagement with one another and with the broader profession. Plans were laid for webinars, seminars, and other professional initiatives aimed at contributing meaningfully to the development of the Bar and the advancement of legal practice in Ghana.

The story of this first batch is not merely one of personal achievement. It is also a testament to the adaptability of legal education and the enduring importance of aligning academic training with the demands of practice. Ten years on, the experiment has matured into a legacy that continues to shape the contours of the Ghanaian legal profession.