Students enrolled in the programme will acquire knowledge and practical skills in:

• The Nigerian legal system, including criminal and constitutional law
• Islamic law principles, covering contracts, crime and punishment, family law, inheritance, and jurisprudence
• Preparation, handling, and filing of legal documents and court processes
• Legal research methods and basic case management support
• Court procedures, evidence, and administrative functions
• Ethical standards and professional conduct in legal practice
• Communication and basic computing skills relevant to legal work
• Practical workplace experience through the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

The curriculum is designed to ensure graduates are competent, disciplined, and job-ready.

Programme Structure

The National Diploma in Common and Islamic Law runs for two academic sessions, consisting of four semesters, and combines classroom instruction with practical training.

Year One:Focuses on foundational courses in common law and Islamic law, communication skills, citizenship education, basic computing, and introductory legal studies.

Year Two:Covers advanced legal procedures, evidence, Islamic jurisprudence, legal research methods, family law, inheritance, and professional practice.

Industrial Training (SIWES): Conducted after the second semester of the first year, SIWES provides supervised practical exposure in courts, law firms, government agencies, NGOs, and other relevant organisations.

Each semester includes lectures, practical sessions, continuous assessment, and examinations to ensure effective learning outcomes.

To qualify for admission into the programme, candidates must:

• Meet the minimum UTME score prescribed by JAMB
• Possess at least five (5) credit passes in NBAIS, NABTEB, WAEC, GCE, NECO, or equivalent examinations, including:
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Islamic Religious Studies or ArabicAny other two approved subjects such as Government, History, Economics, Commerce, Civic Education, Geography, Literature in English, or Nigerian Languages

These requirements ensure students are adequately prepared for professional legal training.

Graduates of the National Diploma in Common and Islamic Law can pursue employment in:

• Judiciary and court registries
• Law firms and legal chambers (as legal support staff)
• Government ministries, departments, and agencies
• Legal and administrative units of private organisations
• Law enforcement agencies, military, and paramilitary organisations
• Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

The programme also provides a foundation for further academic progression in related higher diploma or professional programmes, subject to prevailing admission regulations.