THE GRASP OF LEGAL METHOD AS A FOUNDATIONAL COURSE FOR LEGAL MENTORSHIP: AN APPRAISAL

Abstract

The study of Legal Method is a compulsory foundational course that is first introduced to Year-One law students upon being admitted into Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Programme in Nigeria Universities. The study of law is a prerequisite ladder that one must climb as a process of becoming a legal practitioner. Law as an instrument of social-control determines restriction, freedom, order, peace and justice in every society. The authors argues that improper grasp of the knowledge of law can lead to wrong interpretation and application of law by legal practitioners, especially when it is not comprehensively well taught at the foundational level. The authors takes the stance that the curriculum of Legal Method as a foundational course must be structured to widen its scope from the sociological perspective in relation to logic, legal reasoning and approach to problems at the grass root strata of the society. Lack of this has often increased the level of ignorance and chaos in the society. This has informed this research as an appraisal on the grasp of Legal Method as a foundational course for legal mentorship. The authors adopted the doctrinal legal research method. On this premise, this research recommends a wider curriculum of legal method as a foundational course correlating with law in social context, legal logic, legal reasoning and approach to problems. This will no doubt broaden the jurisprudence of the law students and legal researchers on the knowledge of law relating to legal reasoning and approach to problems in the society so as to meet global best practices.