Campus: Lagos Campus (First Class), Director General’s Prize for First Class Students; Chief Richard Akinjide SAN Prize for 2nd Overall Best Student in Civil Litigation and 16th Overall Best Student 2018/2019 Academic Session
University: Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State; (Second Class Upper) Fourth Best Graduating Student 2017/2018 Academic Session
Source: Soyode Adebola
Law School was not as difficult as it was portrayed to me. The major part of my sojourn in Lagos Campus was filled with fear and anxiety, looking back, there was absolutely no need for such experience. I however believe, that imputation of fear kept me on my toes and pushed me to leave no stone unturned. I have a lot to write about law school but I have been able to summarise my thoughts under sub-headings, be that as it may, no principle is cast in stone.
BEFORE RESUMPTION
BELIEVE in yourself that you can make it. I believed that I could do it. I wanted something more than being part of the pack.
BUILD A VERY DEEP DESIRE  for excellence. Read articles of people who made  first class and got prizes, I did and it configured my mind before resumption. Ekaete Hunter was my online mentor. Based on the information I gathered on the platform, I knew I had to hit the ground running and manage my time. I also knew the possible challenges and how to overcome it, I was prepared. The depth of that desire in itself was a driving force.
Use that period to also  hear from God as you pray for excellence in the law school. Those promises will keep you going whenever you doubt. God gave me instructions on how serious, focused and disciplined I had to be. I spoke to myself and made confessions. I planned how I’ll spend my time and how much sacrifice I had to pay.
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Campus: Lagos Campus (First Class), Director General’s Prize for First Class Students; 2nd Best in Criminal Litigation; 2nd Best in Professional Ethics; Best Graduating Student, Lagos Campus; Third Overall Best Graduating Student
University: Obafemi Awolowo University with a Second Class Upper Degree
About: Pentho is an associate at Banwo and Ighodalo.
Source: Pentho Whesu
When we asked Pentho, what she would have told herself if she was resuming for law school this year (with the benefit of hindsight, of course), she said:
I would tell myself not to fret. Law school is not the monster many people have made it to be. All I need is the right information, the right mindset, the right support, plenty determination and unwavering trust in God. The system is not designed to make people fail, it just pushes you to bring the best out of you and to push yourself farther.”
Pentho Whesu
I would also tell myself to take the bulky courseload a bit at a time so as not to get overwhelmed, not to fret about not remembering the things I have read but to keep reading and when I need to remember, it will all come back. Seek help and take advantage of all the help you can get
Lastly, I would tell myself to enjoy the process, the people, the good and the bad part of it. Its 9 months that would never be repeated, so make the best of it. And trust God to give you the best.
Campus: Lagos Campus (First Class), Director General’s Prize for First Class Students
University: University of Lagos with a Second Class Upper Degree
About: Gboremi Ogundipe is an NYSC Associate at Olaniwun Ajayi LP. She finished from the University of Lagos in 2017, and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus in 2018. She has key interests in Corporate Commercial Law, Arbitration and ADR, International Law, Human Rights and is ever keen on diversity and learning novel areas of the law.
MY LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would encourage myself to calm down. I remember feeling overwhelmed for the most part of the first term. I remember not being co-ordinated with my reading. I remember feeling confused. And I remember crying 2 times, (after Corporate Law Practice classes). It was during my Christmas break after 1st term that I came up with a system that I knew would work for me. It wasn’t extreme. It was feasible and achievable. The plan was to always copy my notes in class, seeing as it was absolutely impossible to form notes (considering the length of classes in Lagos Campus), and then fill in my notes at the end of the day (as much as possible). I had a plan not to carry over any “incomplete” notes into a new week. I also came up with a draftsbook for each course and I never carried anything over into the new week. I wrote, wrote and wrote. Sometimes I repeated things over, if I thought it would help me understand a concept better. Also, I tried to read ahead of every single class. I read somewhat “casually”, just to have an idea of the class and I also tried to study the answers to the group tasks as well, ahead of each class. This was what I did during the whole school session. The aim was to have all my notes in one place towards my Externship, so that I could study them during that period and not need to open any textbooks or statutes.
During my Externship I found that I couldn’t remember a lot of things, and that was very frustrating, to say the least. While I was sad when I found it difficult to recall things I’d already read, I was encouraged when seniors I spoke with told me that it was nothing unusual. And so I just kept going back. I’d read over and over and over again, until it stuck in my head, and even after that I’d still revise continuously. I also practiced all my past questions more than twice over. I read and discussed the MCQs with my friends, before I started timing myself; while I did the theory past questions with my colleagues during the Chambers Attachment.
In all, I think what really helped me was that I tried my best not to give up when I felt very tired, and most importantly I always tried to give myself a break. I ate a lot and slept even more. I always made sure to read when I felt relaxed. I surrounded myself with positive energy, and though I never studied with these people (the 2 people I was closest to in law school – because we had very different approaches to studying), they also both made First Classes as well. Just the same way I remember crying with them, I remember laughing so hard with them. They encouraged me when I felt down, and I did same when they felt tired too. And when we were all tired at the same time we’d just get something yummy to eat or go to the movies to unwind. These little things helped. They were my “break” from the intensity of law school and more importantly an amazing support system. Most importantly, stay encouraged and have great faith in yourself and in God. There’s nothing you cannot do when you set your mind to it, believe hard enough, and work actively towards it.
Law School is not a piece of cake, true. It’s the whole cake. How you go about eating a full cake determines whether it’ll be an amazing finish or one that leaves you wanting to throw up. Enjoy Law School. Take it easy on yourself. Eat the full cake like you would a dessert. Do not attempt to rush through anything. Start reading early enough. Plan your time very wisely (there is actually sufficient enough time). And it will be an amazing journey, I promise you.
Campus: Yola Campus (First Class), Director General’s Prize for First Class Students; First Class, Law School Class of 1990 Friends’ Association Award for the Best Graduating Student from Yola campus.
University: University of Nigeria, Second Class Honours, Upper Division.
About: I graduated in the top 3% of my undergraduate class. I can be reached at Cynthiambajunwa@yahoo.com.
Source: Cynthia Adaugo MBAJUNWA
Sincerely, I’d do nothing different if I was resuming law school this year. God surrounded me with the right crowd both in mentorship and friendship. I remember being extremely sad- I cried for about 2 hours straight after seeing my posting and I barely slept that night.
Source: Cynthia Adaugo MBAJUNWA
Thankfully, I had a mentor who understands the Word of God above feelings. God used him to give me hope and direction for law school. He gave me an anchor scripture that kept me focused and determined. We conquered the fear of law school long before I arrived there. Yola made it easier- I kept saying that I probably wouldn’t have coped on any other campus. I met the best set of people from day one and it was ease all through. Mostly.
I probably should have easily accepted my posting. I spent most of the 1st term living in fear. I didn’t want to leave the campus at all. So right now, my only regret is having a list of places I didn’t visit in Yola.
Prior to law school, my academic mentor told me that the law school journey is first won in the mind. He was very right. For the next nine months, you will have the bar finals hanging over your head like a pendulum. You can choose to either view the bar finals from victory or from fear. I’d advise anyone to let go of the fear. It is just an exam. Trust and enjoy the process of law school.
I know people say “do what works for you” a lot. But it really cannot be overemphasized. Personally, I knew forming notes was an exercise in futility. And I stuck to my pattern of not forming notes even before I arrived in Law School. I used to randomly skim through this website for testimonies of people who did not form notes in law but made a 1st class. I needed to know it was not impossible and tried to steady my mind ahead of time. I had their testimonies bookmarked on my phone for easy access. This is because in law school, it’s easy for you to lose focus on your path and try to do what everyone else is doing- form notes, pull all nighters, read for extended periods of time without breaks etc.
It’s easy to get intimidated; realizing you may not be the best in the room, and that even if you are, almost everyone else is working towards the same goal. Don’t make the mistake of counting yourself off as mere statistics. Don’t sell yourself short. Do what works for you but do it in the best way. Surround yourself with people on the same path- I had the best roommates in law school. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from anyone. Don’t be afraid to offer help to anyone. Use every opportunity to learn. Stand firm on your path and keep declaring God’s Word over your life. My goal was a First Class from day one. I knew that a 2.1 wouldn’t just cut it. So when people declared for 2.1 at least- I was declaring and praying for a 1st class at least. Because I wanted a 1st class and a prize. And God honoured His Word.
EKAETE HUNTER 