NG Bar Part I Criminal Law
Nigerian Law School Bar Part I Examination - Criminal Law
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ExploreAbout this exam
Criminal Law is one of the Bar Part I courses of the Nigerian Law School programme, listed on the School's official website alongside Property Law, Corporate Law and Professional Ethics. Bar Part I is the vocational stage that law graduates undertake after their LL.B before proceeding toward Call to the Bar as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Criminal Law sits within that skills-based, clinical training rather than the academic syllabus. Candidates should treat the paper as practice-facing: expect to reason from statute and case authority, apply doctrine to fresh fact patterns, and write answers in the professional format the School teaches. The School's site confirms Bar Part I registration adverts, calendars and portals, and separately advertises resit registration, so candidates who do not clear a paper should watch the site for resit notices. Preparation should combine a current Criminal Law and Procedure text, the Criminal Code and Penal Code frameworks, the Evidence Act where relevant, and sustained practice on past-style problems under timed conditions. Use the official portal for registration, examination numbers and results, and this independent page only for study guidance. Nothing here is issued or endorsed by the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education or the Body of Benchers.
What you'll study
About NG Bar Part I Criminal Law preparation
Is Criminal Law part of Bar Part I?
Yes. The Nigerian Law School website lists Criminal Law among the Bar Part I courses, together with Property Law, Corporate Law and Professional Ethics. Bar Part I is therefore where criminal law and procedure are examined as part of your vocational training, distinct from the criminal law you studied at undergraduate level.
Who sits the Bar Part I Criminal Law paper?
Law graduates who have been admitted into the Nigerian Law School's Bar Part I programme and registered for the course. The School publishes Bar Part I adverts, registration requirements and academic calendars on its website, and candidates are expected to follow those official notices for eligibility, screening and examination numbers.
What does the Criminal Law paper actually test?
Expect the general principles of criminal responsibility, specific offences, and procedure, applied to fact patterns rather than recited. Strong answers identify the offence charged, state the elements and supporting authority, apply them to the facts, and reach a reasoned conclusion. Practise issue-spotting and structured legal writing, not memorised summaries.
How should I order my Criminal Law revision?
Start with general principles, then move to specific offences, then procedure and evidence. Finish with timed problem questions under exam conditions. Build a one-page element checklist per offence so you can state actus reus, mens rea and defences quickly, then spend most of your remaining time writing full answers and reviewing them against the checklist.
Can I resit Criminal Law if I fail?
The School's website advertises resit registration and maintains a dedicated resit portal, including a notice headed resit for only one paper. The specific conditions, eligibility and fees are not stated in the material available here, so check the official resit advert and portal directly rather than relying on second-hand accounts.
Where do I confirm exam dates and timetables?
Only on the official Nigerian Law School website and its portals. The site publishes Bar Part I examination timetables, academic calendars and registration notices. Dates change between sessions, so verify any date you have been given informally against the current official notice before you plan travel or leave.
Why do candidates lose marks in Criminal Law?
Common causes are reciting definitions without applying them to the facts, missing a second or alternative offence in a scenario, ignoring defences raised by the facts, and citing authority loosely. Weaker answers also confuse the Criminal Code and Penal Code frameworks or forget procedure. Practise writing conclusions, not just identification of issues.
Does this page have official status?
No. This is independent study material prepared for candidates searching for Bar Part I Criminal Law. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or issued by the Nigerian Law School, the Council of Legal Education or the Body of Benchers. Always treat the official website and portal notices as authoritative for registration, results and examination logistics.