List Of Law Schools In Ethiopia

You are planning to study law in Ethiopia, but you are not sure if of the list of law schools in Ethiopia.

Well, Ethiopia law schools have dramatically increased in recent years. The law schools rising every year require thorough research to make sure students know exactly where they can get law education and training.

List of Law Schools in Ethiopia

In this light, this timely blog post will be an eye-opener to the top list of Ethiopian law schools and other facts which is imperative for you to know which will be presented to you in 5 separate sections as listed below

Let’s Get Started

Vital Facts About Law Schools In Ethiopia

There are now around 90 law schools in Ethiopia.

This is an increase from the 38 that existed in 2005-2006.

The number of law students has also increased from about 2,800 in 2005 to 4,500 in 2010. The demand for lawyers is growing as more people seek legal advice regarding their rights and business dealings.

The main body that regulates law schools in Ethiopia is the Ethiopian Law School Council (ELS).

The ELS was established through a government proclamation by Emperor Haile Selassie I on July 29, 1961.

The council promotes and develops Ethiopian Law through research and discussion. It also aims to advance the education of lawyers, legal professionals, and other persons who work as part of the legal system.

The ELS is governed by a board of directors made up of 13 members: six officials from the Ministry of Justice, four parliamentarians, and three members appointed by the board itself.

Law School Cost in Ethiopia

The cost of legal education depends on a variety of factors, including the type of law program you choose, the prestige of the school, your living expenses, and whether you attend part-time or full–time.

It's important to understand that no matter where you attend a school or how much you pay, becoming a lawyer is never easy.

The following is an overview of the costs associated with attending law school in Ethiopia:

The Tuition

Every law school has fees that need to be paid.

The fees are usually broken down into two categories: tuition and living expenses.

The tuition usually pays for your education while the living expenses cover housing, food, and books.

Although some schools offer scholarships, most students will either have to take out student loans from private lenders or use their savings to pay for their education.

The average tuition for law school in Ethiopia is $22,000 per year

$4,500 for annual living expenses (excluding rent)

Books & Supplies

Every student needs textbooks and other learning materials.

You could spend as much as $1,200 for first-year materials alone.

These costs can vary depending on what field you choose to study and whether you buy new books or go with used ones.

Most students spend about $600

What Requirements Should A Law School Student Meet Get Admitted Into Law Schools In Ethiopia?

Ethiopia's federal structure allows considerable variation between regions.

In general, however, law schools in Ethiopia share the same major requirements as most other law schools across the globe as outlined below.

#1 GRE or LSAT.

Both tests are accepted for admission into law schools in Ethiopia.

However, admissions officers prefer that applicants take either the LSAT or the GRE.

The GRE is more widely available and can be taken at local testing centers.

#2 Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test administered by the Law School Admission Council that is designed to assess reading comprehension, logical reasoning ability, and analytical writing skills you will use in law school.

If you are applying to an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law school in Ethiopia, check with the institution's website to find out if it requires you to submit this score as part of your application.

Some Ethiopian law schools accept the LSAT score only if it was taken five years before first-semester enrollment; others require that the test be taken no more than three years ago.

#3 Undergraduate GPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average)

Most Ethiopian law schools require a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale, or B average.

What Requirements Should A Law School Student Meet To Benefit From Scholarship Program Offered At The Law Schools In Ethiopia?

The student must have passed their high school certificate with an average of not less than C+ or its equivalent.
He/she must have passed his JAMB or equivalent with at least 200 points.
He/she must be from the underprivileged community and preferably be from a rural area to qualify for the scholarship program offered by law schools in Ethiopia.
The students are expected to register for law classes only after they have acquired their down payment (which is about 40% of their total tuition fees) to avoid students who register for law courses and then later drop out, which makes it impossible for those who genuinely want to pursue this course to do so because all the spaces have already been filled by those who registered and never showed up for classes.
The students are also expected to not apply for any other form of financial assistance such as bank loans to enable them to concentrate on their studies without worrying about how they will pay back a loan if they get one.

List of Ethiopian Law Schools

1. Addis Ababa Law School

First among the list of law school in Ethiopia is Addis Ababa Law School (AALS).

It is located in the capital city of Addis Ababa.

This prestigious school is located in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Addis Ababa Law School offers a one-year LLB (bachelor of Law) program, which is a five-year program in the US, UK, and Australia.

There are two intakes of students in this college every year.

One intake starts in September while another starts in January every year.

The school also offers a four-year LLM (bachelor of Law) degree that is highly competitive to gain entry to.

The bachelor's degree program and the master's degree program are both full-time programs. The four-year bachelor's degree program takes six years to complete if one were to study on his/her own.

However, Addis Ababa University has set up an academic collaboration with Austin State University (SFA), Texas, United States, where students could get their first three years of law degree from SFA and the last three years from Addis Ababa Law School.

The school has a library that contains more than 17000 books.

It also maintains a digital library through its online portal where students have access to more than 300 legal journals, law reports, and law websites across the world.

2. Awassa College of Law

Awassa College of Law also appear among the list of law schools in Ethiopia, which is located in Awassa.

It is one of the new colleges which were established after the country's new constitution was ratified in 1994.

The college became operational in 2001 with a capacity of 60 students.

The college accepts students who have completed high school and offers them undergraduate programs as well as graduate programs.

Furthermore, it enables them to qualify for careers as lawyers, judges, advocates, and legal professionals.

Awassa College of Law has four departments: Public Law, Private Law, Criminal Law and Jurisprudence, and Legal Theory.

3. Axum University College of Law

Axum University College of Law also appears on the list of law schools in Ethiopia, The law school was established in 2004 by the Ethiopian Society of Lawyers to provide education in law.

The college is located in Addis Ababa and it is one of the colleges under the umbrella of Axum University.

The college offers two-degree programs: a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Law. The Bachelor's Degree program takes eight semesters to complete and the Master's Degree program takes two years to finish.

The college also offers Postgraduate Diplomas in Human Rights Law and International Trade Law.

These diplomas are awarded under an agreement between Axum University College of Law and Dalhousie University (Canada).

4. Bahir Dar University College of Law

Bahir Dar University College of Law is a law school located in Bahir Dar, Amhara region, Ethiopia, one o

The college is for legal training and research through the all-around development of its students academically, ethically, and morally.

The college offers an environment that promotes critical analysis of fundamental legal issues affecting society and provides an opportunity to develop skills necessary for independent decision-making.

Bahir Dar University College of Law is committed to producing competent lawyers who are sensitive to the need for social justice and respect the rule of law and thereby contribute to the continuous development and improvement of the law, legal administration, and legal profession in Ethiopia.

5. Mekelle University School of Law

Mekelle University School of Law

Mekelle University School of Law is a law school is located in Mekelle, Ethiopia.

The law school was established in 1997.

Mekelle University School of Law has grown and developed at an unprecedented rate.

It has become one of the most prestigious universities in the country and has attracted students from different parts of the world.

The law school offers a five-year program leading to a bachelor's degree in Law.

The first three years are devoted to undergraduate studies and the last two years comprise postgraduate studies.

The university offers various courses such as Public International Law, Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Labour Law, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Criminology.

6. Jimma University College of Law

Jimma University College of Law is a law school which is located in Jimma, Ethiopia.

The Jimma University College of Law was established in 2005 and is accredited by the Higher Education Commission as well as the Council for Higher Education in Africa.

It is a private institution and has been authorized to offer the following degree courses:

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Master of Laws (LLM)
Doctorate Degree in Law

The college currently has three semesters academic year comprising of two semesters.

The first semester starts in September and ends in December while the second semester runs from January to June.

The third one runs during July and August.

Each semester has an intake capacity of fifty students only.

7. Hawassa University College of Law

Hawassa University College of Law (HUCL), is a law school that was established in 2007. HUCL is one of the three accredited private universities in Ethiopia by the Ministry of Education and is located in Hawassa, Oromia region, south-west Ethiopia.

The university has six undergraduate programs and two post-graduate programs as well as offering distance learning courses.

It also runs an Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS).

In 2016, Hawassa University College of Law received accreditation from the Bar Council of Ethiopia to run law courses.

8. Arba Minch University College of Law

The Arba Minch University College of Law is worth mentioning amongst the list of law schools in Ethiopia

Arba Minch University College of Law is located in Arba Minch, Ethiopia.

The school was founded in 1998 during the Ethiopian New Regime and became functional from the year 2000/2001 academic session.

Arba Minch University College of Law is affiliated with Arba Minch University, which is one of the fastest-growing universities in the country.

This college offers both the LLB (Bachelor of Laws) and LLM (Master of Laws) degrees and has partnerships with some leading foreign universities for providing students with opportunities for pursuing their graduate studies abroad.

The College has been equally instrumental in producing several successful graduates and postgraduates who hold various government positions at federal, regional, and local levels. Some are also working in different private companies as successful professionals with good records of service and contributions to their communities.

Worthy of mentioning is that the Arba Minch University College of Law also offers several scholarships, awarded on a merit basis to deserving students from all over the country including members from disadvantaged communities, women, physically challenged and children from a poor background.

9. Wollega University School of Law

Wollega University School of Law also listed among the list of law schools in Ethiopia. The law school was established by the Ethiopian government in the early 1990s. Currently, it is located in Hawassa, 200 km (124 mi) south of Addis Ababa.

The law school has three departments: Civil Law, Criminal Law, and Public Law.

There are approximately 150 students enrolled in Wollega University School of Law at any one time.

However, some students transfer to other universities after completing the first year.

The law school also accepts a limited number of foreign exchange students each year from countries such as Germany, France, and Belgium.

10. Gondar University College of Law

Gondar University College of Law is a law school established in 2003 and it is located in the city of Gondar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Gondar University College of Law

It offers mostly undergraduate courses but a few graduate courses as well.

The school has been given the accreditation of the Ethiopian Ministry of Education with license number 5-2003/1/10-05-0.

The college has 6 faculties, namely:

Faculty of Law
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Faculty of Computer and Information Science

11. Haramaya University College of Law

Last on the list of Law schools in Ethiopia is the Haramaya University College of Law.

The law school was established by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

It offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study.

The university college provides Undergraduate Degree Programmes and Postgraduate Degree Programmes in different fields such as Law, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Banking and Finance, Marketing, English Language and so on.

Haramaya University College of Law (HUCL) offers Undergraduate Degree Programmes in different fields such as Law, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Banking and Finance, Marketing, and so on.

HUCL provides Postgraduate Degree Programs in several fields such as; Master of Science (MSc.) in Environmental Science, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts (MA) in Sociology/Anthropology/ Social Work/Public Health/Peace & Conflict Studies/Economics.

Concluding Remarks

In summary, it is worth noting that applying to law school in Ethiopia is a serious matter and not something to be taken lightly or treated as casually as with other academic studies.

This timely blog post contains information about all of the accredited, degree-granting institutions that offer law degrees in Ethiopia.

However, there are also many smaller, secondary law schools in the country that are not accredited by any sort of national governing body, and would not be included in the post.

So it is imperative to slowly read through this post from the beginning till to end to equip yourself with the right knowledge if you are considering a career pursuit in law.

That said, if you found this post informative and quite helpful, please kindly drop a word of appreciation at the comment section below.

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List Of Law Schools In Ethiopia (2023-2024)

List Of Law Schools In Ethiopia