EMPLOYABLE SKILLS THAT LEGAL EDUCATION SHOULD IMPART IN A 21ST CENTURY ATTORNEY*

Abstract

The world has continued to develop and the legal profession is not left behind. There have been innovations in various fields and the services of lawyers are inevitable. Thus, the need for lawyers to become acquainted with matching skills set cannot be overemphasized. Sadly, this has not been the case as Nigerian legal education system has not changed to meet the new demands. The universities and Law School are churning out lawyers who are illequipped to handle modern day realities. This paper discusses the current legal education system in Nigeria and also sets out different skills that a 21st century lawyer must possess. It advocates for a paradigm shift in the methodology of training lawyers in Nigeria, including but not limited to the introduction of modern subjects, mentoring of young lawyers by judges and successful lawyers, and mandatory continuing legal education for lawyers.