Five female first-class law school graduates from the Lagos State University, who celebrated their remarkable academic achievement at the recent call-to-bar ceremony, share their experiences.
How do you feel about being the second-best graduating law school student?
I have felt different emotions since the day I learnt that I was the second-best graduating student. I have been stunned, numb, joyous and overwhelmed at the news. At first, I was disoriented. I was on a bus heading home when I got a call from my friend, excitedly telling me that I was the 2nd BGS. I remember feeling very hot at that instant. To be honest, I fantasised about being either the best graduating student or the second-best student while I was in law school, but I didn’t pursue it with vigour. What I wanted primarily was to make a first class and to become a double first-class lawyer. However, right now, I feel elated at this accomplishment.
What advice do you have for students about excelling in law school?
My advice is that success at the Nigerian Law School is 100 per cent achievable. It’s to know what works for you and decide what study methods align best with you. Law school is a personal journey, and it will be futile to do things just because everyone is doing them.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activity while on campus?
No, I wasn’t. For me, extracurricular activities were luxuries that I could not afford at law school. This is because even 24 hours in a day wasn’t enough for me to attend adequately to my coursework. I spent the first half of law school (before externship) forming my notes because I wanted to centralise my resources, and this meant that I had to work twice as hard to keep up with the class pace. I had no time to engage in extracurricular.
In what ways did your background mould you into the kind of student you were?
I come from a background where academic excellence was not the norm, and education was often undervalued by many around me. I attended one of the most under-resourced public secondary schools in Ikorodu (United Secondary School II, now Ayangburen). My parents are not formally educated, but they recognised the power of education as a pathway to a better life.
Did you start making excellent results from your 100-Level?
No, I started with a CGPA of 3.9 in my first year at LASU. It wasn’t bad, but I knew I could do better. I became more intentional and disciplined, and with consistent effort, I graduated with a 4.20.
What were the challenges you faced in the course of your law education?
One major challenge was the overwhelming syllabus. There was just so much to read, and I often found myself forgetting things I had studied. Another big challenge was figuring out the reading style that worked best for me.
What is your secret of success?
Discipline, hard work, and most importantly, the grace of God were my success secret.
What advice do you have for students with regard to excelling in law school?
Just do your best. Don’t measure your success with someone else’s ruler. Everyone’s pace is different, and not all advice will work for you. Be focused, and stay true to your own process. Most importantly, practice how to answer bar finals questions. Every course has a unique answering style. Everyone writes the same exam. Everyone is taught the same topics, but what sets people apart is how they approach those questions.
