Ghana School of Law accepts fewer students than most people realise, and fees keep rising

Ghana School of Law accepts fewer students than most people realise, and fees keep rising

Ghana School of Law is the gateway to practising law in the country, but few aspiring lawyers pass the mandatory entrance exam. As a premier institution for professional legal training, GSLAW maintains rigorous academic standards and its fees are controlled by the General Legal Council.

Ghana School of Law students and logo
Ghana School of Law students during the induction ceremony on January 17, 2025 (L) and the school logo (R). Photo: @gslawofficial (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Ghana School of Law applicants must have an LLB from an approved Ghanaian university or recognised degrees from common law jurisdictions.
  • GSLAW offers two statutory programs, the Professional Law Course and the Post-Call Law Course, and a non-statutory program for a certificate in Criminal Prosecution and Litigation.
  • To gain admission to the Ghana School of Law, applicants must pass the entrance exam administered by the Independent Examinations Committee.

About the Ghana School of Law

The Ghana School of Law was founded in 1958 through the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the country's first president. Soon after Ghana's independence, Nkrumah recognised the need for lawyers and legal practitioners to train in and serve the region. Before its establishment, aspiring Ghanaian lawyers travelled to the UK.

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GSLAW is the only institution in Ghana approved by the General Legal Council to offer professional legal training required to practice law in the country. With four campuses in Makola, GIMPA, Kumasi, and UPSA, it has maintained the status of a prestigious legal education centre in Ghana and beyond.

Ghana School of Law students
Ghana School of Law students during the Kumasi Induction Ceremony in February 2026. Photo: @gslaw_official (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Ghana School of Law courses

The Ghana School of Law focuses on professional legal training rather than undergraduate law degrees. They offer two academic programmes divided into statutory and non-statutory. The Independent Examinations Committee (IEC) conducts examinations for courses offered at GSLAW.

1. Statutory programmes

Ghana School of Law offers two statutory programmes, including the Professional Law Course (PLC) and the Post-Call Law Course. The PLC is a two-year programme for Bachelor of Law graduates from accredited universities in Ghana and other common law jurisdictions.

Upon successful completion of the Professional Law Course, successful candidates are called to the Bar as Barristers-at-Law and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Ghana. PLC is split into two parts, as highlighted in the table:

Part 1

Part 2

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Advocacy and Legal Ethics

Civil Procedure

Conveyancing and Drafting

Company and Commercial Practice

Family Law and Practice

Criminal Procedure

Interpretation of Deeds and Statute

Law of Evidence

Law Practice Management and Legal Accountancy

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The Post-Call Law Course is a one-year programme designed for lawyers who have already been called to the Bar in a foreign common law jurisdiction with legal frameworks similar to Ghana's. If the attorneys wish to practice in Ghana law firms, the course introduces them to the country's legal system.

The programme is open to both Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian citizens. Successful students qualify to be enrolled as Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

2. Non-statutory programmes

The Ghana School of Law offers a six-month non-residential professional certificate course in Criminal Prosecution and Litigation. The program aims to bridge the gap between basic legal practice training provided to prosecutors and investigators and high-level professional legal education for defence counsel.

The Criminal Prosecution and Litigation course is expected to increase these officers' understanding of criminal procedures, allowing them to perform better when preparing and prosecuting criminal cases. The course content and target group are as highlighted:

Course content

Target group

  • Sources of Ghanaian Law
  • General Principles of Criminal Liability
  • General Defences
  • Parties to a Crime
  • Domestic Disputes
  • Offences Against Children And Other Vulnerable Persons
  • Indecent Assault and Sexual Offences
  • Procurement and Abduction
  • And other key areas of criminal prosecution practice
  • Ghana Police Service
  • Customs, Excise & Preventive Service (CEPS)
  • Immigration Service
  • Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)
  • Narcotics Control Commission (NACOB)
  • National Security
  • Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • FDA
  • Ghana Standards Authority

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What are the entry requirements for the Ghana School of Law?

To gain entry into a Professional Law Course, you must first pass the Ghana School of Law's entrance exams and the selection interview. Those eligible include:

  1. Ghanaian public university LLB graduates: From institutions such as the University of Ghana, GIMPA, and KNUST, approved by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and General Legal Council (GLC).
  2. Ghanaian private university LLB graduates: From institutions accredited by NAB and GLC.
  3. Foreign LLB graduates: Can be Ghanaian LLB graduates or holders of law degrees from the UK, Canada, the USA, and other common law countries. They are eligible to apply if they pass specific subjects in their LLB program, including:
  • Ghana Constitutional Law
  • Ghana Legal System and Methods
  • Criminal Law
  • Law of Equity and Succession
  • Law of Torts
  • Law of Contract
  • Law of Immovable Property
  • Company Law
  • Commercial Law

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Ghana School of Law students
Ghana School of Law students during the induction ceremony on December 11, 2021. Photo: @gslawofficial (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

To be eligible for enrollment into the Post-Call Law courses at the Ghana School of Law, applicants must be:

  1. Ghanaian citizens who are qualified to practice law abroad in countries with legal systems similar to Ghana's.
  2. Non-Ghanaian attorneys from countries with a reciprocal agreement with Ghana.

To meet the Ghana School of Law requirements for Post-Call Law, both Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian citizens should have studied the following subjects or their equivalents:

  • Law of Contract
  • Law of Torts
  • Criminal Law
  • Law of Immovable Property
  • Equity of Succession
  • Company Law
  • Commercial Law
  • One elective, either Natural Resources Law, Law of Taxation, Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, or Labour Law.
Ghana School of Law campus
The Ghana School of Law main campus in Accra, Ghana. Photo: @gslawofficial (modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Ghana School of Law online application process

Application to the Ghana School of Law is an online process managed by the IEC of the General Legal Council. Applicants need a serial number and PIN before filling out the main form. Follow these simple steps to apply online:

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  • Visit the IEC website
  • Select Entrance Examination
  • Click on Purchase Voucher
  • Pay the non-refundable fee of GH¢200 using Mobile Money or Visa/Mastercard. You will receive the voucher details via SMS.
  • Return to the IEC website and click on Application Portal
  • Enter your E-Voucher Serial Number and PIN
Ghana School of Law application
Ghana School of Law application window. Photo: @iec-glc (modified by author)
Source: UGC
  • Pay an additional application fee of GH¢715 through the portal
  • Upload the requested documents, including a Ghana Card, a recent passport photo, and certified true copies of your LLB Certificate and final LLB transcripts.
  • Choose your preferred Examination Centre, which cannot be changed once selected.
  • Complete the form and submit
  • You will receive an SMS and email containing your index number, which will be required to access your Ghana School of Law student portal.
Ghana School of Law portal
Ghana School of Law students' records portal. Photo: @gslaw.school (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Ghana School of Law academic calendar

The school calendar at the Ghana School of Law typically runs from October to June of every academic year. Final exams are administered at the end of a program, usually around June/July. The 2025/2026 term dates are as follows:

Term

Dates

Term 1

October 27, 2025, to December 22, 2025

Term 2

January 12, 2026, to April 1, 2026

Term 3

April 9, 2026, to June 30, 2026

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Ghana School of Law fees schedule

GSLAW's governing council releases the fee structure for every academic session. The school accepts payments in instalments, and the first fee instalment must be paid during the first term.

Students must also pay their examination fees before registering for exams. Prospective applicants can contact the institution to get the latest Ghana School of Law fees PDF.

Where is the Ghana School of Law located?

GSLAW’s main campus is in Makola, Accra, near the Supreme Court of Ghana. The institution has three other campuses at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Campus

Physical address

Tel No.

Email

Main Campus

Independence Ave, Makola, Accra

+233 307 003 231

+233 307 003 230

enquiries@gslaw.edu.gh

Kumasi Campus

ICIL Building, Mango Lane, KNUST, Ashanti

+233 245 619 968

kumasicampus@gslaw.edu.gh

Greenhill Campus

GIMPA Law Faculty, Accra

+233 207 376 549

greenhillcampus@gslaw.edu.gh

UPSA Campus

UPSA Campus, Madina

+233 244 925 844

upsacampus@gslaw.edu.gh

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Who is the director of the Ghana School of Law?

Professor Raymond Akongburo Atuguba is the director of the Ghana School of Law as of 2026. He took office on September 1, 2025, in an acting capacity after former director Justice Nana Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong was recalled to the judiciary.

Professor Raymond Atuguba in Accra
Professor Raymond Atuguba as he assumes office as acting director of the Ghana School of Law on September 1, 2025, in Accra, Ghana. Photo: @gslaw_official (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

How much are the University of Ghana law school fees?

The University of Ghana School of Law offers undergraduate, post-first degree, master's, and PhD courses. According to the 2025/2026 fees structure, prospective UG Law students should expect to pay the following amounts.

UG Law programme

Fees

LLB (Regular)

GH¢2,814 (for freshmen)

GH¢2,269 (for continuing)

LLB (Fee-paying)

GH¢6,757 (for freshmen)

GH¢6,212 (for continuing)

Post First Degree Law (Regular and special program)

GH¢14,443

LLM (special program)

GH¢22,884

How long is the School of Law in Ghana?

Becoming a qualified lawyer in Ghana typically requires 5 to 6 years. The first step is to obtain an LLB from an accredited university for 3 to 4 years. Graduates then need to pass the entrance exam to the Ghana School of Law to study PLC for an additional 2 years before they qualify as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

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Which is the best law school in Ghana?

The University of Ghana School of Law is considered the best law school in Ghana and West Africa in 2026, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject. UGSoL ranks 6th in Africa.

Can a UK lawyer practice in Ghana?

UK attorneys can practice in Ghana because of the common law jurisdiction. They must first complete and pass the Post-Call Law Course offered by the Ghana School of Law and be called to the Bar.

Legal court
Legal court concept. Photo: Andrey Popov (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Conclusion

For nearly seven decades, the Ghana School of Law has been a privilege that aspiring lawyers strive to obtain. As the demand for legal services increases in Ghana and West Africa, GSLAW continues to ensure only the best legal minds qualify to serve the region.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

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Authors:
Chris Ndetei avatar

Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a Diploma in ICT and has over four years of experience in SEO writing. Christopher specialises in lifestyle and entertainment coverage, with a focus on biographies, life hacks, gaming, and guides. He has completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques (2023) and earned the Google News Initiative Certificate (2024). In recognition of his work, he was named Yen Writer of the Year in 2024. You can connect with him via email at chrisndetei@gmail.com.

Adrianna Simwa avatar

Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Yen.com.gh where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com