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Career Opportunities in Law: Some Evidence on Career Choices of Nigerian Law
Students
GLORY O. ONOYEYAN
1
OLUDAYO J. BAMGBOSE
2
Abstract
The significance of career choice in human life cannot be overstated. Many law students upon graduation do
not proceed to mainstream legal practice. They pursue careers in public administration, Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR), as corporate secretaries, and so on. The aim of this study is to confirm the readiness of law stu-
dents to proceed to legal practice upon graduation and to assess their level of career awareness in relation to law-
related careers. The study also determined the areas of interest of law students in law-related careers. The study
employed the survey research design in which questionnaires were used to collect data from the twelve universities
that run the approved undergraduate law program up to 500 level in south-west Nigeria. Krejcie and Morgan’s
formula was used to select the sample size of 597. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results
showed that a majority of law students do not wish to proceed into mainstream legal practice. Law students’
career intentions are in a variety of legal careers.
INTRODUCTION
The significance of career choice in human life cannot be overstated. Career choice is a significant decision
in the life of an individual. The choice of a career for an individual is significant because it is a means of sustenance,
fulfilment, confidence, accomplishment, and security. Making an appropriate career decision is essential to lead a
satisfying life.
3
Career choice remains a worrisome problem among Nigerian students across the country as many
students are dependent on chance and luck elements in career decision-making, and are not aware of new career
opportunities.
4
As a result of the dynamism of life, many professions are evolving. The legal industry includes a
wide range of law-related professions, ranging from legal practitioner, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) prac-
titioner, legal secretary, law teacher, to academic law librarian, law firm librarian, public administrator, human
resources manager, to legal reporter. Law students are open to several career paths. It has been reported that
1
© Glory O. Onoyeyan 2019. The author holds LLB, MLIS, Ph.D., and CLN degrees. Dr. Onoyeyan is the Law Librarian at
Babcock University, Iperu-Remo, Nigeria.
2
© Oludayo John Bamgbose 2019. The author holds BLIS, MLIS, LLB, BL, and CLN degrees. Mr. Bamgbose is a faculty
member at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria, where he works as Law Librarian and Law Lecturer.
3
F. M. Modupe, “Economic Implication of Poverty Alleviation Programmes on Rural Women in Ondo State: Case Study of
Country Women Association of Nigeria.”Journal of Social Sciences 4, (2008): 352–357..
4
N. Ofem and A. Ajayi, “Effects of Youth Empowerment Strategies on Conflict Res olutions in the Niger Delta of Nigeria:
Evidence from Cross River State,”Journal of Agricultural Rural Development, 6 nos. 1 & 2 (2008): 139–146, . Available at
http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/%EE%80%80JARD%EE%80%81/article/viewFile-/1671/189.
International Journal of Legal Information 47.3, 2019, pp. 132–140. © The Author(s) 2020
doi:10.1017/jli.2019.27
132
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lawyers move out of the legal profession to pursue a variety of alternative careers. The majority of law students do
not wish to pursue a career in mainstream legal practice. To this end, there has been an increase of lawyers in admin-
istrative positions, and other positions.
5
LAW-RELATED CAREERS
Traditionally, the legal industry covers professions in the areas of law, courts, law enforcement, corrections,
and rehabilitation. However, this industry also includes a wide range of legal-related occupations that are found in
other fields and industries. Many of these professions offer different litigation services to attorneys, such as trial con-
sulting, expert witness services, or private investigation. Some professionals perform legal-related work in such areas
as compliance, conflict resolution, contract administration, patent prosecution, or human resource management.
Other legal-related occupations are found in the areas of politics, publishing, education, career services, and
library services.
6
Borchert
7
observes that before graduating, some students have not considered enough alternative
occupational options in career selection. Before making a career choice, students must have access to a number of
career options from which they can make a choice. They can make better decisions about their career paths when
they know and understand the career options open to them. Echaore-McDavid
8
listed 107 related occupations
ranging from legal practitioner, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practitioner, legal secretary, law teacher,
real estate attorney, judges, court mediator, information technology professional, legal secretary, paralegal, legal
administrator, marketing manager (law firm), legal technology consultant, legal search consultant, demonstrative
evidence specialist, private investigator, litigation consultant, criminologist, court administrator, criminal investiga-
tor, victim services specialist, to academic law librarian, law firm librarian, patent agent, human resources manager,
to legal reporter, and many more.
CAREER AWARENESS OF LAW STUDENTS
Career awareness is knowing the difference between jobs, occupations, and careers, and being aware of a
wide range of local, regional, national, and global career pathways and opportunities while giving consideration
to economic, cultural influences, and the impact of stereotypes on career choice.
9
Anderson
10
believes that career
awareness is the degree to which students have awareness of a profession. It includes developing an understanding
of one’s personal capabilities and liabilities such as one’s values, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal traits and
desired lifestyle, personal strengths and weaknesses which will put him/her in a better position to evaluate educa-
tional options and career alternatives best suited to him. It aims at helping individuals investigate various career
options available in the world of work.
TWIC
11
concludes that students who are enabled to effectively navigate the pathways that connect education
to employment are prepared to achieve fulfilling and successful careers. Gunkel and Schlaegel
12
point out that stu-
dents who are aware of careers are able to make better career decisions than those who have limited knowledge of
5
R. Bowman, “When a Law Degree Is Not Enough: The Necessity of a Second Professional Degree for Lawyers,”(2010).
Available at http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1831&context=etd.
6
S. Echaore-McDavid, Career Opportunities in Law and the Legal Industry, 2d ed. (New York: Ferguson, Infobase
Publishing, 2007).
7
M. Borchert, Career Choice Factors of High School Student’s. Available at http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/
2002/2002borchertm.pdf.
8
Ibid.
9
J. Kolbert, R. Williams, L. Morgan, L. Crothers, & T. Hughes, Introduction to Professional School Counselling:
Advocacy, Leadership and Intervention (London: Routledge, 2016).
10
L. Anderson, Career Awareness: Second Careers, Career Re-Entry (2012). Available at http://www.mwrtba.org/cutc-
workforce/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Session-4-Plenary-L-Anderson.pdf.
11
TWIC, Career Awareness Model, 2013. Available at http://gov.texas.gov/files/twic/Career_Awareness_Model.pdf.
12
M. Gunkel & C. Scnlaegel, The Influence of Personality on Students’Career Decisiveness: A Comparison Between
Chinese and German Economics and Management Students, 2010. Available at http://www.hampp-ejournals.de/hampp-
verlag services/get?file=/frei/mrev_3_2010_229.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL INFORMATION2019] 133
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careers and the world of work. Denga
13
also affirms that awareness of careers influences individuals in making
informed career choices. Oesch and Bower
14
believe that awareness of careers allows students to effectively
manage the rapidly changing labour markets, and allows them to play an active role in planning their careers.
Petters and Asuquo
15
observe that students have limited and unreliable information to guide them in their choice
of career and this accounts for the reason they end up leading an unsatisfying career life. Odo
16
posits that the
choice of career is a lifelong process of decision-making in which the students seek to find the optimal link
between their career preparation, goals, and the realities of the world of work.
Making career decisions is essential for leading a satisfying life.
17
Hence, it is imperative that law students
acquire information about their interests and abilities, and knowledge of various legal careers. However,
Rutakumwa, Krogma,
18
and Olorunda
19
observe that students rely on accidental career information and on
chance to guide their career paths. Arulmani and Nag-Arulmani,
20
Petters, and Asuquo
21
report that students’
career awareness is extremely low in Nigeria.
The American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, Task Force on Law
Schools and the Profession, in its MacCrate Report points out that law students generally lack knowledge about the
legal profession. Many law students upon graduation do not proceed to mainstream legal practice. They pursue
careers in other legal fields as corporate secretariat, human resources, journalism, arbitration, public administration,
and many more. Berkovic
22
and Smith
23
also report that many law students do not go into the mainstream legal prac-
tice upon graduation. They pursue other career paths, using the law degree only to gain entry to a wider range of
professions.
In recent times, several new high profile and lucrative professions offering promises of fulfilling careers to
the young ones have evolved across the globe.
24
Hence society has experienced an expansive range of occupations
around the world. There is need therefore, for career awareness, which will make students conscious of various occu-
pations, and have the knowledge of the world of work in the context of their capabilities, aptitudes, interests, and
values. Students will therefore make informed decisions based on various options that they are aware of.
Echaore-McDavid
25
also reports that there is a variety of occupations and career options available in the legal
industry.
13
D. Denga, Guidance and Counselling in School and Non-School Settings, 2nd ed. (Port Harcourt: Double Diamond
Publications, 2001).
14
M. Oesch & C. Bower, Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE & ESOL Classroom, 2009. Available at https://www.
in.gov/dwd/files/ICA_Curriculum_Guide.pdf.
15
J. S. Petters & P. N. Asuquo. “The Awareness of Occupational and Labour Market Information among In-School Youths
in Calabar, Nigeria.”Journal of Social Sciences 20 (2009).
16
M. I. Odo, “Sustaining Occupational Information for Career Choice and Development in Students of Technical Colleges
in Enugu State, Nigeria.”Journal of Technical Education and Training 7 (2015). Available at http://penerbit.uthm.edu.my/ojs/
index.php/JTET/article/view/803/698.
17
F. M. Modupe, “Economic Implication of Poverty Alleviation Programmes on Rural Women in Ondo State: Case Study
of Country Women Association of Nigeria.”Journal of Social Sciences 4 (2008): 352–357.
18
W. Rutakumwa & N. T. Krogman, Rural Uganda Women’s Views. 48 (49) WE International 28–19, 2000.
19
O. Olorunda, Women’s Information Needs for Economic Development. A paper delivered at the 70th IFLA General
Conference and Council held in Argentina August 22–27, 2004.
20
G. Arulmani & S. Nag-Arulmani, Work Orientations and Responses To Career Choices –Indian Regional Survey
(WORCC-IRS) Draft Report for discussion at the National Consultation on Career Psychology (NCCP) 6 and 7 January
2006 Whitefield, Bangalore, India. Available at http://www.thepromisefoundation.org/TPFWO.pdf.
21
Supra at note 15.
22
N. Berkovic, “Fewer Law Graduates are Choosing Practice as a Career.”The Australian (2011, July 1). Available at
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/fewer-law-graduates-are-choosing-practice-as-a-career/story-e6frg97x-
1226085138499.
23
P. Smith, The Legal Education - Legal Practice Relationship: A Critical Evaluation. Hallam University Research
Archive (SHURA), 2015. Available at http://shura.shu.ac.uk/10826/1/SmithPetemlr.pdf.
24
J. B. Oluwatimilehin & O. J. Wale, “Career Aspirations: An Investigation of Senior Secondary School Students’
Awareness of Contemporary High-Profile Careers.”European Scientific Journal 8 (2009). Available at http://eujournal.org/
index.php/esj/article/viewFile/4603/4399.
25
Supra.
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LAW STUDENTS AND CAREER INTENTIONS
Many law students upon graduation do not proceed to mainstream legal practice. It has been observed that
they pursue careers in corporate secretariat, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), human resources, journalism,
and so on. Many students get admission into law school without a clear knowledge of whether they want to practice
law.
26
A United Kingdom study conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency [HESA] reported in The
Guardian
27
revealed that 54.5 percent of law graduates in 2009 got jobs in accountancy, personnel relations, adver-
tising and recruitment, public administration, finance, and education. Berkovic
28
reports that fewer law graduates are
making law practice a career choice. He also reports that the proportion of law graduates starting work in law firms
has dropped from 49.1 percent in 2005 to 43.7 percent in 2010. In contrast, the proportion of law graduates taking
jobs in industry jumped from 13.5 percent to 20.1 percent in the same five-year period. Smith
29
also reports that
many law students do not go into legal practice upon graduation; the law degree for them functioned as preparation
for a wider range of professions. In 2008, the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALP) found that one in
four associates resigned from their positions as practising lawyers within two years of starting.
30
Bowman
31
reports that lawyers move out of the legal profession, to pursue a variety of alternative careers, as
there has been an increase of lawyers in administrative positions, and other positions. Lawyers are also taking posi-
tions as high-ranking administrators of universities. Ravindra and Hedeen
32
reports that many law graduates have
bypassed law practice for a legal career in arbitration. Munneke
33
found that 80 percent of senior non-teaching
law school administrators are lawyers. He accredited the mobility from law practice to lawyers not undergoing dis-
illusionment over the career they had envisioned, or realizing that they made a mistake in their career choice. Arron
34
reported that in a survey of 1,000 lawyers in Maryland, a third of the lawyers were in doubt as to whether they would
continue practicing law, while dissatisfaction among in-house corporate counsel stood at a high percentage of 77
percent.
The American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, Task Force on Law
Schools and the Profession in its MacCrate Report points out that law students generally lack knowledge about the
legal profession. They lack knowledge on what legal occupations entail, and what the different paths for entry into
the legal profession are. The report concludes that the dissatisfaction among legal practitioners in the legal profession
is a result of the lack of understanding of the legal profession, including inadequate information regarding a life in the
legal world. Daicoff
35
reports that law students lack specific career interests and goals. The majority of them only
wish to further their education. Stevens
36
finds that undefined career goals and uncertainty about career was prev-
alent among law students. Similarly, Daicoff
37
also finds that law is a career for the uncommitted because it preserves
options, rather than requiring a decision to pursue particular employment goals. Many law students gain admission
into law school but not having a defined career path. They opt for a law career because they see a law degree as a
26
A. Haas, “The Rationality of Law Students’Career Choices.”Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest 10
(2006): 54–79. Available at Hein Online Database.
27
The Guardian,“I’m Studying Law but I Don’t Want to be a Lawyer,”May 30, 2014. Available at https://www.theguar-
dian.com/law/2014/may/30/students-alternative-careers-law-degree.
28
Supra.
29
Supra.
30
NALP: Update 2009. Update On Associate Attrition: Findings From a National Study of Law Firm Associate Hiring and
Departures: Calendar year 2008. Dallas: NALP.
31
Supra.
32
G. Ravindra & T. K. Hedeen, “Alternative Paths to Careers in ADR.”Dispute Resolution Magazine 21 (2015): 11–16.
33
G. Munneke, W. Henslee & E. Wayne, Nonlegal Careers for Lawyers, 5th ed. (Chicago: American Bar Association,
2006).
34
D. L. Arron, Running from the Law: Why Good Lawyers Are Getting Out of the Legal Profession (Seattle: Decision
Books, 2004).
35
S. Daicoff, “Lawyer, Know Thyself: A Review of Empirical Research on Attorney Attributes Bearing on
Professionalism.”American University Law Review 45 45 (1997). Available at http://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/
viewcontent.cgi?article=1406&context=aulr.
36
R. B. Stevens, Law Schools and Law Students, Faculty Scholarship Series. 4187 (1973). Available at https://digitalcom-
mons.law.yale.edu/fss_papers/4187.
37
Supra.
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good general degree that could be used in many different work settings.
38
Daicoff
39
reports that the legal profession
frequently attracts students who are uncertain about their ultimate occupational goal. Haas
40
argues that law students
are influenced in their career decision-making by how they are perceived by others in society, because the law pro-
fession enjoys great popularity as a result of the great potential it impacts on social status and economic condition.
The study of law prepares its graduates for a wide range of employment options.
41
It is argued that law stu-
dents’unawareness of other law-related careers would affect their career choices since they cannot choose an occu-
pation about which they are unaware of the realities of practice and the potential paths to a variety of careers within
the profession.
Haas
42
avers that social norms have a significant influence on the career behavior of law students. He insists
that law students are influenced in their career decision-making by how they are perceived by others in the context of
prevailing social norms. He also reports that the concept of altruism would encourage lawyers and law students to
consider working in public interest settings, in order to tackle the increasing rates of dissatisfaction among law stu-
dents and lawyers. Dubin
43
finds that law students had greater than average concern for social altruism. The motive
for a career choice for aspiring lawyers is a desire to do something useful for society, and to make life better for one’s
fellow man. Pratt and Allen
44
encourage law students to examine their core values in order to improve the larger,
social good, for altruistic improvement. Dubin
45
however, finds that the altruistic motivation of a law student can
easily be undermined by a law school culture, which places a higher value on excellent grades, moot court achieve-
ment, law review, and high-income future job possibilities. Hence, the altruistic motivation of a law student to
become a lawyer will often be lost. Similarly, Larry and Gantt
46
find that law school culture and the culture of
the legal profession pushes law students and lawyers to be externally motivated by external rewards such as
grades, competition successes, and litigation victories.
Cavenagh, Dewberry, and Jones
47
in their study of first year law students found that approximately 23
percent of law students indicated that they might not want to pursue a career specifically in law (that is, as a barrister
or a solicitor). Thielens,
48
in a similar study, found that 9 percent of law students do not wish to pursue a career in
law. Whilst 64 percent of medical students felt that medicine was the only career that could satisfy them, only 30
percent of law entrants expressed a similar attitude towards law. Similarly, Haas
49
reports that most law students
are uncertain of their career preferences, and were convinced to go to law school because of the wide coverage
of the subject matter of law, and the fact that it was a good general degree that could be used in many different
work settings.
Cavenagh, Dewberry, and Jones
50
also found that 23 percent of law students indicated that they might not
want to go into mainstream legal practice. Similarly, Taylor, Cheer, Baird, Caldwell, and Wilson
51
also found that 26
38
A. Haas, “The Rationality of Law Students’Career Choices.”Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest 10
(2006): 54–79. Available at Hein Online Database.
39
Supra.
40
Supra.
41
Ibid.
42
Supra.
43
L. Dubin, “Advice to Prospective Law Students.”University of Detroit Mercy Law Review 80 (2003): 475–478.
Available at the Hein Online Database.
44
J. Pratt and W. Allen, “The Pursuit of the Public Interest: Social and Ideological Factors Influencing Career Choice of
First-Year Law Students,”Journal of Criminal Justice Education 27 (2016): 76–94.
45
Ibid.
46
O. Larry and N. Gantt, “Teaching Agape to Law Students,”Journal of Christian Legal Thought 6 (2016). Available at
https://www.christianlegalsociety.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/CLSJournal_Winter-2016_web.pdf.
47
P. Cavenagh, C. Dewberry & P. Jones, “Becoming Professional: When and How Does it Start? A Comparative Study of
First-Year Medical And Law Students in the UK,”Medical Education 34 (2000): 897–902.
48
W. Thielens, “Some Comparisons of Entrants to Medical and Law School.”Journal of Legal Education 11 (1958): 153–170.
Available at http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/42891198.pdf.
49
Supra.
50
Supra.
51
L. Taylor, U. Cheer, N. Baird, J. Caldwell & D. Wilson, The Making of Lawyers: Expectations and Experiences of First
Year New Zealand Law Students. Available at https://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/download/ng/file/group-7/s1403-the-making-of-
lawyers.pdf.
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percent of law students do not plan to venture into mainstream legal practice, but to pursue careers in non-govern-
mental or community-based organizations.
Haas
52
reports that law students are vulnerable to external influences of the environment because their career
preferences are not certain. He further states that most law students are uncertain of their career preferences, and were
convinced to go to law school because of the wide coverage of the subject matter of law, and the fact that it was a
good general degree that could be used in many different work settings. Making career decisions is essential in order
to lead a satisfying life.
53
Hence, it is imperative that law students acquire information on knowledge about their
interests and abilities, and knowledge of various legal careers.
The failure to determine a clear career path is indicative of a lack of awareness as regards career options.
TWIC points out that emerging new jobs are continually being created in the economy. Hence, students must
decide between numerous complex and interconnected academic and career choices of multiple pathways which
pass through various postsecondary education opportunities, and lead to a variety of industries with continuously
evolving occupations.
It is argued that law students who do not wish to pursue a legal career in traditional law practice can use their
legal education and training in a number of alternative legal careers.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Law students upon graduation pursue careers in other fields as corporate secretaries, human resources, jour-
nalism, insurance, real property, investment banking, public policy/public administration teaching, and so on.
Bowman (2010) reports that lawyers opt out of legal practice to pursue a variety of second careers. This article
sought to gather evidence to confirm whether law students proceed to mainstream legal practice, and to determine
the legal careers that appeal to law students. It also sought to ascertain the level of career awareness of law students in
relation to legal careers.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are to:
1. Gather evidence to confirm the intention of law students in south-west Nigeria to pursue a career in
mainstream legal practice.
2. Ascertain the level of career awareness of law students in south-west Nigeria in relation to legal careers.
3. Identify the legal careers that appeal to law students in south-west Nigeria.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Based on the objectives, the following research questions are raised:
1. What is the intention of law students in south-west Nigeria to pursue a career in mainstream legal
practice?
2. What is the level of career awareness of law students in south-west Nigeria in relation to legal careers?
3. What legal careers appeal to law students in south-west Nigeria?
SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
The study was limited to the universities that offer approved law programmes up to 500 level in south-west
Nigeria, as shown in Table 1.1. The study involved law students nearing graduation (the 4th year and 5th year stu-
dents). The study adopted the survey design. The target population for this study comprised law students at the 400
and 500 levels in universities that run approved undergraduate law programme in south-west Nigeria. There are
52
Supra.
53
F. M. Modupe, “Economic Implication of Poverty Alleviation Programmes on Rural Women in Ondo State: Case Study
of Country Women Association of Nigeria.”Journal of Social Sciences 4 (2008): 352–357.
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fourteen universities that run approved law programmes in south-west Nigeria. Twelve of these universities run the
law programme up to 500 level at the time of this study. The total population of 400 and 500 law students in these
twelve universities in south-west Nigeria is 2,945. Krejcie and Morgan’s formula was used to select a sample size of
597 law students. The respondents were selected by proportionately allocating the sample to the selected universities
according to their student population. The instrument for data collection was a validated questionnaire. Out of the
597 copies of the questionnaire that were administered to the respondents, 561 copies of the questionnaire were
retrieved, representing 95 percent of returns.
Table 1.1 shows the distribution of respondents by institutions selected for the study. It reveals that out of the
twelve law schools, the highest percentage (18.2%) of the respondents were selected from University of Lagos,
closely followed by Obafemi Awolowo University (17.3%). Others include Afe Babalola University (10.7%),
Olabisi Onabanjo University (10.7%), among others.
Table 1.2 revealed that the majority of the respondents (56.7%) were in 400 level while 43 percent were in
500 level respectively. Besides, the table shows that more females (65.2%) participated in the study than their male
counterparts (34.8%).
Table 1.3 shows that the majority of the respondents (61.3%) do not have the intention to proceed to main-
stream legal practice, while 33.3 percent have the intention to pursue legal practice. Thirty respondents (5.3%) did
not indicate whether or not they had an intention to go into mainstream legal practice.
Table 1.4 indicates that the respondents were moderately aware of career options in the field of law (mean =
3.13). This means that the respondents were moderately aware of career interests, including ability to make a success
of the career they are interested in, and of what legal career means as well as aware of the strengths and weaknesses of
the individual students. This level of awareness also involves being aware of various law-related careers, reasons
they want to get into some careers, knowledge of the careers that will give optimum satisfaction, knowledge of
how personal abilities and interests might relate to different kinds of legal jobs, awareness of legal careers that
are available in the country, awareness of different alternative careers available in the field of law, knowledge of
TABLE 1.1
Distribution of Respondents by Institutions
Name of Institution Frequency Percentage
Osun State University 20 3.6
Crescent University Abeokuta 18 3.2
Obafemi Awolowo University 97 17.3
Babcock University 40 7.1
University of Ibadan 59 10.5
Lagos State University 32 5.7
University of Lagos 102 18.2
Afe Babalola University 60 10.7
Adekunle Ajasin University 27 4.8
Ekiti State University 26 4.6
Olabisi Onabanjo University 60 10.7
Bowen University Iwo 20 3.6
Total 561 100.0
TABLE 1.2
Distribution of the Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents
Characteristics Classification Frequency Percentage
Level 400 level 318 56.7
500 level 243 43.3
Total 561 100
Gender Male 195 34.8
Female 366 65.2
Total 561 100.0
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the training requirements for various law-related careers, knowledge of various working conditions for law-related
careers and knowledge of the relationship between various law-related jobs.
The table indicates that the legal career choice most appealing to the respondents was Judicial Officer
(15.2%), closely followed by estate administration (14.3%), and ADR (13.4%). Other legal careers that appeal to
TABLE 1.3
Distribution Respondents’Career Intentions in Mainstream Legal Practice
Intention to pursue a career mainstream legal practice
Response Frequency Percentage
Yes 187 33.3
No 344 61.3
Total 531 94.7
Missing (No response) 30 5.3
561 100.0
TABLE 1.4
Level of Career Awareness of Law Students in South-West Nigeria
Career Awareness
Extremely
Aware
Moderately
Aware
Slightly
Aware
Not
Aware Mean
Std.
Deviation
I know my career interests 314(56.0) 180(32.1) 56(10.0) 11(2.0) 3.42 .75
I have the intellectual ability to make a success of the career I am
interested in
282(50.3) 219(39.0) 53(9.4) 7 (1.2) 3.38 .71
I understand what legal career means 267(47.6) 221(39.4) 60(10.7) 13(2.3) 3.32 .76
I know my strengths and weaknesses 264(47.1) 217(38.7) 64(11.4) 16(2.9) 3.30 .78
I know what I want to choose for a career 280(49.9) 183(32.6) 82(14.6) 16(2.9) 3.30 .82
I am aware of various law-related careers 223(39.8) 260(46.3) 73(13.0) 5(0.9) 3.25 .71
I know why I want to get into some careers 243(43.3) 222(39.6) 79(14.1) 17(3.0) 3.23 .80
I know careers that will give me optimum satisfaction 229(40.8) 241(43.0) 78(13.9) 13(2.3) 3.22 .77
I know how my abilities and interests might relate to different
kinds of legal jobs
205(36.5) 261(46.5) 80(14.2) 15(2.7) 3.17 .77
I know my abilities in terms of career involvement 175(31.2) 273(48.7) 107(19.1) 6(1.1) 3.10 .73
I am aware of legal careers that are available in the country 165(29.4) 273(48.7) 112(20.0) 11(2.0) 3.06 .76
I am aware of the different alternative careers available in the field
of law
165(29.4) 304(54.2) 118(21.0) 16(2.9) 2.95 .74
I know the training requirements for various law-related careers 122(21.7) 264(47.1) 132(23.5) 43(7.7) 2.83 .86
I know various working conditions for law-related careers 87(15.5) 256(45.6) 188(33.5) 30(5.3) 2.71 .79
I know the relationship between various law-related jobs 77(13.7) 270(48.1) 184(32.8) 30(5.3) 2.70 .77
Average mean = 3.13
TABLE 1.5
Selected Legal Careers
Legal Careers Frequency Percentage
Judicial officer (Magistrate, Judge) 217 15.2%
Estate administration (real estate) 203 14.3%
Alternative Dispute Resolution ADR 191 13.4%
Corporate secretaries 151 10.6%
Criminal Investigation 151 10.6%
Law teacher 139 9.8%
Human resources 126 8.8%
Non-profit organization 83 5.8%
Legal Reporter (Journalism) 76 5.3%
Law librarianship 67 4.7%
Others (please state) 20 1.4%
Total 1424 100.0%
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL INFORMATION2019] 139
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respondents were corporate secretaries (10.6%), law teacher (9.8%), with law librarianship (4.7%) being the least
appealing career among respondents. The 1.4 percent under ‘Other’include business, entrepreneurship, Embassy
employee, Civil Servant, and practice areas in admiralty, maritime, oil and gas law, energy, international commercial
law, corporate law, banking, insurance, and health.
CONCLUSION
There are more jobs outside the traditional legal realm. Legal education is preparing law students for more
than they realize. The study revealed that most law students do not intend to pursue a career in mainstream legal
practice. The reason for this is not ascertained in this study. The study also showed that law students are aware
of alternative career options in the field of law. The legal careers that appeal to law students other than the main-
stream legal practice are varied, ranging from judicial worker, estate administration, Alternative Dispute
Resolution, corporate secretarial, criminal investigation, law teacher, human resources, non-profit organizations,
legal reporter (journalism), and law librarianship. This shows a greater desire to pursue a career in other areas of
law than mainstream legal practice.
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