Academic Calendar
The course of study for the L.L.B. degree is five years. The normal academic year will run 32 weeks or eight calendar months during which time classes will be scheduled regularly.
Theory-Based Courses
Many of the first, second, and third year required courses are to help students to familiarize themselves with the major law subjects like contracts, property, extra-contractual liability, constitutional law, and criminal law. These courses will provide the students with an overview of the codes of Ethiopia and introduce the students to basic government policy.
Skills-Based Courses
Other courses in the first, second, and third year are designed to help the student learn by doing. This includes legal research and legal writing courses. By the fourth year students will be introduced to the practical aspects of the practice of law like trial advocacy, appellate advocacy, and legislative drafting.
Student Specialization
In the fourth and fifth years the students will have many opportunities to take elective courses. This will allow students to focus on areas that interest them most and examine in greater depth a particular subject area. There is an optional senior research paper that a student may write under the direction of a faculty expert.
Clinical Programs and Externship
The clinics and externship are to give the student the opportunity to gain practical work experience while still in school. Clinical programs will depend on the areas of expertise of the faculty and on the needs of the local community. Examples include Family Law Clinic, Restorative Justice Clinic, and Rights of Prisoners Clinic.
Exit Exams I and II
The law faculty will administer a national exit exam in the fifth year of study which will be a requirement for graduation.