LEGAL SKILL: ADVOCACY, LEGAL RESEARCH, & CLOSING OF FILES

Question 1

What are the Sources of Law in Nigeria?

Answer 1

1. Received English Law
2. Nigerian Legislation
3. Nigerian Case Laws/ Judicial Precedence
4. Customary Law
5. Islamic Law

Question 2

What are the classifications of Nigerian Law?

Answer 2

1. Primary sources
2. Secondary sources; and
3. Tertiary sources.

Question 3

What are examples of primary sources of law?

Answer 3

1. The Nigerian constitution
2. Books of Law such as statutes
3. Law Reports
4. The Quran

Question 4

What are examples of secondary sources of law?

Answer 4

1.Textbooks and Journal of Jurists of Law.
2. Decisions of foreign countries
3. International treaties and conventions
4. Legal Opinion, Letters, etc. contained in Journals

Question 5

What are examples of tertiary sources of law?

Answer 5

1. Indexes
2. Digests

Question 6

What is the major difference between secondary and tertiary sources of law?

Answer 6

Secondary sources of law are books about law rather than books of law. These books explain the law and they are the author’s understanding and interpretation of the law.
Tertiary sources are books about law; but unlike secondary sources, they do not explain the law.