ALSA Legal Clinic

17/12/2025

Memorandum
To: whom it may concern
From: The head of ALSA International Mooting Department
Subject: Launch of Battle of the Wits and Wigs – Pan-African Mooting Competition

Purpose of the Competition
The Battle of the Wits and Wigs is conceived as a premier continental mooting competition designed to:
- 🎓 Unite African law students under one intellectual platform.
- ⚖️ Promote advocacy skills by simulating real-world courtroom debates.
- 🌍 Foster cross-cultural exchange among diverse legal traditions across Africa.
- 🚀 Elevate African mooting standards to rival global competitions.

Significance of the Name
- “Battle of the Wits” emphasizes intellectual rigor, sharp reasoning, and persuasive argumentation.
- “Battle of the Wigs” symbolizes courtroom tradition, respect for legal heritage, and professional identity.
Together, the name reflects both mental agility and professional decorum that define excellence in legal practice.

Exciting Prizes to Be Won
To motivate excellence and celebrate achievement, the competition will award:
- 🏆 Grand Prize: Cash award, trophy, and internship opportunities with leading law firms across Africa.
- 🎖️ Best Oralist Award: Recognition plaque and scholarship support for further legal studies.
- 📚 Best Written Memorial Award: Publication in a continental law journal and mentorship from senior advocates.
- 🎁 Additional prizes: Certificates of participation, and networking opportunities with distinguished jurists.

Procedures for Registration
1. Eligibility: Open to all law students enrolled in recognized African universities.
2. Team Composition: Each team must consist of 2–4 members, with at least one researcher and one oralist.
3. Application:
- Complete the online registration form via the official competition portal.
- Submit proof of student status and a letter of endorsement from the faculty or moot society.
4. Deadlines: Registration closes six weeks before the competition date.
5. Confirmation: Teams will receive official confirmation and competition guidelines upon successful registration.
6. Fees: A registration fee may apply to support logistics and materials.

Expected Outcomes
- Development of critical thinking, research, and oral advocacy skills.
- Creation of a continental network of future lawyers.
- Recognition of outstanding talent through awards, internships, and mentorship.
- Establishment of Africa’s largest student-led legal competition.

Call to Action
We invite law faculties, moot societies, and student leaders across Africa to:
- Nominate teams to participate.
- Support the competition through sponsorships, mentorship, and publicity.
- Encourage students to embrace this opportunity to showcase their brilliance and professionalism.

SIGNED
HEAD OF ALSA INTERNATIONAL MOOTING DEPARTMENT ( ALSA- IMD)

02/07/2025

*Essence of Legal Writing*

A webinar delivered in ALSA Legal Article/ Journal Department

By

Prof Chukwunonso Charles Ofodum Esq (PhD)

The essence of legal writing lies in its ability to clearly and persuasively communicate legal arguments to a specific audience, whether that audience is a judge, a client, or another legal professional. It involves more than just stating facts; it requires a deep understanding of the law, skillful analysis of facts and precedents, and the ability to craft a compelling narrative that supports a particular legal position.
Here's a breakdown of the key elements:
1. Clarity and Conciseness: Legal writing must be clear and easy to understand, avoiding jargon and legalese that could confuse the reader. It should also be concise, using precise language to convey the message effectively without unnecessary verbosity.
2. Accuracy and Precision: Every word and phrase in legal writing should be chosen with care, ensuring that the meaning is unambiguous and supported by facts and legal principles.
3. Persuasiveness: Legal writing is often persuasive, aiming to convince a judge or other decision-maker of a particular legal position. This involves presenting a logical and well-reasoned argument, supported by relevant legal authorities.
4. Audience Awareness: Legal writers must tailor their writing style and content to the specific audience. What works for a judge may not work for a client, and vice versa.
5. Structure and Organization: A well-structured document is crucial for effective legal writing. This includes a logical flow of information, clear headings and subheadings, and proper citation of authorities.
6. Ethical Considerations: Legal writing must adhere to ethical guidelines and principles, ensuring that the information presented is truthful and not misleading.
In essence, legal writing is a blend of art and science, requiring both strong analytical skills and effective communication skills to achieve its purpose of resolving legal matters and advocating for clients' interests.

Here are the general steps for writing a project proposal.
1 Define your objectives.
2 Understand your audience.
3 Research and planning.
4 Outline the proposal.
5 Write the introduction.
6 Define the scope and methodology.
7 Budgeting.
8 Team and qualifications

A STEP BY STEP GUIDE ON RESEARCH PROJECT WRITING FOR UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND POLYTECHNICS IN NIGERIA

should contain the tag numbers, tag which reflects the content and the page numbers. It should be well-numbered and unambiguous. In the main content, the figure/table should be well-labelled.
(The body of the work)

Chapter One: This is usually the introduction.
This describes the background, scope and purpose of the research. The rest of the report should be tied to the information supplied. The researcher should strive to present sufficient details regarding why the study was carried out. It shouldn't be rushed, a gradual build-up of the content from bottom to top is ideal. It should be closed with a linking paragraph that would disclose the objectives, constraints and limitations. Click Here for More Info on Writing a Good Abstract

Chapter two: This is usually the literature theoretical review.
This presents basically, the work done by others. It is on the ground work done by others that the current research is to be based, hence the review. It sums up the pros and cons of all past work but due credit should be given to the various Authors (see the guide on referencing on this website). The use of quotations should be less in use, more of paraphrasing (reading and making out meaning in your own words), making comments in the review is great as well, it just depends on the context. Click Here for More Info on How to Write a Literature Review

Chapter three: This is usually the research methodology.
Here the language used should be in past tense. It is a sum-up of the research design, procedures, the area and population of study. The data sampling and data sources are detailed as well. The method used, from all alternatives, should also be justified. The materials and equipment used is also included. Click Here for More on How to Write Research Methodology

Chapter four: This is usually for data presentation and analysis (results and discussion).
The results obtained in the research are presented here. Visual aids like graphs, charts and the likes should be used as well. The results should be discussed then compared with results of past Authors. The effects and applications of the results should be detailed as well.

Chapter five: This part houses the conclusions and recommendations.
From the results of the research, conclusions are made, then suggestions for improvement for other researchers with similar interest. Based on the whole happenings, recommendations are proffered.

References: This is a list of all the relevant journals, books and all sources of information consulted in the research work, either online or print. Plagiarism should be avoided at all costs, all quoted and exact words of different sources should be properly referenced, in-text and at the references' list/bibliography. MLA, APA and Chicago style are the commonest referencing styles. (See a comprehensive guide on this blog) Click Here for More Info on Referencing

Appendices: This is for all extra materials that were not added to the body of the work. This encapsulates extensive proofs, official data from case study, list of parameters, et al.
P.S: After writing, the researcher should painstakingly proofread the whole content for grammatical and spelling errors. This could be very distracting while reading the material.
The page numbers are easily distorted by changing font size and type, spacing et al. The final submission should be very clear, error-free(to a large degree) and as required by standard.

15/03/2025

*ALSA University unveils a new certificate course titled Judicial System*
What's Judicial System?
The judicial system is the system of courts and legal processes responsible for interpreting and applying the law, ensuring justice and resolving disputes.
Who's this course for?
This course is for lawyers, law students, judicial officers, judges, judicial staff and the general public who's interested to learn about judiciary. Thank you
Signed
ALSA University MGT
Prof Chukwunonso Charles Ofodum Esq (PhD)
africanlawstudents@gmail.com
chukwunonsocharlesofodum@gmail.com

16/02/2025

*"* *EXCELLENCE BEYOND THE CLASSROOM"*

By

Prof Chukwunonso Charles Ofodum Esq (PhD)

A webinar delivered to

ALSA Legal Clinic

*"Excellence, Beyond the* *Classroom* " refers to the pursuit of high achievement and personal development not solely within the confines of traditional academic learning, but also through extracurricular activities, community engagement, leadership roles, and real-world experiences that foster a well-rounded individual with diverse skills and perspectives beyond just textbook knowledge.

*Key aspects of "Excellence Beyond the Classroom":*

*Extracurricular* *involvement:*
Participating in sports, clubs, arts, or other activities that develop talents and leadership qualities outside of regular classes.
*Community service:*
Engaging in volunteer work to give back to the community and develop social responsibility.
*Internships and work* *experience* :
Applying classroom knowledge in a professional setting to gain practical skills and career insights.
Research and *independent projects:*
Exploring areas of personal interest through research or creative endeavors beyond assigned coursework.
*Global awareness:*
Engaging with different cultures and perspectives through study abroad programs or international collaborations.

*Benefits of pursuing excellence beyond the classroom:*

*Holistic development:*
Cultivating a wider range of skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and adaptability.
Enhanced career *readiness:*
Gaining practical experience and building a professional network relevant to desired career paths.
Personal growth:
Developing self-confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose.
Increased engagement:
Finding passion and motivation through activities that align with personal interests.

*How does learning go beyond the classroom?*

Enable communication anywhere and at anytime

Students often find it challenging to progress their group work outside the classroom. Using online tools can assist to keep the momentum going with group projects after students leave the classroom.

*How to extend learning beyond the classroom?*

Good experiences can include:
Frequent field trips to a variety of places.
Volunteer projects at the local or broader community level.
Finding opportunities for individuals or groups of students outside the classroom, like camps or workshops.
Inviting parents or other community resource professionals to share knowledge.

Why is it important to continue training beyond the classroom?
The experience outside of the classroom allows for students to think critically about, for example, resources and sustainability, power and privilege...

*I will link it to law.*

Beyond the law classroom, students can enhance their learning and career prospects through networking, community involvement, and practical legal experiences like pro bono work, internships, and attending legal events.
*Here's a more detailed look at maximizing your law school experience beyond the classroom:*

*Networking:*

*Connect with* *classmates and faculty:* Make time for lunch or a night out with your section, attend law firm/employer events, and alumni gatherings.
*Build relationships:* Networking can open doors to your career and provide valuable insights into different legal fields.
*Attend local bar* *association events:* Participate in events and workshops to learn about local legal issues and connect with practicing lawyers
*Attend international bar* *association events:* Participate in events and workshops to learn about local legal issues and connect with practicing lawyers
*Get Involved in your Law School Community:*

*Join student *organizations* : Participate in moot court, legal aid clinics, or other relevant clubs to gain practical experience and build your network.
*Volunteer for pro bono* *projects:* Provide legal assistance to those in need and gain valuable experience in real-world legal situations.
*Discover career and pro* *bono opportunities:* Explore career and pro bono opportunities through your law school's career services and student organizations.

*Take certificate courses* from ALSA University, you can ask me how or ask Comrade Chidera I Osuji
*Seek Practical Legal* *Experiences:*

*Internships:* Gain hands-on experience by interning at law firms, government agencies, or non-profit organizations.
*Clinics* : Participate in legal clinics where you can work directly with clients and learn about different legal issues.

*Attend legal conferences* *and* *workshops:* Stay up-to-date on the latest legal developments and connect with legal professionals.
*Continue to learn:* Read legal journals and articles: Stay up-to-date on current legal developments.
*Attend conferences and* *workshops** : Learn from experts in your field.
Take continuing legal education courses from ALSA University: Stay current with the latest legal developments.

*Conclusion*
Learning outside the classroom is the use of places other than the school for teaching and learning. It is about getting children and young people out and about, providing them with challenging, exciting and different experiences to help them learn.

*Thank you*

13/02/2025

*ALSA Legal Clinic Presents:*

A one-day webinar on the topic: Excellence Beyond the Classroom.

Learn from an experienced speaker on how to navigate and excel beyond the classroom, gaining mastery in other skills and areas within the legal profession.

Time: 8 pm
Date: 15th February 2025
Venue: Closed WhatsApp Group.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/FV32vfDjsujByOAOluV7qI

13/10/2024

*ALSA University* unveils a new certificate course titled *Introduction to Computer *

What's Professional Ethics in Law?

Ethics demands from a lawyer that his client must have absolute confidence in him. Ethics demands that he knows his duty to the court. On these issues, Honourable Kayode Esso enunciated two commandments: A lawyer shall never be rude, insolent or insulting to the court.
The course is for lawyers, law students and the general public who is interested in law and practicing. If you're observant enough, you'll notice that the number of uneducated people are increasing which is against the UN.
Sign,
Prof Chukwunonso Charles Ofodum PHD Esq
Chancellor, ALSA University
ALSA University Mgt,
africanlawstudents@gmail.com

17/09/2024

https://youtu.be/3OiMzltUm80?si=TCBswo9eFA-TqokV

Law started from Africa.

23/02/2024

The newly elected executives of Alsa Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus after a meeting anchored on furthering the initiatives of taking Alsa Nigerian Chapter to the peak.

E-signed
Alsa Media and Publicity Team.

22/02/2024

ALSA webinar

22/02/2024

Partnership Agreement

14/02/2024

You're invited. THANK you