Background

 A Brief Background

The Bahir Dar University Law School has been established within the context of the broader objectives of the University. The Department of Law was officially established by the decision of the University Senate in August 2001, and subsequently developed into a full-fledged Faculty in February 2004, renamed in 2009 as Law School.

The Law School has as its mission serving the basic purpose of playing a major role in producing adequately trained legal professionals who will be prepared to serve their community with legal skills, ethical and intellectual guidance, and to strengthen the qualification and man power of the personnel in the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, counselling and advisory departments, and other institutions engaged in law related activities at various levels. Conducting legal research and giving community services are also within the mission of the School. The Law School, through various of its activities, has taken a share of responsibility in guaranteeing the proper dissemination of basic ideals of law, protection of universally acknowledged human rights and implementation of democratic governance. Currently, the Law School is giving training in Regular LLB and LL.M, Continuing Education LLB and Distance LLB programs. The school also hosts a Master’s programme in Gender and Development and undergraduate programme in Governance and development studies. 

As part of its community service, the law school has established Free Legal Aid Center since 2005. The Center provides free legal aid services, such as counselling and writing of pleadings, to members of the community who can not afford lawyers’ services fee.

Mission and Vision

i. Mission

The Law School shall contribute towards the intellectual and social conditions of Ethiopia by providing equitably accessible quality legal education and training programmes through teaching, research and service to prepare competent and responsible members of the legal profession who actively contribute towards rule of law, democracy, human rights, good governance, social justice, equity, tolerance and development.

ii. Vision

The Law School’s vision is to elevate the standard and quality of legal education to the level of leading law schools in other countries, and towards preparing graduates who will have optimum impact in Ethiopia’s development, democracy, good governance and social justice.