The High Court has temporarily stopped the Kenya School of Law (KSL) and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) from processing applications or admitting students to the 2027/2028 Advocates Training Programme (ATP) under the contested admission criteria.
The order was issued pending the hearing and determination of a case challenging the criteria being used to determine eligibility for admission to the professional legal training programme.
As a result, KSL and CLE cannot proceed with admissions based on the disputed requirements until the legal challenge is heard.
Ultimately, the case is expected to determine whether the admission criteria adopted for the 2027/2028 ATP comply with the law and whether the affected applicants' rights and legitimate expectations have been upheld.
Notably, the Advocates Training Programme is a mandatory professional training pathway for law graduates seeking admission to the Kenyan Bar, making the dispute significant for hundreds of prospective advocates.
Meanwhile, the temporary orders will remain in force pending further directions from the court on the case.
This development comes amid growing scrutiny of admission requirements to professional legal training, with stakeholders seeking clarity on the rules governing the transition from undergraduate legal education to professional training.
Further proceedings will determine whether the contested criteria will stand, be amended or be declared unlawful.
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