Prospective advocates face uncertainty after the Kenya School of Law halted applications for its next training programme following a court dispute over revised admission requirements.
The Kenya School of Law (KSL) has temporarily suspended applications for its 2027/2028 Advocates Training Programme (ATP) following interim orders issued by the High Court in a legal dispute over new admission requirements.
In a notice issued on Thursday, 15 October, the institution said it would stop receiving applications until the court provides further directions and determines the matter.
The suspension comes ahead of the original 13 November application deadline, leaving prospective students uncertain about when the admission process will resume.
“The Kenya School of Law hereby informs all prospective applicants and other stakeholders that, following the issuance of interim orders by the High Court in relation to the advertised ATP intake, the receipt of applications for admission to the ATP Class of 2027/2028 academic year has been temporarily suspended,” the institution stated.
KSL apologised for the inconvenience and said further updates would be communicated through its official channels as the legal proceedings continue.
High Court halts implementation of disputed admission rules
The suspension follows conservatory orders issued by Justice John Onyiego on 6 October, barring KSL and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) from admitting students under the disputed requirements.
The case challenges revised entry criteria introduced by KSL for the upcoming academic year.
The petitioners argue that substantial changes to admission standards cannot be introduced through an annual intake notice without following the legally prescribed regulatory process, including obtaining parliamentary approval where required.
The court directed the respondents to file their responses within seven days and scheduled the matter for priority consideration, with a hearing set for 13 October.
The dispute has placed the revised admission framework under judicial scrutiny, with the court’s further directions expected to determine the next steps in the intake process.
What are the disputed admission requirements?
Under the traditional entry criteria, candidates seeking admission to the ATP generally needed a minimum Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of C+ and at least a B plain in English or Kiswahili, alongside other requirements.
However, KSL’s revised admission notice introduced alternative entry routes, including provisions for certain law graduates with lower secondary school grades and applicants who pass a Pre-Bar Examination.
The proposed changes prompted legal questions over whether the institution could introduce the revised criteria through its annual admissions notice.
The court’s intervention has temporarily halted admissions under the contested requirements as the dispute proceeds.
Pre-Bar Examination applications remain a separate issue
KSL’s suspension notice did not announce any changes to applications for the January 2027 Pre-Bar Examination.
Those applications were opened alongside the ATP intake and are scheduled to close on 11 December.
Prospective applicants should monitor KSL’s official communication channels for clarification on the status of the Pre-Bar Examination applications and any further changes to the ATP admission process.
For now, the 2027/2028 ATP application process remains suspended pending further court directions and the determination of the dispute.
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