How you can be a successful Law graduate - BUK graduate, Fatima
How would you describe the challenges of studying law? One of the very few challenges I encountered was being in a very new and strange environment.
That sharp transition from secondary school to university was not easy. Everything was complex and a bit advanced. We had course mates who had a diploma in Law and the senior citizens who were very experienced. That weighed us down and somewhat affected our confidence.
But as time went on, we knew that they were a mile ahead of us, so that challenged us to work extremely harder than they did. Alhamdulillah, our results are truly exceptional.
The classroom setting was also intimidating. While in secondary school, we had a composition of 30-35 students. In the university, we had a lecture theatre that could accommodate about 250-350 students.
Another example is the type of questions. Most questions in secondary school were direct questions. But here we encountered questions that required logical thinking. In law, at times a single question could be a full page.
We found this so complex (even though we later realised how easy it was), I can recall how overwhelmed we all
Fatima Zarah Muhammad is one of the recent graduates of Law at Bayero University Kano. In this interview, she shares her aspirations and also advises intending law students on how they too can be successful. were when this was asked such questions. Looking back in
At what point did you fall in love life as a student, if with Law? there’s anything
Around my second year in junior I can always secondary school, my passion for the appreciate and legal profession skyrocketed. Also as a be proud of kid, I had people call me ‘Justice Fati’. is setting up What further triggered my love for this an association noble profession was during my LLB that was femaleonly journey, we had a programme titled - the Female Law ‘Access to Justice, Challenges and Way Students Forum (FLF). I Forward’. served as the president of the
Dignitaries from all over the northern association from 2019-2021. We part of the country were in attendance. It made a lot of visits, ranging from allgirls was truly mind-blowing hearing all their secondary schools to children’s success stories. I remember telling myself homes and IDPs camps. “if they can achieve it, then so can I”. What advice do you have for
What will you miss about the aspiring Law students? university? To be successful in this
Alhamdulillah, I gained two things profession, you can’t work as in Bayero University Kano. I gained an island. I’m not saying that knowledge, and I found an amazing set you can’t work alone, but to of people who are more than friends. succeed you need mentorship. I found myself a family that honestly I You need people in the am going to miss; my ever-supportive profession that have achieved coursemates and amazing lecturers that a lot to guide you. Truthfully, the need gave constructive criticisms. for guidance cannot be overemphasised.
What legacies do you think you left Where do you see yourself in the behind for law students? next 10 years?
In the next 10 years, I picture myself being a very successful woman. Either running an NGO, imparting knowledge on the young ones or a practitioner in the temple of justice, In sha Allah.