I Had No Reading Timetable, Just Clear Goals – Law School’s Best Graduating Student

Offa, Kwara State-born Israel Adeniyi emerged as the Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, in 2024. He replicated the remarkable feat at the Nigerian Law School in 2026. In this interview with ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Adeniyi shares the mindset behind his outstanding academic success, revealing that he never relied on a reading timetable but instead set clear goals for himself and achieved them.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your academic journey?

My name is Israel Adeniyi, and I am from Offa, Kwara State. I graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, as the Best Graduating Student in 2024. I attended the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School, where I graduated as the Overall Best Student.

Congratulations on emerging as the Best Graduating Student at the Nigerian Law School. How does this achievement feel?

It feels surreal. It feels like a dream that I am still waiting to wake up from. When I walked into the Nigerian Law School, I felt the scale, the intensity, and the pressure. Everything was magnified. I had heard the stories about how difficult it was to replicate success at the university in law school, so I did not take anything for granted. I approached it with humility and a willingness to learn.

When the results were released and I was announced as the Best Overall Student among 6,009 successful candidates, I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. Gratitude to God, because I am not naïve enough to think that this was solely my doing. Gratitude to my family, who have been my rock. Gratitude to my mentors, who have poured into me. Gratitude to my lecturers, who pushed me to be better. Gratitude to my friends, who supported me through the difficult moments. Alongside the gratitude, however, I also felt a deep sense of reflection.

What inspired you to study law, and when did you realise it was your calling?

Growing up, I realised that the law is more than just a profession. I see the field of law as a tool for social transformation, for creating order, for protecting rights, and for holding power to account. I wanted to be in such a profession.

I became even more convinced that it was truly my calling during my undergraduate studies. The more I studied, the more I felt that this was something I was good at and passionate about. I loved the intellectual challenge of legal reasoning. I loved the way the law forced you to think critically, weigh competing interests, and construct logical arguments. I loved the way the law could be used to solve real-world problems. I started to see the law as a living, breathing system that shapes human interactions. I knew that I wanted to be part of shaping it.

What study habits or strategies contributed most to your outstanding performance?

My study habits were unconventional, and I think that is what made them effective. When I was in law school, I did not have personal notes. I did not have draft books. All my drafts were done in my head. I wrote notes in class, solved the pre-class tasks in my notebook, copied the slides, and ensured my notes were always up to date. However, I never took additional time to create another notebook using textbooks or external materials. I paid rapt attention to everything taught in class and was guided by what my lecturers taught.

Another strategy that I cannot overemphasise is studying the marking schemes. It shaped the way I viewed questions and helped me understand what examiners expected. I was surprised when I first saw how structured the law school marking scheme was and how frugal the examiners were with marks.

I also prioritised rest. I slept for at least five hours every day. I watched football on weekends. I checked social media. I understood that consistency, not long hours, is what wins. Repetition seals memory, not cramming.

What was the most challenging aspect of the Nigerian Law School, and how did you overcome it?

The most challenging aspect of the Nigerian Law School was the sheer volume of material and the intensity of the pressure. You are covering five courses simultaneously. Arguably, what we learnt in law school over the space of nine months would require three years at the undergraduate level. Yet, the expectation is that you will not only know the law but also be able to apply it to complex factual scenarios under time pressure.

The pressure was also psychological. There were moments when I looked at the syllabus and felt like I was drowning. There were moments when I doubted myself, when I wondered if I was good enough, and when I feared that I was going to fall short. I knew the history. Since the inception of my university in the early 1990s, only one student had achieved the double feat, and that was in 2015. I wondered if I was foolish to think I could be the second.

I overcame the pressure by trying to manage it. I told myself that the discomfort I was feeling was a sign of growth. I focused on what I could control. I could not control the volume of the material. I could not control the expectations of others. However, I could control how I used my time, how I approached my studies, and how I responded to setbacks. I leaned on my support system. I talked to my mentors. I talked to my family. I asked for help when I needed it. I had faith. I believed that God would not disappoint me. That belief gave me peace whenever my mind wanted to spiral into anxiety.

Were there moments when you doubted yourself? What kept you going?

Yes, there were many moments when I doubted myself. I think it is important to be honest about that because the narrative of effortless success is dangerous. It makes people feel like they are not good enough if they struggle. But the truth is, I struggled. I doubted. I feared.

There was a time during the externship period when I was sitting in my room, surrounded by books and notes, and I thought, “What if I am not good enough?” I thought about the people who had come before me and had not been able to replicate their university success at law school. I thought about the pressure from my lecturers, my family, and my scholarship sponsor. I wondered if I was setting myself up for disappointment.

What kept me going was the belief that I had come too far to give up. I had put in years of work. I had sacrificed so much. I refused to let that work go to waste. I have always believed that God is ever faithful and would not disappoint me. I also reminded myself that the only way to discover my capacity was to keep pushing. I did not know what I was capable of until I tested myself. So, I was determined to leave nothing on the table.

Who played the biggest role in your success, and how would you like to acknowledge them?

It is difficult to single out one person because my success has been a collective effort. I am the product of the investment of so many people. I acknowledge the contributions of my parents, my mentors, my lecturers, my scholarship sponsors, and my friends and colleagues. This achievement is as much theirs as it is mine.

How did you balance academics with your personal life and mental well-being?

Balance was not easy, but I made it a priority. I understood that academic success is not sustainable if it comes at the cost of your mental and physical health. So, I made deliberate choices to protect my well-being.

I made a rule that once it was 11 PM, I slept, no matter what. I did not subscribe to the culture of all-nighters. I knew that my brain needed rest to process and retain information. I slept for at least five hours every day. I made time for the things I enjoyed. I watched football on weekends at the lounge in VI with my friends. I checked social media, especially Twitter (now X) and LinkedIn, every day.

I avoided comparisons by not measuring myself against what others were doing. I did not worry about the posts on social media about people who had read the syllabus three times during externship. I went at my own pace. I focused on my own journey. Also, I gave myself grace. There were days when I did not study as much as I wanted to. There were days when I felt unproductive. I did not beat myself up about it. I accepted that perfection is not possible and that progress, no matter how small, is still progress.

Most importantly, I prayed. My faith has always been a source of peace for me. In moments of stress and anxiety, I turned to God. I found comfort in the belief that He is ever faithful and would not disappoint me.

Which area of law interests you the most, and why?

I find dispute resolution intellectually stimulating because it involves persuasion, analysis, and the skill of advocacy. It is about finding creative solutions to complex problems. I love the challenge of it. I am also drawn to commercial law and corporate law. I want to understand how businesses operate, how transactions are structured, and how legal frameworks can enable economic growth.

What qualities do you believe every successful lawyer should possess?

The first quality should be intellectual curiosity. The law is constantly evolving: new cases, new statutes, and new challenges. You must be willing to keep learning, keep questioning, and keep growing.

Integrity is also non-negotiable. The law is built on trust. People trust that lawyers will act in their best interests, tell the truth, and uphold the highest ethical standards.

The third quality is resilience. The practice of law is demanding. You need to be able to bounce back, keep going, and maintain your composure under pressure.

It is also important to have strong communication skills. These help in articulating arguments clearly, persuasively, and concisely. Whether one is writing a brief, arguing in court, or advising a client, the ability to communicate will determine one’s effectiveness.

Lastly, empathy is also important. Law is ultimately about people. To be an effective lawyer, one needs to understand people and be able to see the world from their perspective.

 Looking at the Nigerian legal system, what reforms would you like to see?

The legal system is currently too expensive, too slow, and too complex for the average Nigerian. We need reforms that make legal services more affordable and accessible. We are making progress with legal aid, technology-enabled solutions, and simplified procedures for small claims. Also, there needs to be some legal education reform. The Nigerian Law School curriculum should be more practical, skills-focused, and technology-oriented. The future of law is in technology.

What advice would you give to students preparing for the Nigerian Law School and Bar Finals?

Be guided by what they teach in class not what you think they missed, and not what a textbook says instead. What they say in that lecture hall is your north star. Be strategic about your materials because you will be faced with a variety of notes. Use them only for refresher readings. Your lecturers decide what is relevant for your current session, not what someone wrote a couple of years back.

Study the marking schemes. The marking schemes show you how marks are allocated. Practice answering questions. State your conclusion first, then the general rule and exceptions, if there are any, then apply it to the facts, and finally restate your conclusion.

Another very important thing is rest. Law school is a marathon, not a sprint. Go at your own pace. Do not worry about people who have read the syllabus three times during externship. I did not have a reading timetable.

I set goals and I achieved them. Do not compare yourself to others.

Read all your courses equally. Do not underestimate any course or overemphasise any course. For my set, everybody thought corporate law was going to be the hardest and over-read it, only for our exams to be so easy and all about corporate governance. Give all courses equal treatment and attention.

Finally, have faith. The pressure will come. The feelings of inadequacy will come, but if I did it, you can do it. First-class is possible. Stick to your method.

Beyond academic excellence, what lessons has the Law School experience taught you about life?

The Law School experience has taught me that resilience is built through adversity. The difficult moments of doubt, exhaustion, and fear were the crucible in which my character was forged. I learned that you cannot become strong without being tested.

I have come to realise the importance of community. I was supported by my family, my mentors, my lecturers, and my friends. Success is not a solo endeavour. It is the product of the investment of others. I have learned to be grateful and to give back.

Law School taught me that discipline is the foundation of freedom. The discipline of studying, managing my time, and prioritising my health gave me the freedom to achieve my goals.

It has also taught me that faith is important. There were moments when I could not see the path ahead, but I held on to my faith, and it sustained me. I have learned that you need to believe in something bigger than yourself to get through difficult times.

Where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?

In the next five to ten years, I see myself becoming a better lawyer. I want to be recognised as a leading lawyer. I want to build a reputation for excellence and integrity. I also see myself as a thought leader. I want to be writing, speaking, and influencing the direction of legal practice in Nigeria. I want to contribute to legal education and mentor the next generation of lawyers.

How do you hope to use your legal education to make a positive impact on Nigeria and society?

The quality of legal representation has a direct impact on the outcomes of cases, which in turn affect people’s lives. I want to be a lawyer whom clients trust, whom judges respect, and who makes a difference in every case I handle.

I also want to use my voice to push for changes that will make the legal system more just, more accessible, and more efficient. I want to contribute to the development of policy, whether through writing, speaking, or active involvement in reform initiatives.

I know that I did not achieve what I have achieved alone. I had mentors who invested in me. I want to pay that forward. I want to support the next generation of lawyers.

Finally, what message would you like to share with young Nigerians who dream of becoming lawyers?

I want to say that your dream is valid. I know that the path may seem long, that the obstacles may seem insurmountable, and that the doubts may seem overwhelming, but I am living proof that it is possible.

It will not be easy. There will be moments when you want to give up. There will be moments when you doubt yourself. There will be moments when the pressure feels unbearable. That is normal. That is part of the journey.

Do not let those moments define you. Let them refine you. Trust the process. Trust the people who believe in you. Trust your faith. Trust yourself.

You are capable of more than you think. The only way to discover your capacity is to keep going. Keep showing up. Keep doing the work. Keep believing.

And remember this: your background is your starting point, but your dedication determines your destination. So, go out there and make your dream a reality. Nigeria needs you. Africa needs you. The world needs you.

Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot. Because with faith, hard work, and the right support system, impossible truly becomes I’m-possible.