CHAPTER 1: Introduction
The extraordinary growth and popularity
of legal studies clearly demonstrates the interest of school students in
the law and confirms that legal education is not the exclusive domain
of the universities. Much of the literature on legal education focuses
on tertiary legal education with very little attention being given to
legal education in secondary schools.
Legal studies refer to an academic
endeavor focused on learning laws, learning how to apply those laws, and
learning how to process transactions and legal claims on behalf of
clients. Though most people think of law school when they hear the term
"legal studies," legal studies can be pursued in high school, during
undergraduate work, law school, reading for the bar, and at professional
or career schools that train paralegals.
High School Legal Studies
A trend in education, particularly among
charter schools, is the law-themed curriculum. Whether a student
intends to pursue legal studies in higher education, a law-themed high
school can offer benefits that will aid students when they arrive at
college. Such programs are generally analytic and writing intensive.(
Joshua Jones2003)
1.1 Background of the Study
Economic Development plans which are
being implemented in countries throughout the world frequently suggest
an essential need for the application of the wide scope and variety of
legal framework.. The 1962-68 National Development Plan of the
Federation of Nigeria provides an example. The plan aims at achieving an
annual growth rate of four percent, which is slightly higher than the
estimated annual growth for the past ten years; maintaining an
investment rate of 15% of Gross National Product; and raising per capita
consumption by 1% per year. The cost to the governments and statutory
corporations is estimated at £676 million (U.S. $1,893 million .In
addition, private sources are expected to invest £350 million (U.S.$980
million). After three hundred and fifty pages devoted to projects the
Federal and three Regional governments intend to undertake, a final
chapter of the Plan is addressed to problems and policies of
implementation requiring a wide range of legislation
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The extraordinary growth and popularity
of legal studies clearly demonstrates the interest of school students in
the law and confirms that legal education is not the exclusive domain
of the universities. Much of the literature on legal education focuses
on tertiary legal education with very little attention being given to
legal education in secondary schools. Current scholarship is keenly
aware of the importance of the noneconomic factors in economic
development. Yet curiously little attention has been given to the role
of law among such non-economic factors. HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STUDIES, REPORT OF DIRECTOR, 1954-1961, at 27-28
(1961).The relationship of law to development has been generally passive
in the past, but evidence shows that many development plans and
projects cannot take place without legislative backing and the law.
Hence the increasing importance of legal education and the need to get
students to examine the law as it relates to various themes or topic
areas, e.g. the environment, jobs, consumerism, industrial relations,
through legal studies in secondary school curriculum. Therefore the
problem confronting this research is to investigate the story of
Prospects of legal studies on the Economic Development in Nigeria and
its implications to secondary school curriculum.
1.3 Objective of the Study
1 To determine the nature of legal studies
2 To determine the nature of Economic development
3 To determine the prospects of legal studies on Economic development
And its implication to secondary school curriculum
1.4 Research Questions
1 What is the nature of legal studies?
2 What is nature of Economic Development?
3 What constitute the prospect of legal studies on Economic development and its implication to secondary school curriculum?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study shall provide a framework of
study which seeks to foster the adoption and development of legal
studies in the secondary school curriculum.
1.6 Statement of Hypothesis
1 Ho The level of Economic Development in Nigeria is Low
Hi The level of Economic Development in Nigeria is high
2 Ho The impact of Legal studies on Economic development is low
Hi The impact of Legal studies on Economic development is high
3 Ho Legal studies in secondary school curriculum is not significant
Hi Legal studies in secondary school curriculum is significant
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study is focused on a story of
prospect of legal studies on the Economic Development in Nigeria, its
implication to secondary school curriculum.
1.8 Definition of Terms
LAW DEFINED
Law, for its part, has been defined in
many ways, ranging from U, S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver W. Holmes’s
"Law is a statement of the circumstances in which the public force will
be brought to bear through courts. It considers law to be the means
through which social policies become social action.
LEGAL STUDIES DEFINED
Legal studies refer to an academic
endeavor focused on learning laws, learning how to apply those laws, and
learning how to process transactions and legal claims on behalf of
clients.
. CODIFICATION OF GOALS.
Legislation often embodies a government's statements of goals for the development of its country.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEFINED
Economic development is the result of all the forces and energies in a country which collectively raise its per capita output.