FREETOWN, November 11, 2026 — The Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has demanded greater transparency in the handling of the 2025/2026 Bar Final Examination results, insisting that every candidate must be formally notified of their outcome.
In a press statement issued on 11th November 2026, the SLBA said it had received complaints from students of the Sierra Leone Law School that several candidates were yet to receive their results, even though the school says results were sent out on 7th November 2026.
The Association said it is particularly concerned about a Notice issued by the Law School on 8th November, which indicated that candidates who did not receive results may have failed, failed to provide an email address, provided a wrong email, or have outstanding tuition fees.
According to the SLBA, that explanation leaves candidates confused — unable to tell whether they actually failed, were affected by an administrative error, or have fee issues.
The Bar Association is now calling on the Registrar of the Sierra Leone Law School to immediately ensure that every candidate who sat the exam receives an individual written notification, whether they passed or failed.
It also wants the school to establish a formal written complaints procedure with clear timelines for aggrieved candidates, beyond the limited in-person consultation currently offered, and to keep affected students duly informed.
“The Bar Final Examination is the gateway to admission to the legal profession, and it is important that its administration is, and is seen to be, transparent, fair and accountable,” the statement signed by General Secretary Caroline A. B. Sesay emphasized.
The SLBA, as a statutory member of the Council of Legal Education which governs the Law School, said it is engaging stakeholders to establish the facts and secure a fair and prompt resolution.
The Law School, located at the Special Court Complex, New England Ville, is the sole institution responsible for professional legal training in Sierra Leone. Its Bar Final Examination determines who qualifies to be called to the Bar.
For the SLBA, headed by President Martina Baindu Egbenda, protecting the integrity of legal education and maintaining public confidence in the profession requires that no candidate is left guessing about their future.
