The Kenya School of Law (KSL) has suspended applications for its 2027/2028 Advocates Training Programme (ATP) following a High Court order blocking admissions under contested entry requirements.
In a notice issued on Thursday, October 15, the institution informed prospective applicants that the suspension would remain in force until the court issues further directions and determines the dispute.
“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 pending further directions from the Court and the determination of the matter,” the notice stated.
The decision has disrupted the admission process for prospective law students, with applications initially scheduled to close on November 13.
KSL apologised for the inconvenience caused by the suspension and assured applicants that updates would be communicated through its official platforms as the court proceedings continue.
“Further updates will be communicated through the School’s official communication channels as appropriate,” the institution wrote.
The suspension follows conservatory orders issued by Justice John Onyiego on October 6, barring KSL and the Council of Legal Education (CLE) from admitting students under the disputed requirements.
The court action arose from a legal challenge to changes in the admission criteria that KSL introduced for the upcoming academic year.
The petitioners argued that substantive changes to entry requirements cannot be introduced through an annual admissions notice without following the legally prescribed regulatory process, including parliamentary approval.
Following the application, the court directed the respondents to file their responses within seven days and ordered that the case be given priority. The matter was scheduled for a hearing on October 13.
Under the previous admission criteria, candidates seeking admission to the ATP were generally required to have attained a minimum KCSE mean grade of C+, alongside at least a B plain in English or Kiswahili, subject to other applicable requirements.
However, the revised admission notice introduced alternative pathways for certain applicants, including law graduates with lower secondary school grades and candidates who pass a Pre-Bar Examination.
The changes triggered the legal challenge, placing the revised admission framework at the centre of the dispute now before the High Court.
The latest suspension leaves prospective applicants waiting for clarity on the applicable admission requirements and when the application process will resume.
Meanwhile, KSL's notice did not indicate whether the court proceedings had affected applications for the January 2027 Pre-Bar Examination. The examination applications were advertised alongside the ATP intake and are scheduled to close on December 11.
Prospective candidates are therefore advised to monitor the institution’s official communication channels for further announcements on the status of the affected admission processes.
