120 Law Students Sue ZIALE Over New Examination Rules

More than 120 students have sued the Minister of Justice and the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE), challenging the application of the ZIALE (Student) Rules, 2025, which they say have unfairly prevented some students from completing their legal training.

The students, led by Anna Nyirongo, argue that the new rules are being applied retrospectively to students who enrolled under earlier regulations, resulting in some being barred from sitting repeat examinations and others having their petitions rejected without individual reasons.

In their court action, the students contend that the ZIALE Act does not give the Minister of Justice the power to introduce rules with retrospective effect unless expressly authorised by law.

They further argue that the implementation of the new rules has delayed or prevented them from completing the Legal Practitioners' Qualifying Examination (LPQE), affecting their ability to qualify as lawyers and pursue their careers.

The students are asking the High Court to declare the application of the 2025 rules unlawful and to quash ZIALE's decision to apply them in a manner that excludes affected students from sitting examinations.

Credit: Diggers News