Kenya School of Law Advocates Training Program (ATP) Coursework

The Kenya School of Law Advocates Training Programme (KSL ATP) is the mandatory postgraduate professional course that all law graduates must successfully complete to become practicing advocates, or lawyers, in Kenya. Established under the Advocates Act, it serves as the critical bridge between academic legal study and the practical realities of the legal profession. The programme's core purpose is to equip aspiring advocates with the essential skills, procedural knowledge, and ethical grounding required for competent practice, ensuring a standardized level of proficiency for all those admitted to the Kenyan Bar. The programme typically spans one year and combines rigorous coursework with hands-on training. Students undertake intensive instruction in core practice areas such as civil and criminal litigation, conveyancing, and commercial law, culminating in a series of bar examinations. A defining feature of the ATP is the pupilage requirement, a period of supervised apprenticeship under an experienced advocate, which provides invaluable real-world experience. Ultimately, successful completion of the ATP is the non-negotiable prerequisite for admission to the Roll of Advocates, granting the right to practice law in Kenya.