Factors Affecting the Performance of Post-Graduate Legal Practice Students at the Law Development Centre in Uganda

The Law Development Centre (LDC) in Uganda is the sole institution mandated to provide vocational training leading, inter alia, to the award of the Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (PGD LP). Despite its centrality in the country’s legal education, LDC has been brought to the limelight concerning the performance of the PGD LP students. This article seeks to identify and analyse the factors that influence the academic performance of PGD LP students, with a focus on student-, institution-, and instructor-related determinants. Using qualitative and quantitative research approaches involving secondary and primary data gathered from current and former students, as well as instructors at LDC, this study examines the systemic issues contributing to poor academic outcomes. The findings reveal that a combination of student-, institution-, and instructor-related (pedagogical) factors were responsible for students’ performance. This study provides recommendations aimed at improving student performance, including enhancing resource allocation, restructuring the assessment process, and adopting innovative teaching methods.