AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian lawyer named Esther Arokun has achieved remarkable success in the United States, earning a master’s degree with distinction and passing the Washington State Bar Exam with a score high enough to qualify for licensure across multiple jurisdictions.
Esther’s academic journey began in 2016 when she enrolled at Adekunle Ajasin University to study Law. She graduated in 2020 with first-class honors, emerging as the overall best graduating student in the Faculty of Law.
Following this achievement, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where she graduated successfully and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2022 as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
There, she maintained her academic excellence, earning an award as the Overall Best Graduating Student in Professional Ethics and Skills, a core course at the Law School.
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In January 2024, Esther took the next step in her legal career by enrolling for a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Seattle University School of Law, in the United States.
Consistently, she maintained her record of excellence and graduated in 2025 with Highest Honors, earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Her performance earned her the Dean’s Scholar Award and an Award of Excellence and Promise.
In February 2025, she sat for the Washington State Bar Exam. Not only did she pass, but she also achieved a Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) score high enough to qualify for legal practice in any UBE jurisdiction across the United States.
With this, Esther is now licensed to practice law in both Nigeria and the United States, a rare and commendable feat.
Sharing her success on LinkedIn, Esther expressed deep gratitude and pride in how far she has come. While celebrating her success, she also took a moment to reflect on the challenging process behind it.
She acknowledged that the bar exam is meant to test whether someone is fit to join the legal profession, but she questioned whether it fully captures a lawyer’s ability to serve, lead, and uphold justice.
For her, the preparation was overwhelming, filled with sleepless nights, anxiety, and emotional stress, raising concerns about the toll it takes on aspiring lawyers.
Esther believes that while high standards are important, the way they test legal competence should also consider mental well-being and fairness.
She emphasized that the legal profession is evolving, and so should the licensing process. Her words serve as a call for reform and a message of encouragement to others on the same path.
“To everyone who has walked this road or is about to, my heart is with you. We can do better. And we should,” she said
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