A law student undertaking Bar Course Clerkship has been referred back to the Law Development Centre (LDC) after the law firm where she was placed raised concerns over her request for daily transport, breakfast and lunch allowances.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, Okalang Law Chambers in Jinja informed the Ag. Head of the Department of Postgraduate Legal Studies and Legal Aid at LDC that it could no longer accommodate Nabwire Judith for her clerkship training.
The firm said Nabwire had been referred to its offices by LDC for Bar Course Clerkship and had been accepted for the placement.
According to the letter, Nabwire reported to the firm on Tuesday, August 4, but immediately requested a week’s leave, explaining that she had travelled from Mbale by bus the previous day and needed a full week to rest.
The firm says it granted her leave despite finding the request unusual.
However, when she returned to the firm on August 10, the student allegedly demanded that the firm provide her with daily transport, breakfast and lunch allowances.
Okalang Law Chambers said the demands were “highly unfavourable” to the firm and would create unbudgeted expenses.
“Today, the 10th of August, the student reported and she demanded that the firm should pay her daily transport allowance, breakfast allowance, and lunch allowance, which demand we found highly unfavourable to the firm and also causing the firm unbudgeted expense,” the firm stated.
The firm subsequently informed LDC that it was unable to continue hosting Nabwire for her clerkship training and referred her back to the institution.
The letter, referenced OLC/J/GEN/2026, was copied to Nabwire Judith.
The incident has sparked questions about the expectations placed on law students during mandatory clerkship placements, including whether students should receive transport or meal facilitation from host law firms and whether such arrangements should be agreed upon before placement.
