Accessibility and Utilisation of Legal Information Resources by Legal Practitioners in Kano

This study examined the accessibility and utilisation of legal information resources by legal practitioners in Kano State, North West Nigeria. Legal practitioners require timely access to statutes, case law, law reports, and current legal literature to provide competent professional services. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were obtained from 120 barristers, solicitors, and magistrates in Kano Metropolis through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The study found that physical law libraries were the primary source of legal information for most respondents, but that collections in both the Kano State Library and the Kano NBA library were outdated and incomplete. Electronic legal databases such as LexisNexis and the Nigerian Legal Information Institute were known to fewer than thirty percent of respondents. Internet accessibility and subscription costs were identified as key barriers. The study recommended that the Nigerian Bar Association Kano branch invest in electronic legal database subscriptions, train members on online legal research, and advocate for government support for legal information infrastructure in the state. Keywords: legal information, legal practitioners, Kano State, law libraries, electronic legal databases.