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Kenya CBC Guide
⚖️ CBC Pathway: Social Sciences

Law & Public Service
Career Guide

From defending justice to serving the nation — everything you need to know about pursuing a career in Law, Public Administration, or Government through the CBC Social Sciences pathway.

Law & Public Service📅 January 2026⏱ 10 min read

Why Choose Law & Public Service?

Law and Public Service are among the most respected careers in Kenya. Lawyers defend rights, judges deliver justice, and public servants run the country. With Kenya's devolved government (47 counties), thousands of public service jobs are created yearly.

12,000+
Registered advocates in Kenya
47
Counties with public service jobs
#4
Most trusted profession
📌 CBC Pathway: Social Sciences
Core subjects: English/Kiswahili, History, CRE, Mathematics, Business Studies
English is MANDATORY for law school.
⚖️ Lawyer / Advocate
💰 Entry: 40,000 - 70,000 KES | 5 years: 100,000 - 200,000 KES | Senior Partner: 300,000 - 1,000,000+ KES

What They Do

Lawyers represent clients in court, draft legal documents, advise on legal matters, and help resolve disputes. In Kenya, lawyers work in law firms, corporations, NGOs, or government (State Law Office, DPP).

Skills You Need

Public SpeakingCritical ThinkingResearchWritingNegotiation

Where to Study

University of NairobiMoi UniversityKenyatta UniversityCatholic UniversityDaystar

Years of Study

4 years LLB + 1 year Kenya School of Law (KSL) + 6 months pupillage = 5.5-6 years total

✅ Pros

  • High earning potential
  • Respected profession
  • Can work anywhere in the world
  • Make a difference in people's lives

⚠️ Cons

  • Long training (6 years)
  • High stress, long hours
  • Competitive admission to KSL
  • Courtroom work can be intimidating
🏛️ Judge / Magistrate
💰 Entry (Magistrate): 100,000 - 150,000 KES | Senior Judge: 500,000 - 1,000,000+ KES

What They Do

Judges preside over court cases, interpret laws, and deliver verdicts. You must be a lawyer first (minimum 5-10 years experience) before becoming a judge.

✅ Pros

  • Highest respect in legal profession
  • Excellent salary and benefits
  • Job security (appointed until retirement)

⚠️ Cons

  • Requires 5-10 years as lawyer first
  • Heavy responsibility (people's lives in your hands)
  • Political appointment process
👮 Police Officer / Criminal Investigator
💰 Entry: 25,000 - 35,000 KES | Senior Officer: 60,000 - 120,000 KES | DCI Detective: 80,000 - 150,000 KES

What They Do

Police officers maintain law and order, prevent crime, and investigate criminal activity. DCI detectives specialize in solving complex crimes (murder, theft, cybercrime).

Where to Study

Kenya Police College - KiganjoDCI AcademyUniversity of Nairobi (Criminology)

✅ Pros

  • Guaranteed government job after training
  • Pension and benefits
  • Opportunity to serve the nation

⚠️ Cons

  • Dangerous work
  • Public sometimes mistrusts police
  • Odd hours, shift work
🏢 Public Administrator / County Officer
💰 Entry: 30,000 - 50,000 KES | Senior: 80,000 - 150,000 KES | Chief Officer: 200,000 - 300,000 KES

What They Do

Public administrators manage government departments, implement policies, and oversee public services. Since devolution, thousands work at county governments.

Where to Study

University of NairobiKenyatta UniversityMoi UniversityKSG (Kenya School of Government)
💡 Pro Tip: Public administration + CPA certification = high demand for county finance officers.

Alternative Paths

📜 Diploma in Law (2 years)

Work as paralegal, legal assistant

👮 Direct Police Recruitment

KCSE mean grade D+ required — join Police College

🏢 County Government Jobs

Many roles don't require degree — start as clerk

🔍 Exploring Other Pathways?

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Disclosure: Independent resource. Salary data from KNBS 2025 and Law Society of Kenya.

Sources: LSK · KSL · KNBS 2025
Last updated: January 2026