National Educational Assessment and Examinations

Agency (NEAEA)

National Exit Examination for

LL.B Programme Students of Ethiopian Law
Schools

Academic Year 2013/2014

Part III: Procedural Laws and Skill Courses

20 March 2014
Time Allowed: 3 (Three) Hours
Instructions:

• This is a closed book exam for all materials except clean copies of the Civil
Procedure Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Federal Courts
Establishment Proclamation which can neither be lent to nor borrowed from other
students.
• The Exam has five sections. The grades allotted for each are indicated beside the title
of the section.
• Whenever Appropriate buttress your arguments with pertinent legal provisions
• You are expected to allocate your time based on the marks allotted per question.
• Write your answers in the answer sheet provided.
• Switch off your mobile phone.
r
Please do not turn this page until you are told to do so!

First Name Father's Name Grandfather's Name

Registration Number _
University _

www.chilot.me
 SECTION 1- MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (25 points)

There are 25 multiple choice questions in this exam. Each question carr.ies Q!!£
point. Choose the best answer and write the letter of your choice on a separate
answer sheet appended to this exam booklet.

1. Identify the incorrect statement(s) about the cost of litigation under the Civil
Procedure Code of Ethiopia is(are):

A. The loser party bears cost of litigation.

B. Both parties may be ordered to bear their own respective costs.
C. The cost of litigation includes damages due to a party as a result of abuse of
process by its opponent.
D. The cost of litigation is not subject to review by a higher court.
E. CandD

2. Choose the most appropriate statement based on the nature of civil appeal in Ethiopia:

A. It is no less adversarial than the trial stage.

B. Judges are required by law to give deference to the factual findings of trial
courts.
C. All errors of lower courts merit review.
D. It involves de novo hearing.
E. No errors other than those asserted by parties can be considered.

3. Remand under the Civil Procedure Code:

A. represents the process by which a court of appeal sends a recalcitrant

respondent to the custody of police.
B. Reversal of the decision of the lower court is a condition precedent for the
appellate court to order remand.
C. Reversal of the decision of the lower court is a sufficient condition for the
appellate court to order remand.
D. Failure of the lower court to consider a material evidence of a party necessarily
leads to remand.
E. All except A.

LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page
1
4. Which one of the following is correct about examination of witnesses in a civil case
under Ethiopian Civil Procedure Code?

A. It follows the inquisitorial model.

B. It follows the adversarial model
C. It normally allows to impeach own witness.
D. There is no restriction as to the form of question a party may put to a witness.'
E. B and C are correct.

5. Which one of the following is not a formal source of the law of civil procedure in
Ethiopia at the present time?

A. The 1965 Civil Procedure Code of the Empire of Ethiopia;

B. The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;.
C. The Federal Courts Establishment Proclamation;
D. State laws establishing state courts;
E. None of the above.

6. Choose the correct statement regarding the order of proceeding:

A. Plaintiff always makes its opening statement and produces its evidence before
defendant does.
B Defendant always makes its opening statement and produces its evidence before
plaintiff does.
C. The order of proceeding depends on the issue framed and the party who bears
the burden of proving same.
D. The order of proceeding is not a typical feature of adversarial model.
E. C and D are correct.

7. Which one of the following is true about the law of pre-trial hearing in Ethiopia?

A. It has the major purpose of resolving issues.

B. It has the main purpose of framing issues, if any.
C. It involves mainly examination of parties and not of evidence.
D. Parties are more active than judges at pre-trial hearing.
E. B and C are correct.

LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 2
8. The correct preposition (s) about consolidation of suits under the Civil Procedure Code
is (are):

A. Federal and state matters may be consolidated before federal courts.

B. Federal and state matters may be consolidated before state courts.
C. Consolidation is possible any time before judgment but after evidence is taken
if the two suits are pending before different courts.
D. Consolidation necessarily requires joint trial of issues in different suits.
E. None of the above.

9. Which of the following is!!:.!!£ about conflict of laws?

A. Conflict of laws forms part of the intemationallegal system.

B. Conflict of laws deals with relationships of public nature ..
C. Conflict of laws deals with interactions of purely private nature.
D. Conflict of laws deals with criminal law issues.
E. None of the above.

10. In Ethiopia,

A. the Federal High Court has first instance jurisdiction to see interstate conflict
cases while the Federal Supreme Court has similar power to see international
conflict cases;
B. the Federal Supreme Court has first instance jurisdiction to see interstate
conflict cases while the Federal High Court has similar power to see
international conflict cases;
C. Regional Supreme Courts have first instance jurisdiction to see interstate
conflict matters while the Federal Supreme Court is bestowed with first instance
jurisdiction to see international conflict cases;
D. The Federal High Court has first instance jurisdiction to see both interstate and
international conflict of laws cases;
E. The Federal First Instance Court has first instance jurisdiction to see both
interstate and international conflict of laws matters.

11. The law that is universally recognized as a governing law with respect to conflict
matters that involve immovable property is:

A. The national law of the owner of immovable property.

B. The law of country of domicile of the owner of immovable property.
C. The law of country where a transaction relating to an immovable takes place.
D. The law of country where the immovable is situate.
E. All of the above.
LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 3
12. Conflict of laws does not deal with:

A. Local jurisdiction.
B. Judicial jurisdiction.
C. Choice of law.
D. Enforcement of foreign judgments.
E. Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards.

13. Identify the correct statement:

A. In countries where foreign law is considered as a fact, the party relying on it

needs to prove it.
B. In countries where foreign law is considered as a law, the court has to ascertain
the law ex officio and without the help of the party relying on it.
C. Most common law countries consider foreign law as a fact.
D. Most continental law countries consider foreign law as a law
E. All of the above.

14. Which of the following is correct about theories of judicial jurisdiction?

A. Power theory was influenced by the common law theory of 'physical presence.'
B. Power theory does not take into account whether the forum is convenient for the
defendant.
C. Fairness theory takes into account justice and convenience to a defendant as
major factors.
D. Fairness theory takes into account the relationship between the litigants and the
forum
D. All of the above.

15. Which of the following statements is correct about the choice of the applicable law in
conflict of laws?

A. Public policy considerations may not be taken into account when determining
the applicable law.
B. Determination of the applicable law comes after a decision on judicial
jurisdiction has been passed.
C. Determination of the applicable law does not depend on the nature of the
dispute involved.
D. The applicable law can be determined without doing any characterization.
E. All of the above.

LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 4
16. Which one of the following represents principles of Modem Criminal procedure:

A. The principle of equality of arms

B. The principle of presumption of innocence
C. The principle of double jeopardy
D. Equality before the law
E!_ All of above.

17. One of the following may not affect the fairness of a criminal trial at all:

A. Trial in absentia
B. Trial in camera
C. Quality oflawyers
D. Televised trial
E. None of the above.

18. Choose the most appropriate statement about pre-trial lawyering:

A. It refers to various tasks performed before litigation.

B. It involves litigation planning, fact investigation, but not legal investigation.
C. It involves designing litigation strategy.
D. It can involve negotiation between the parties.
E. All of the above are true except "B"

19. Retrieving legal facts in the pre-trial task of a lawyer does not include:

A. Identifying the relevant legal provision applicable to the issue/s involved;

B. Examining the degree of applicability of the provision in comparison with other
provisions;
C. Identifying Federal Supreme Court Cassation Division decisions in which legal
interpretation is given to the provision under consideration in the context of
similar issues;
D. The application of the legal provisions to solve the issue under consideration.
E. Facts relevant to the case.

20. Communication skills of a lawyer relates to :

A. writing up pleadings;
B. negotiation;
C. client interviews;
D. writing a notice to the other party
E. All of the above.
LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) PageS
21 One of the following is not true about adjudication without trial:

A. The court may render judgment if there is admission to all the facts stated in a
pleading.
B. The court resorts to trial in all cases even if there is admission of all facts stated
in the pleading.
C. The court may render as it thinks fit if there is admission to all the facts stated in
a pleading.
D. The court may give an order on the facts that have been partly admitted.
E. None of the above.

22. One of the following is not true about witness examination:

A. The plaintiff in civil cases or the public prosecutor in criminal cases should
invariably produce witnesses to prove claims or charges.
B. It applies to civil and criminal cases.
C. It is a one of the means of submitting the results of fact investigation.
D. It allows the litigator to challenge the validity and reliability of the witnesses
and other evidence produced by the other party.
E. None of the above.

23. Appellate litigation may end up in:

A. the variation of the lower court's decision;

B. the confirmation of the lower court's decision.
C. the reversal of the decisions which is appealed from;
D. remand to the lower court;
E. anyone of the above.

24. One of the following is not true about effective oral argument by an appellate attorney
in persuading judges on behalf of his/her client:

A. Presenting the case to the appellate court in person;

B. Responding to questions from the bench;
C. Giving utmost attention to the substance of the oral argument;
D. Making rehearsal before oral argument and paying more attention to eloquent
rhetoric rather than the substance of the case;
E. Being calm and confident.

LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 6
25. In general, due process in criminal procedures requires the following:

A. Notice of the proceedings;

B. A hearing;
C. Opportunity to present a defense;
D. An impartial tribunal and an atmosphere of fairness;
E. All of the above,

E
LL.8 Exit Exam P,llt III NEAEA 2(11<1(20(1(.
el Page 7
 SECTION 2- MATCHING (10 points)

Match each item under Column "A" (l.e., numbers 1 to 10) with its best eorresponding
item (among letters "A" to "P") under Column "B".

ColumnA Column B
1. Arrest without warrant A. A property adversely claimed by two persons
2. Cross-claim B. Application of different laws to several parts of a contract

r 3. Depacage C. Arises together with the primary issue.

4. Fact investigation D. Co-defendants
5. Incidental issue E. Counter claim
6. Lex loci delicti F. Cross appeal
7. Material Evidence G. Flagrant offences
8. Precedent H. Governing law in tort cases
9. Punitive victims rights I. Impleader
model
10. Remand J. Legal Investigation
K. Ratio decidenci
L. Reprimand
M. Sending back to a lower court
N. Victim Oriented

1 O. Weapon used for an offence

P. Witnesses

LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 Page 8

E.C.)
 SECTION 3- SHORT ANSWERS (15 points)

Give a short answer to the following questions:

1. Federal Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over federal civil matters in Ethiopia. Do you
agree? Why or why not? (5 points) !About fiv~ line~

2. Bekele, a police officer, lives in a small village situated partly in East Hararge Zone and
., partly in the Harari Region. Wlro Ayelech is married to Ato Hunde and there was
suspicion that she has extramarital affairs with Ato Markos. Bekele fmds the suspects
(Ato Markos and Wlro Ayelech) in bed and brought them to justice.

a) Under whose jurisdiction does the matter fall? Why? (6 points)

!About six line~

b) Assuming that the case proceeds to trial, can any of the defendants validly demand trial
in a closed court? Why or why not? (4 points) !About four line~

SECTION 4- ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS (20 points)

1. Neither of the names 'conflict of laws' nor 'private international law' is fully descriptive;
these terms are not also wholly accurate and precise. Explain.
(10 points) !About ten linesl

2. The rules of subject-matter or material jurisdiction are "jurisdictional" while the rules of
venue are only "procedural". Explain this statement in light of the relevant provisions of
the Civil Procedure Code. (10 points). !About ten line~

LL.B Exit Exam Part 1II NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 9
 SECTION 5- HYPOTHETICAL CASE PROBLEM (30 points)

Read the following hypothetical case and answer the two questions that follow.

D is accused of stealing V's pistol. D denied committing the crime. The public prosecutor
thus introduced an alleged confession of the defendant recorded by an investigating police
officer, and it also introduced a pistol which is claimed to have been found and seized in D's
house through a search warrant.

D's lawyer objected the admissibility of both D's confession and the pistol found in D's
house. The lawyer stated that the confession was obtained while D was being severely beaten
by the investigating police officer during interrogation. He also stated that the investigating
police officer came to know the whereabouts of the pistol from D's confession during the
interrogation. He further stated that the investigating police officer did not read the search
warrant to D and that the search was conducted in the evening at 8:30 PM, contrary to what
was ordered in the search warrant. D's lawyer requested for the exclusion of these two forms
of illegally obtained evidence and prayed for the acquittal of the defendant.

The prosecutor, on the other hand, claimed that D's confession was obtained freely and
voluntarily and that the pistol was found in his house through a lawful search during daytime,
4:00 PM in the afternoon. The prosecutor requested the court to reject D's objections and
prayed for the admissibility of the two forms of evidence. After the oral argument of the

1 parties, the court framed two issues: namely:

\ a) Whether the confession was obtained freely and voluntarily, or whether it was a result
of coercion? And,
b) Whether the pistol was seized under lawful search?

LL.B Exit Exam Part III NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 10
-
Question 1

Which party bears evidential and persuasive burdens in respect of these two issues? Why?

(15 'points)

Question 2

If the allegations of D's lawyer are found to be true and if you are the judge in the case, what
will your position be on the admissibility or inadmissibility of these two forms of evidence?
Why?

(15 points)

LL.B Exit Exam Part 111NEAEA 2014 (2006 E.C.) Page 11