Bachelor of Laws


The purpose of the Bachelor of Laws Degree is to prepare students for entry into legal practice, into a wide range of other careers which require the application of law, and for post –graduate studies in law. The curriculum is designed to ensure that graduates from UMP LLB are adequately prepared for these three career options. In addition to this, the LLB programme is also shaped by imperative that Legal education as a public good should be responsive to the needs of the economy, the legal profession and the broader society. In drafting the LLB curriculum, the University of Mpumalanga is aware of the need for well -trained lawyers that will not only be useful to the South African society but to be globally competitive.
 

Duration

 
The Bachelor of Laws degree is at exit level 8 on the HEQSF, with a requirement of 480 credits as a minimum. The Bachelor of Laws Degree is offered for a period of 4 years for
Full- time students.
 

Description of the Programme

 
The design and delivery of the proposed LLB programme will ensure the achievement of the programme outcome in a number of ways. Firstly, the programme extensively and comprehensively covers all the fundamentals as well as several specialized subject areas in the discipline of law; viz private law, public law, public law, mercantile law and adjectival/formal law. Secondly, the interrelatedness between the different modules and areas of law, especially in light of constitutional state that is committed to social justice and to addressing the injustices of the past. Students also have to take Fundamental and Human Rights Law as a compulsory module offered in the programme at NQF level 8. In the same vein, assertions can be made regarding every other core module offered in the programme as they are all designed and delivered against the backdrop of such considerations as transformational constitutionalism, responsiveness to social justice and issues of globalization. Furthermore, the curriculum includes such modules as Social Security Law and Food Security Law which clearly indicate that our curriculum is responsive to some of the country`s endemic challenges of inequality, unemployment and poverty.

 
Table 1: The Core and Elective Modules in the Bachelor of Laws Degree at the University of Mpumalanga.
 
Module Name NQF Level of the Module Credits per Module Compulsory / Optional Year (1, 2, 3, 4) Total Credits per Year
English 101 Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
History Foundations of Law Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
End User Computing Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
Law of Persons Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
Sociology 101 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Development Studies 101 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Political Sciences 101 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Culture and Heritage Studies 101 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
African Language 101 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Introduction to South African Law 102 Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
Family Law Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
Legal Writing Skills Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
English 101 Level 5 12 Compulsory 1 120
Sociology 102 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Development Studies 102 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Political Science 102 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Culture and Heritage Studies 102 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
African Language 102 Level 5 12 Optional 1 120
Contract Law Principles Level 6 12 Compulsory 2 120
Constitutional Law Level 6 12 Compulsory 2 120
Principles of Criminal Law Level 6 8 Compulsory 2 120
African Customary Law Level 6 12 Compulsory 2 120
Criminal Procedure A Level 6 8 Compulsory 2 120
Law of Property Level 6 12 Compulsory 2 120
Professional Ethics for Law Students Level 6 8 Compulsory 2 120
Law of Insurance Level 6 12 Compulsory 2 120
Contract Law: Specific Contracts Level 6 8 Compulsory 2 120
Administrative Law Level 6 12 Compulsory 2 120
Criminal Procedure B Level 6 8 Compulsory 2 120
Criminal Law: Specific Crimes Level 6 8 Compulsory 2 120
Law of Insolvency Level 7 8 Compulsory 3 120
Law of Evidence A Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Banking Law Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Constitutional and Statutory Interpretation Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Law of Civil Procedure A Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Law of Delict Level 7 8 Compulsory 3 128
Law of Civil Procedure B Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Law of Evidence B Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Legal Philosophy Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
Employment Rights Law Level 7 8 Compulsory 3 128
Research Methodology Level 7 8 Compulsory 3 128
Practical Legal Training Level 8 24 Compulsory 4 128
Research Report Level 8 24 Compulsory 4 128
Corporate Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Law of Taxation Level 8 8 Compulsory 4 128
International Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Advanced Employment Rights Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Information Technology Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Advanced Criminal Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Law of Wils and Estates Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Social Security Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Environmental Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Research Methodology Level 8 8 Compulsory 3 128
Practical Legal Training Level 8 24 Compulsory 4 128
Research Report Level 8 24 Compulsory 4 128
Corporate Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Law of Taxation Level 8 8 Compulsory 4 128
International Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Advanced Employment Rights Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Information Technology Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Advanced Criminal Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Law of Wils and Estates Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Social Security Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Environmental Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Human and Fundamental Rights Law Level 8 12 Compulsory 4 128
Competition Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Food Security Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Private International Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
International Economic Law Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Accountancy for Law Students Level 5 8 Optional 4 128
Alternative Dispute Resolution Level 8 8 Optional 4 128
Law of Succession Level 7 12 Compulsory 3 128
 
Teaching will be by contact and will include lectures, tutorials, Moot court practices, visiting courts, group work and online learning.
 

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission are:
National Senior Certificate with Bachelor endorsement with an APS score of 33 with the following minima:
English Language (1st or additional language) at level 4
Additional Language at level 4
Mathematics at level 3 OR
Mathematical Literacy at level 4
 

Selection Criteria for this Programme

There are no special selection criteria beyond the minimum admission requirements.
Selection will take place on a monthly basis and applicants who exceed the minimum admission requirements and who have completed their NSC or equivalent will be made conditional offers. Applicants who do not meet the minimum admission requirements will be rejected. Those who just meet the requirements will be placed on hold.
Each month the new applicants will be considered along with those placed on hold.
At least 50% of places will be reserved for applicants who are in the process of completing the NSC or equivalent.
 
Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) will be applied.
 

Articulation

Those students who successfully completed their LL.B degree programme at the 4th year can continue into LL.M programme in Law.
 

Enquiries

Prof. AA Okharedia
Akhabue.Okharedia@ump.ac.za