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 (1
st 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 4
th year can continue into LL.M programme in Law.
Enquiries
Prof. AA Okharedia
Akhabue.Okharedia@ump.ac.za