Bachelor of Laws

Law, Military Science and Security - Justice in Society

Purpose and Rationale

Purpose of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Qualification

The purpose of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) qualification is to equip well-rounded learners to enter the legal profession, to engage in careers that require the application of the Law, and to pursue postgraduate studies in Law, with an understanding of constitutional values and fundamentals of the South African legal system and critical understanding of legal principles, ethics, knowledge, integrity, values, methodologies, procedures, theories, and research. The qualifying learners will be able to engage with the competencies learned through practical application in academic, professional, and career contexts; and understand and contribute towards the development of cultural values through the use of technological advancements to contribute towards the decolonization of the legal profession and transformative constitutionalism. The learners will have a comprehensive, sound and analytical knowledge and understanding and the ability to apply the South African Constitution and basic areas or fields of Law. This relates to the body of South African Law and the South African legal system, its values, and historical background.

Rationale

Taking into account that South Africa faces escalating levels of unemployment, the learners will be encouraged to pursue and use their law degrees as a means of creating employment opportunities or to engage in entrepreneurship. This will be achieved by encouraging learners to become legal practitioners. After qualifying, they will be in a position to employ administrators, messengers, and to train other candidate attorneys and pupils. In pursuance of this agenda, practising attorneys and advocates, prosecutors, and judges are often invited to address the learners and encourage them to join the profession so that they can meaningfully contribute towards the needs of the economy. In responding to the role of education towards promoting social justice in redressing imbalances of the past, the qualification expands professional and academic opportunities. Legal practitioners and academics continue to play an essential role in nearly every aspect of society because everything and every person is affected by Law. The history of South African liberation by lawyers is ensconced in this region. Thus the scarcity of professionally qualified personnel, especially women, is much needed in rural communities; this qualification will assist in alleviating this shortage. The typical learner for this qualification comes from quintile 1-3 schools, most of whom have a basic proficiency language score. The qualification seeks to provide the learner with the ability to understand and appreciate the importance of social justice to community research and development in a rural environment, and contribute towards rural community development and poverty alleviation through research and advocacy. Various stakeholders including non-governmental organisations, judges, and other prominent legal experts are often invited to present public lectures as a means of equipping our learners on aspects of social justice, on areas that directly affect them, including domestic violence, human rights in general, divorce and customary marriages, wills estates, HIV/AIDS and the Law, and citizen participation in democratic processes such as voting.

Outcomes

Acquire a coherent understanding of, and ability to analyse fundamental legal and related concepts, principles, theories and their relationship to values critically.
Acquire an understanding and application of the appropriate methods, techniques and strategies involved in legal research and problem-solving in theoretical and applied situations.
Collate, organise, analyse and critically evaluate information and evidence from a legal perspective.
Acquire the ability to communicate effectively in a legal environment through written persuasive methods and sustained discourse.
Solve complex and diverse legal problems creatively, critically, ethically and innovatively.
Work effectively with colleagues and other role players in the legal process as a team or group and contribute significantly to the group output.
Acquire computer literacy to effectively communicate, retrieve and process relevant data in a legal environment.
Manage and organise her/his professional activities in the legal field responsibly and effectively.
Participate as a responsible citizen in the promotion of a just society and a democratic and constitutional state under the rule of law.
Acquire legal skills and knowledge, which enable her/ him to solve problems responsibly and creatively in a given legal and social context.

Assessment Criteria

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution:
- Demonstrate understanding of application, interpretation, and limitations.
Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary:
- Outline authority and powers according to the South African Constitution.
General Principles and Rules of Formal Law:
- Demonstrate and analyze in the context of South Africa.
Impact of Politics, Economy, Society, and Culture:
- Analyze how they influence the development of South African Law.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Client Interviews and Legal Advice:
- Formulate legal advice for indigent clients.
Research Proposal:
- Develop a proposal to investigate a legal problem.
Data Analysis:
- Generate and analyze data using appropriate methods.
Reliability and Validity:
- Measure the research findings using acceptable tools.
Research Findings:
- Analyze, discuss, and formulate conclusions and recommendations.
Principles of Plagiarism:
- Engage with the university policy on plagiarism.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

South African Legal System:
- Analyze its historical background and values.
Relevance and Irrelevance:
- Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information.
Legal and Non-Legal Issues:
- Differentiate between legal and non-legal matters.
Critical Analysis:
- Analyze legal issues in texts or scenarios.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Legal Issue Responses:
- Construct appropriate responses to legal issues in scenarios or hypotheticals.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Comparison of Legal Systems:
- Compare the South African legal system with others.
Ethical Requirements:
- Describe the ethical requirements and regulations of the legal profession.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Legal Views and Contributions:
- Consider and value legal views, skills, and recommendations for team output.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Word Processor Skills:
- Manipulate master and subdocuments in a GUI-based word processor.
Communication Skills:
- Demonstrate writing and oral skills with stakeholders.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Critical Evaluation:
- Analyze, synthesize, and critically evaluate arguments, problems, and situations.
Reasoned Choices:
- Present reasoned choices between alternative situations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:

Constitutional Principles:
- Describe the founding principles of the South African Constitution.
Legal Discourse Conventions:
- Demonstrate knowledge and appropriate use.
Chapter Nine Institutions and Three Tiers of Government:
- Outline their authority and powers in the South African Constitution.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:

Case Law Studies:
- Respond to hypothetical questions using case law studies.
Public Law, Mercantile Law, International Law, Private Law:
- Discuss, analyze, and apply the general principles of each.

Integrated Assessment:

Assessment for Learning:
- Utilize assessment as a motivator and integral part of teaching and learning.
Assessment Strategy:
- Include a variety of options to demonstrate practice based on outcomes.
Assessment Evidence:
- Assignments, presentations, and examinations to show applied competences.
Institutional Policy:
- Follow the guidelines for assessment tasks and examinations.

Qualification Details

Type: National First Degree(Min 480)
NQF Level: 08
Min. Credits: 480
SAQA Source: More Information

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Walter Sisulu University

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Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is a comprehensive university located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It was established in 2005 through the merger of three institutions: the University of Transkei, the Eastern Cape Technikon, and the Border Technikon. WSU offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including arts and humanities, business and management sciences, education, health sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. The university is committed to providing quality education and promoting social justice, equity, and sustainable development. WSU has multiple campuses spread across different regions of the Eastern Cape, including Mthatha, Butterworth, Buffalo City (East London), and Queenstown. Each campus offers a unique learning environment and facilities to cater to the diverse needs of students. The university is named after Walter Sisulu, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC). It aims to honor his legacy by fostering a culture of activism, social responsibility, and community engagement among its students and staff. Overall, Walter Sisulu University strives to be a leading institution of higher learning in South Africa, providing accessible and relevant education to empower individuals and contribute to the development of the Eastern Cape region and the country as a whole.

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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.