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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
117039  Bachelor of Laws 
ORIGINATOR
Walter Sisulu University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First Degree(Min 480)  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  480  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2020-05-28  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2034-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
59831  Bachelor of Laws  Level 7  NQF Level 08  480  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:

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 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. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Bachelor of Laws degree is informed and aligned to the approved this institution's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy. The primary intent of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy is undertaken in the context of the institutional commitment to alignment with the principles of the NQF and the National Plan for Higher Education in South Africa. RPL in this qualification will relate to gaining access to the qualification, or credits oradvanced standing as described in institutional guidelines.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process of identifying the knowledge and skills of a learner against the admission requirements of the qualification and/or for credits against a part thereof. The process in this department involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal, non-formal and/or formal learning.

Learners with considerable work experience, but who do not meet the entry requirements of this qualification may want to apply for entry into a qualification. The RPL application is evaluated against the entry requirements of the qualification. If the learner has completed subjects with other institutions of Higher Education in South Africa, including the former Technikons, or professional institutions, he/she may apply for "exemptions".

Entry Requirements:

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's studies.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5, 6, 7 and 8 totalling 512 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 128 Credits:
  • Introduction to Law, 16 Credits.
  • Legal Skills, 16 Credits.
  • English for Law Students 1, 8 Credits.
  • Computer Literacy, 8 Credits.
  • Non-Legal Module 1, 8 Credits.
  • Non-Legal Module 2, 8 Credits.
  • Foundations of South African Law, 16 Credits.
  • Law of Persons, 8 Credits.
  • Law Politics and Culture, 16 Credits.
  • English for Law Students 2, 8 Credits.
  • Indigenous Law, 16 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 112 Credits:
  • Family Law, 16 Credits.
  • Law of Contract, 16 Credits.
  • Constitutional Law, 16 Credits.
  • Law of Property, 16 Credits.
  • Specific Offences, 8 Credits.
  • Sale, Lease and Credit Security, 16 Credits.
  • Interpretation of Legal Instruments, 8 Credits.
  • Ethics, 8 Credits.
  • Law of Succession, 8 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 128 Credits:
  • Human Rights, 8 Credits.
  • Legal Accounting, 8 Credits.
  • Insurance and Agency, 8 Credits.
  • Law of Evidence, 16 Credits.
  • Law of Delict, 16 Credits.
  • Social Security Law, 8 Credits.
  • Business Entities Law, 16 Credits.
  • Criminal procedure, 16 Credits.
  • Civil Procedure, 16 Credits.
  • Consumer Protection Law, 8 Credits.
  • Banking and Insolvency Law, 8 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 128 Credits:
  • Labour Law, 16 Credits.
  • Administrative Law, 16 Credits.
  • Cyber Law, 8 Credits.
  • Legal practice, 8 Credits.
  • Legal Research Methods, 8 Credits.
  • Elective, 8 Credits.
  • Public international Law, 8 Credits.
  • Law Clinic, 8 Credits.
  • Street Law, 8 Credits.
  • Jurisprudence, 16 Credits.
  • Research Paper, 16 Credits.
  • Elective, 8 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 8, 16 Credits (Choose 2):
  • Law & Transformation, 8 Credits.
  • Dispute Resolution, 8 Credits.
  • Income Tax Law, 8 Credits.
  • Medical Law, 8 Credits.
  • Environmental Law, 8 Credits.
  • Conveyancing, 8 Credits.
  • International Trade Law, 8 Credits.
  • Intellectual Property Law, 8 Credits.
  • Child Law, 8 Credits.
  • Local Government Law, 8 Credits.
  • Conflict of Laws, 8 Credits. 
    		•

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

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Critically discuss, interpret and demonstrate the application, interpretation and limitations of the Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution.
  • Outline the legislatures' executives' and judiciary's' authority and powers in terms of the South African Constitution.
  • Demonstrate and analyse the general principles and rules of formal Law in South Africa.
  • Analyse how politics, economy, society and culture impact the development of South African Law.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Initiate and formulate client interviews, counselling and legal advice to indigent clients.
  • Formulate a research proposal to investigate or survey a particular problem that affects a particular legal phenomenon.
  • Generate and analyse data using appropriate methods for the kind of study conducted.
  • Measure the reliability and validity of the research findings using an acceptable tool.
  • Analyse and discuss the research findings with previously published materials and formulate appropriate conclusions and recommendations.
  • Engage with the principles relating to plagiarism as set out in the university policy and its effects on their writing submission.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Analyse the South African legal system with other historical background and its values.
  • Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information.
  • Distinguish between legal and non-legal issues.
  • Critically analyse legal issues in a text or scenario.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Construct appropriate responses to legal issues in a text, scenario or hypothetical.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Compare and contrast the South African legal system with other legal systems.
  • Describe the ethical requirements of the legal profession and its regulations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Consider and value the legal views, skills, knowledge and recommendations for other colleagues, roles players and key stakeholders in the legal process and significantly contribute to the team's output.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Demonstrate knowledge and manipulate master and subdocuments in a GUI-based word processor.
  • Demonstrate writing and oral skills when communicating with both internal and external stakeholders.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate arguments, problems and situations.
  • Present reasoned choices between alternative situations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
  • Describe the founding principles of the South African Constitution.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of legal discourse and their ability to use them appropriately.
  • Outline chapter nine institutions' authority and powers in terms of the South African Constitution.
  • Compare and contrast the three tiers of government in the South African Constitution with respect to their authority and powers.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
  • Respond through case law studies to hypothetical questions:
  • Explain, analyse and apply the general principles of Public Law in South Africa.
  • Describe, analyse and apply the general principles of Mercantile Law in South Africa.
  • Critically discuss, apply and analyse public and private International Law.
  • Discuss, analyse and apply the general principles of Private Law in South Africa.

    Integrated Assessment:

    Assessment for learner learning recognises assessment as a key motivator of learning and an integral part of the teaching and learning process. At the qualification and course/modular level, assessment is systematically and purposefully used to generate data for summative purposes (grading, ranking, selection, predicting) and additionally for formative and diagnostic purposes, such as providing timeous feedback to inform teaching and learning and to improve curriculum and assessment practice itself. Assessment data are also used to examine learner performance trends and to inform institutional academic planning.

    Assessment policies and systems are usually determined at the institutional or faculty level, while their implementation and the extent of their effectiveness needs to be evaluated at qualification and course level.

    The assessment strategy for this qualification will include a variety of options to demonstrate and provide evidence of practice, based on the stated outcomes and the assessment criteria. This will include activities such as case studies, problem-solving assignments, practice in simulated and in situ contexts, projects, written and oral presentations, and so on.

    Based on the Institutional Examinations Policy, which includes assessment, for semester modules a minimum of two tasks is required.

    The assessment is focused on applied competences. The assessment evidence will include:
  • Assignments/tasks and examinations, providing evidence of the ability to apply knowledge to practice.
  • Oral Presentations will be observed in context to assess the ability to communicate with comprehension. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: United Kingdom.
    Institution: University of Lancashire.
    Qualification: Bachelor of Laws.
    The common Law of their Bachelor of Laws degree is similar to that of this qualification, and the modules are similar. However, the structures of the two qualifications are different, as the University of Lancashire's qualification is made up of more elective modules than core modules.

    Country: Australia.
    Institution: Monash University.
    Qualification: Bachelor of Laws Hons.
    Monash University and the South African institution qualification have similar common Law and purpose. The qualification structure of Monash University is made up of more electives than that of this qualification which makes their qualification more flexible, and the choice lies more with the learner in terms of their career progression.

    Country: Uganda.
    Institution: University of Makerere.
    Qualification: Bachelor of Laws.
    The Bachelor of Laws degree qualification of the University of Makerere in Uganda have similar outcomes and purpose as this qualification, is also based on similar common Law. However, the structures of the two qualifications are different. At the third and fourth year levels, University of Makerere has three (3) and four (4) core modules, as well as, two (2) electives. This qualification does not provide any flexibility at the third year as it consists of only core modules, it is only at the fourth year that there are two electives in which learners may decide themselves what to take. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Laws, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Walter Sisulu University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.