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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Laws 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
119075  Bachelor of Laws 
ORIGINATOR
University of Mpumalanga 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   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
Registered  SAQA 158/22  2022-04-21  2025-04-21 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-04-21   2032-04-21  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Laws is to prepare learners for entry into legal practice, into a wide range of other careers which require the application of the law, and for post-graduate studies in law. The qualification is designed to ensure that graduates are adequately prepared for legal career options. Furthermore, the qualification is also shaped by the imperative that legal education as a public good should be responsive to the needs of the economy, the legal profession and broader society.

The qualification is aligned with the purpose of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in terms of the Qualification Standard for the LLB. Consequently, this qualification aims to prepare learners for:
  • Entry into legal practice.
  • Entry into a wide range of other careers which require the application of the law.
  • Postgraduate studies in law (Council on Higher Education, 2028: 7 of the National Qualification Standards for the LLB).

    On completion of the qualification, graduates will be able to:
  • Critically analyse fundamental legal and related concepts, principles, theories, and their relationship to values.
  • Examine and apply the relevant methods, techniques and strategies involved in legal research and problem-solving in theoretical and applied situations.
  • Collect, organize, analyse, and critically evaluate information and evidence from a legal perspective.
  • Communicate effectively in a legal environment by means of 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.
  • Apply advanced computer literacy skills to effectively communicate, retrieve, and process relevant data in a legal environment.
  • Manage and organize 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.
  • Apply acquired legal skills and knowledge, to solve problems responsibly and creatively in each legal and social context.

    Rationale:
    Law is fundamental to the consolidation of the constitutional democratic project. Law has played a critical role in the country's transition to democracy and remains key to entrenching and consolidating the constitutional democratic project. There is a crucial need in South Africa for capacity building in the sub-field of Justice in Society to promote the principles contained in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution to address past and current injustices and to ensure the sustained development of a just and democratic society based on the rule of law. The structure, content, and delivery of the qualification are designed to ensure that the national imperatives of transformative constitutionalism, responsiveness to social justice, inculcating learner awareness of constitutional imperatives, responsiveness to globalization and responsiveness to ever-evolving information technology. The qualification is intended to produce graduates who are critical thinkers and enlightened citizens with a profound understanding of the impact of the Constitution on the development of the law and advancing the course of social justice in South Africa.

    This qualification provides a first undergraduate qualification for school leavers or adult learners who wish to enter legal practice. LLB graduates can be admitted as attorneys if they complete in-service under articles of clerkship or service contract, complete compulsory practical legal training and are regarded as a fit and proper person by the Law Society and the High Court. Furthermore, the candidate should pass the attorneys' admission examination set by the Law Society. To practice as an advocate of one of the Bar Councils in South Africa, an LLB graduate needs to enter a pupillage for one year and pass the examination set by the General Council of the Bar. Careers that LLB graduates could pursue in the Department of Justice include positions as state law advisors, family advocates, public prosecutors, state advocates, and state attorneys.

    The qualification was designed in consultation with the following bodies to address the skills, methodologies and techniques required to practice as jurists.
  • The Law Society of South Africa.
  • The General Council of the Bar of South Africa.
  • The National Council of the Bar South Africa.
  • The National Forum of Advocates.
  • The Advocates for Transformation.
  • The South African Legal Practice Council.

    Graduates can also pursue careers in the public sector and a wide range of other careers which require the application of the law. The Department of Justice, for example, offers positions in the offices of the Master of the High Court, South African Human Rights Commission, Commission on Gender Equality, and the Legal Aid Board. Careers in the business environment include, but are not limited to:
  • Legal advisors.
  • Business rescue practitioners.
  • Company secretaries and business managers.
    Other careers that are available include:
  • Non-governmental organisation legal advisors.
  • Legal writers.
  • Legal researchers and mediators for divorce.
  • Labour and commercial disputes.

    This qualification presents graduates with the opportunity for postgraduate studies in law and other areas such as a Master's in Business Administration. LLB graduates can also decide to pursue careers in academics at a university, usually after completion of a Master of Laws (LLM). 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.
    RPL for access:
  • Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
  • To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.
    RPL for exemption of modules:
  • Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.
    RPL for credit:
  • Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
  • Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to bachelor's degree studies with English Home Language or Additional First Language: Level 4, Additional Language: Level 4, Mathematics: Level 3 or Mathematical Literacy: Level 4.
    Or
  • Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational (NCV), NQF Level 4 granting access to the bachelor's degree studies with English Language (First or Additional Language: Level 4, Additional Language: Level 4, Mathematics: Level 3 or Mathematical Literacy: Level 4.
    Or
  • Higher Certificate in Law, NQF Level 5. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5, 6, 7 and 8 totalling 496 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 96 Credits:
  • English, 24 Credits.
  • Historical Foundations of Law, 12 Credits.
  • End User Computing, 12 Credits.
  • Law of Persons, 12 Credits.
  • Introduction to South African Law, 12 Credits.
  • Family law, 12 Credits.
  • Legal and Writing Skills, 12 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 5, 24 Credits (Select one module from the following).
  • Sociology, 24 Credits.
  • Development Studies, 24 Credits.
  • Political Sciences, 24 Credits.
  • Culture and Heritage Studies, 24 Credits.
  • African Language, 24 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 6,120 Credits:
  • Contract Law: Principles, 12 Credits.
  • Constitutional Law, 12 Credits.
  • Principles of Criminal Law, 8 Credits.
  • African Customary Law, 12 Credits.
  • Criminal Procedure, 16 Credits.
  • Law of Property, 12 Credits.
  • Professional Ethics for Law learners, 8 Credits.
  • Law of Insurance, 12 Credits.
  • Contract Law: Specific Contracts, 8 Credits.
  • Administrative Law, 12 Credits.
  • Criminal Law: Specific Crimes, 8 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 7,128 Credits:
  • Law of Insolvency, 8 Credits.
  • Law of Evidence, 24 Credits.
  • Law of Succession, 12 Credits.
  • Banking law, 12 Credits.
  • Constitutional and Statutory Interpretation, 12 Credits.
  • Law of Civil Procedure, 24 Credits.
  • Law of Delict, 8 Credits.
  • Legal Philosophy, 12 Credits.
  • Employment Rights Law, 8 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 8 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 112 Credits:
  • Practical Legal Training, 24 Credits.
  • Research Report, 24 Credits.
  • Corporate Law, 12 Credits.
  • Law of Taxation, 8 Credits.
  • International Law, 12 Credits.
  • Environmental Law, 12 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 8 Credits.
  • Human and Fundamental Rights Law, 12 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 8, 8 Credits (Select one module from the following):
  • Advanced Employment Rights Law, 8 Credits.
  • Information Technology Law, 8 Credits.
  • Advanced Criminal Law, 8 Credits.
  • Law of Wills and Estates, 8 Credits.
  • Social Security Law, 8 Credits.
  • Competition Law, 8 Credits.

    AND
    Elective Modules, Level 8, 8 Credits (Select one module from the following):
  • Food Security Law, 8 Credits.
  • Private International Law, 8 Credits.
  • International Economics Law, 8 Credits.
  • Accountancy for Law students, 8 Credits.
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution, 8 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse fundamental legal and related concepts, principles, theories, and their relationship to values.
    2. Demonstrate the ability to apply the relevant methods, techniques and strategies involved in legal research and problem-solving in theoretical and applied situations.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to critically review information gathering, synthesis of data, evaluation, and management processes in specialised contexts to develop creative responses to legal problems and issues.
    4. Communicate effectively in a legal environment by means of written persuasive methods and sustained discourse.
    5. Demonstrate the ability to identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on, and solve complex and diverse legal problems creatively, critically, ethically, and innovatively applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.
    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. Demonstrate the ability to present and communicate academic, professional, or occupational ideas and
    texts effectively to a range of audiences, offering creative insights, rigorous interpretations and solutions to problems and issues appropriate to the context.
    8. Demonstrate the ability to operate effectively within a system, or manage a system based on an understanding of the roles and relationships between elements within the legal system.
    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. Apply acquired legal skills and knowledge, to solve problems responsibly and creatively in each legal and social context. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Critically evaluate and discuss current and contemporary concepts, theories, and methods in law in detail in written and oral submissions.
  • Analyse and apply different theorists in oral and written work, and the arguments expressed therein.
  • Discuss current and contemporary legal issues with reference to values.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Identify accurately the issue that requires researching in one or more legal regimes, whether South African, regional and/or international.
  • Select and apply research methods appropriate for the project and justify all desktop research.
  • Carefully apply research methods providing reliable results.
  • Discuss and account for potential weaknesses in the chosen methods and the analysis of the results.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Collect, organize, analyse, and critically evaluate information and evidence from a legal perspective.
  • Use up to date references in the research report and include the most recent publications.
  • Critically review and analyse existing knowledge in the legal field of study.
  • Access, and critically evaluate information from a wide range of sources and include in all written submissions.
  • Evaluate alternative viewpoints to manage well contradictory information and reach a balanced conclusion.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Communicate results from the research project to both professional and lay audiences using appropriate language and technology.
  • Communicate clearly complex legal concepts, ideas, theories, and arguments in a convincing manner.
  • Participate and engage in presentations and complete them within the given time.
  • Use appropriate legal language in all submissions, present in the approved style and adhere to norms for legal writing.
  • Use standard referencing styles accurately and consistently in all written submissions.
  • Acknowledge sources used in the research to eliminate plagiarism in all written work.
  • Critically consider and successfully incorporate feedback into iterative drafts of work.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Identify and analyse legal problems in real-life or hypothetical/factual situations.
  • Analyse and apply legal theory and practice to decide on the correct approach to addressing a complex legal problem.
  • Apply fundamental and specialist knowledge of the law to address complex and diverse legal problems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Work in groups as a participant who contributes effectively to the group's task.
  • Agree on roles and assign responsibilities to team members in a group discussion.
  • Critically reflect on and assess own work and critique the work of others in a reasoned and formative manner.
  • Constitute teamwork successfully according to an agreed-on timeframe.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Construct appropriate responses to legal issues in a text, scenario, or hypothetical.
  • Communicate effectively by verbal and written means as required in the legal environment.
  • Interact successfully with colleagues, other role players in the legal process and members of other professions and disciplines.
  • Select appropriate channels for effective communication in a variety of contexts.
  • Use effective, appropriate, and persuasive listening, comprehension, reading, writing, and oral skills to legal and non-legal audiences.
  • Apply communication skills to situations and genres relevant to different legal environments.
  • Present possible solutions in an oral argument or in written format that includes the drafting of legal documents.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Carry out the basic numeracy tasks that relate to the different areas/branches of law and that are necessary for successful professional practice
  • Identify ethical issues, as they relate to law and address them in all oral and written work.
  • Manage and organize her/his professional activities in the legal field responsibly and effectively.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
  • Discuss how the law balances competing interests in society and explore the functions of all role players in legal processes within a constitutional state.
  • Define the value of transformative constitutionalism and form a basis for discussion of topics including but not limited to environmental law and environmental rights.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
  • Identify legal problems in the South African context.
  • Analyse and apply relevant South African legal principles and their underlying values in solving identified problems.
  • Compare and/or critically evaluate solutions in other legal systems and related international trends in solving identified legal problems.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
    An assessment strategy is developed at the qualification level to ensure constructive alignment and coherence, and each module adheres to that strategy. The ratio of formative to summative assessment is constant within an academic year but varies between years with the weighting of examinations decreasing in the senior years.
    Assessment of the LLB will be guided by the following:
  • Teaching approaches, types of assessment, learning outcomes and assessment criteria should correspond.
  • Assessments must require the level of rigour that correspond with NQF level descriptors.
  • Assessment plans, learning outcomes and assessment criteria should be known by learners in advance by inclusion in module learning guides.
  • Where necessary, such as in certain types of assignments, assessment grids should be provided.
  • Assessment tasks should be sufficiently varied to test for all outcomes and criteria such as problem-solving, skills development and integration of knowledge across areas of law.
  • Generally, assessments may test for content/recall on the one hand and deeper critical thinking/application/problem solving on the other hand.
  • Contribute to the development of learner learning in addition to assessing for outcomes. To this end, timeous, constructive, and instructive written and oral feedback should be provided
  • Offer opportunities to identify learner strengths and weaknesses during the delivery of each module.
  • Be in line with broader institutional assessment policy.

    An outcomes-based system assessment is a process during which evidence of performance is gathered and evaluated against set criteria. For assessment to be deemed appropriate it must satisfy at least two criteria: validity and reliability. Validity has to do with the appropriateness of what is assessed and how it is assessed; a judgment that must be made with reference to the outcomes of each module or the entire LLB. Validity in assessment is crucial for a professional discipline such as law with its emphasis on skills, methods and standards expected in legal practice. Reliability, on the other hand, has to do with whether an assessment tool or method and process would consistently produce the same result regardless of who would be conducting the assessment. Reliability is enhanced through a proper alignment of outcomes and associated assessment criteria.

    Formative Assessment:
    Assessments may be, but are not necessarily limited to:
  • Individual and group-written assignments.
  • Syndicate groups.
  • Class paper-based or online tests.
  • Open book tests.
  • Take home tasks.
  • Moots.
  • Mock trials.
  • Legal practice files/portfolios.

    Summative Assessment:
    Summative assessment may be used to test for all outcomes. For instance, some approaches to assessment such as assignments, tests and examinations may test more for content and integration of knowledge and some problem solving while moots and mock trials cater more for effective oral communication and development of practical professional skills in preparing and presenting legal arguments. The latter also offers excellent opportunities for the integration of principles from different areas of law in tackling moot problems. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Bachelor of Laws compares well with its regional and international peers, as demonstrated below:

    Country: Botswana
    Institution: University of Botswana (UB)
    Qualification title: Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
    NQF Level: National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF) Level 8
    Credits: 602
    Duration: Four years full time
    The normal duration for the LLB degree programme shall be ten (10) semesters on a full-time basis.

    Entry Requirements:
  • The normal requirement for admission to the Bachelor of Laws degree shall be the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) obtained at one sitting with a minimum of five credits, one of which shall be in the English language, or an equivalent qualification.
  • An applicant in possession of a Diploma in Law from this University, obtained with a minimum classification of credit, or equivalent qualification shall also be eligible for admission to the LLB
  • Subject to Academic General Regulation 00.4, a learner admitted to the LLB with a Diploma in Law shall be exempted from taking Levels 100 and 200 courses on the LLB designated by the Departmental Board as equivalent to courses passed under the Diploma in Law and shall be allocated comparable credits under the LLB for the exemptions. A learner admitted to the LLB with a Diploma in Law will not normally be entitled to register for courses offered at levels 300, 400 and 500 of the LLB before completing and accumulating credits for levels 100 and 200 Core, Optional, Electives and General Education Courses.

    Qualification Structure
  • The LLB shall consist of specified Core (C) and Optional (O) courses in the principal subject Law offered at Levels 100 to 500, and Electives (E) and General Education Courses (GEC) in other subject areas offered at comparable levels.
  • Learners shall normally be required to take and complete credits for the Core courses in the manner and sequence indicated in the qualification structure. The Core courses at each level and semester from Levels 100 to 400 have generally been designed and arranged to prepare LLB learners for other Core courses at each successively higher level.
  • Optional courses on the LLB shall be offered subject to optimal learner and approval of the Departmental Board.
    The curriculum incorporates (a) computer, writing, research, and professional skills development modules, namely:
  • Computer Skills Fundamentals I and II.
  • Academic and Professional Communication.
  • Clinical Legal Education I, II and III.
  • Law and Social Research Methods.
  • Research Paper.
  • Electives.
  • Language training in the form of one module called Communication and Academic Literacy Skills.
  • Adjectival or legal procedure focused modules, namely: Civil Procedure and Practice; Criminal Procedure; and Evidence. This qualification is similar to the South African qualification in that the curriculum of the latter qualification consists of a total of 52 modules. This includes modules aimed at developing the learners' skills in the areas of:
  • Computer literacy through the module named End-User Computing at Year One.
  • Academic and legal writing through the module called Legal and Writing Skills also in Year One.
  • Advanced academic research and writing skills in the form of the Research Methodology Module in Year Three and the Research Report module in Year Four.

    The UB qualification consists of the following credit breakdown.
  • Level 5, 38 Credits.
  • Level 6, 168 Credits.
  • Level 7, 120 Credits.
  • Level 8 276, Credits.
    Total Credits: 602

    Similarities:
  • Both the Botswana and South African qualifications share similar entry requirements.
  • Both qualifications consist of similar compulsory and elective modules since the South African qualification also makes provision for the learners to:
  • Select non-law electives in year one as well as specialised law electives in year four.
  • Undergo language training in the form of English 101 and 102 at year one.
  • Undergo clinical legal training in the form of the compulsory Practical Legal Training module in year four.

    Assessment will be comprised of 40% formative assessment (tests, assignments, group work, term papers research papers, evaluation of clinical work, internship reports, moot courts) and 60% summative assessment (examinations and research papers).

    Differences:
  • UB offers a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree whose curriculum comprises 53 modules completed over 10 semesters (five years).
  • The normal duration for the LLB degree shall be ten (10) semesters on a full-time basis. Learners entitled to exemptions in terms of Academic General Regulations, Faculty and Special Departmental Regulations may however complete the qualification within a shorter period which, for learners with a Diploma in Law, may not be less than six (6) semesters on a full-time basis, while the duration of the South African qualification is four years of full-time study.

    Country: Namibia
    Institution: University of Namibia (UNAM)
    Qualification Title: LLB
    NQF Level 8
    Total Credits: 536

    Entry Requirements:
  • A learner is eligible to register for the LL B (Honours) if he/she holds a School Leaving Certificate granting access to degree studies, i.e., Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) Ordinary or Higher Level or a recognized equivalent qualification. A learner must obtain a minimum of 30 points in five subjects according to a UNAM rating with at least a B symbol in English as a Second Language or higher.
    Or
    To qualify for admission into the School of Law, a learner already admitted to a degree programme of the University of Namibia in a School other than the School of Law should attain an overall average of 65%, at the end of the first year of study provided he/she did not fail any Course in that Faculty.
    Or
  • Applicants seeking admission to the LL B (Honours) programme as mature students should be 25 years old on the first day of the academic year in which admission is sought; they should have a Grade 12 Certificate and should normally have proof of at least five years relevant work experience relating to the proposed study programme. In addition, the Candidates admitted through the mature age entry scheme should pass the mature age examination with an aggregate of at least 65% and the school-specific paper with a minimum of 60%.

    Qualification structure:
    UNAM offers a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree which consists of approximately 50 modules depending on the number of electives chosen by a learner in the final year. More specifically, the curriculum comprises:
  • Computer and professional skills development modules in the form of Computer Literacy in Year One,
  • Legal Aid Clinic at Year Four, and Professional Ethics also at Year Four.
  • Legal research and writing skills modules in the form of Research Methodology in Year Three and a Research Report in Year Four.
  • Language training in the form of English for Academic Purposes at Year One.
  • Procedural or adjectival law training in the form of Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure and Law of Evidence all at Year Three.
  • Specialised law electives (2, 3 or 4) not exceeding a total of 32 credits.

    Assessment Strategies: Continuous assessment (minimum of one test and one assignment) (40%) Examination 60%) 1x 3-hour paper. The student must obtain at least 40 % in the examination to pass,

    Comparison:
    The South African qualification compares very well with its UNAM counterpart not just in terms of the total number of modules which are 50 for UNAM and 52 for the South African qualification but more significantly in terms of the curriculum content. The South African qualification also consists of:
  • Computer and professional skills development modules.
  • Legal research and writing skills development modules.
  • Language training modules.
  • Adjectival or procedural law training modules.
  • Specialised law electives.

    Articulation:
    Upon completion of UNAM and SA qualification, learners will articulate vertically into Master of Law.

    Country: Australia
    Institution: University of Victoria (UV)
    Qualification Title: LLB
    NQF Level:
    Credits: 384 credit points
    Duration: Four years full time

    Entry requirements:
    Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English.
    PLUS:
    Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Economics, and History, Legal Studies, Australian Politics, Global Politics or Psychology.

    Qualification structure:
    To attain the Bachelor of Laws learners will be required to complete 384 credit points consisting of:
  • 96 credit points of First Year Core studies.
  • 132 credit points of Professional Core studies.
  • 108 credit points of Law Elective studies.
  • 48 credit points of Non-Law Electives studies.

    The content of the curriculum consists of:
  • Professional skills development modules in the form of:
    > Lawyers' Ethics and Professional Responsibility at Year Three.
    > Internships and Law Practice at Year Four; and
    > Interviewing and Advocacy also at Year Four.
  • Legal research and writing skills development modules - in the form of:
    > Legal Research Methods and Legal Writing and Drafting at Year One.
  • Adjectival/procedural law training in the form of:
    > Criminal Investigation, Procedure and Sentencing at Year One.
    > Evidence and Civil Procedure at Year Four.
  • Thirteen (13) electives in all consisting of 4 non-law electives and nine law electives.

    Similarities:
  • Both qualifications take four years to complete.
    In terms of comparability, the similarities between the UV LLB degree curriculum and that of the South African qualification are that the South African qualification curriculum also consists of:
  • Professional skills development modules.
  • Legal research and writing skills development modules.
  • Adjectival or procedural law training modules.
  • Non-law electives in Year One and specialised law electives in Year Four.

    Differences:
  • The curriculum structure for Australia's University of Victoria (UV) Bachelor of Laws degree consists of a total of 32 modules while the curriculum structure for the South African qualification has 50 modules.

    Country: New Zealand
    Institution: University of Auckland (UA)
    Qualification Title: LLB
    Level: New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) Level 8
    Credits: 480 points
    Duration: Four years.

    Entry Requirements:
    Similar to the South African (SA) qualification, the UA qualification requires:
  • National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 certificate which consists of 80 credits, including at least 60 credits at level 3 or higher. Literacy and Numeracy requirements can include up to 20 credits at level 2.
    Subject credits:
    Total of 42 level 3 credits including:
  • 14 credits from one approved subject
  • 14 credits from a second approved subject
  • 14 credits from a third approved subject
    Numeracy, at least 10 level 1 (or higher) numeracy credits (can be achieved through a range of subjects).
    Literacy, a total of 10 level 2 (or higher) literacy credits including:
  • Five reading credits
  • Five writing credits.

    Similarities:
    The South African qualification curriculum compares very well with its UA counterpart as its content amply provides for:
  • Professional skills development/training modules.
  • Legal research, writing and communication skills development/training modules.
  • Specialised Law electives.

    Rationale:
    Learners embarking on both UA and SA Law degrees will develop analytical, communication and research skills; will also build an understanding of legal ethics, professional responsibility and the role that law plays in society.

    Graduates who can demonstrate employability skills from both academic learning and extracurricular experiences will have a competitive edge when applying for jobs. Many Law graduates go on to legal careers but there are also
    those who use the attributes they obtain during their degree to work in fields outside the legal sphere. For those who wish to further their knowledge, there are also postgraduate study options available.
    Job prospects
  • Academic.
  • in-house legal counsel.
  • journalist.
  • Lawyer.
  • Policy analyst.
  • Politician.

    Qualification structure:
  • Both the University of Auckland (UA) and the South African qualifications offer a four-year Bachelor of Laws degree whose curriculum consists of:
  • Professional skills development content in the form of Legal Ethics in Year Three.
  • Legal research, writing and communication skills development/training modules in the form of:
    > Legal Method at Year one.
    > Legal Research, Writing and Communication at Year Two.
    > Advanced Legal Research, Writing and Communication at Year Four.
  • Specialised Law electives.

    Learners who wish to become a barrister and solicitor will need to take Law 458 Legal Ethics as one of their electives in Part III or IV. Although an elective course for the LLB, the Council for Legal Education (CLE) requires learners intending to be admitted to the bar to take this module.

    Articulation:
    Postgraduate study options include:
  • Master of Laws (LLM) by coursework, by research portfolio and by dissertation.
  • Master of International Trade.

    Differences:
    The UA curriculum does not include any procedural/adjectival law modules.

    Country: United Kingdom
    Institution: University of Durham
    Qualification Title: LLB
    NQF Level: EQF Level 6
    Credits: 360
    Duration: Three years full time

    Similarities:
    The University of Durham (UD) is comparable to the South African (SA) qualification in the following aspects.

    Entry Requirements:
    The UD offers a three-year Bachelor of Laws degree to which applicants who have passed Advanced Level subjects are eligible for admission.

    Qualification structure:
    The South African LLB degree shares significant similarities with the UD LLB curriculum through its ample provision for:
  • Legal research and writing skills development.
  • Specialised law electives.
  • Adjectival/procedural law training.

    The UD curriculum consists of:
  • Legal research and writing skills developed in the form of:
    > Introduction to English Law and Legal Method at Year One.
    > Dissertation module in Year Three.
    > Specialised law electives.
    > Adjectival/procedural law training in the form of an optional module named Evidence and Criminal Process at Year Three.

    Year One
    Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits:
  • Introduction to English Law and Legal Method, 20 Credits.
  • Tort Law, 20 Credits.
  • Contract Law, 20 Credits.
  • EU Constitutional Law, 20 Credits.
  • UK Constitutional Law, 20 Credits.
  • The Individual and the State, 20 Credits.
    Year Two
    Compulsory Modules, 100 Credits:
  • Criminal Law, 20 Credits.
  • Law of Family Relationships, 20 Credits.
  • Legal Frontiers, 20 Credits.
  • Evidence and Criminal Process, 20 Credits.
  • Philosophy of Human Rights Law, 20 Credits.

    Elective Modules, 20 Credits (Select one module from the following option):
  • Administrative Law, 20 Credits.
  • Advanced Issues in Public Law, 20 Credits.
  • Commercial Law, 20 Credits.
  • Employment Law (20 credits)
  • The European Internal Market and Its Citizens, 20 Credits.
  • Public International Law, 20 Credits.)
  • Religion and Law, 20 Credits.
  • Law, Gender, and Society, 20 Credits.
  • Contemporary Issues in Bio law 20 Credits.

    Year Three:
    Compulsory Modules, 40 Credits:
  • Dissertation, 40 Credits.
    Elective Modules, 80 Credits (Select four modules from the following options:
  • Company Law, 20 Credits.
  • Intellectual Property Law, 20 Credits.
  • Law and Medicine, 20 Credits.
  • Media Law, 20 Credits.
  • Access to Justice, 20 Credits.
  • Chinese Legal System, 20 Credits.
  • Competition Law, 20 Credits.
  • International Human Rights, 20 Credits.
  • Interscholastic Mooting, 20 Credits.
  • International Criminal Law, 20 Credits.
  • Advanced Issues in Employment and Discrimination Law, 20 Credits.
  • Legal History, 20 Credits.
  • Comparative Constitutional Law, 20 Credits.
  • Jurisprudence, 20 Credits.
  • Advanced Issues in International Legal Governance, 20 Credits.
  • The Legislature and Legislation, 20 Credits.
  • Revenue Law, 20 Credits.
  • Corporate Finance 20, Credits.
  • Counterterrorism Law and Policy, 10 Credits.
  • Law and Economics, 10 Credits.
  • Law in Practice, 10 Credits.
  • Pensions Law, 10 credits)
  • Introduction to Private International Law, 10 Credits.
  • Law in Literature, 10 Credits.
  • Law in Literature and Film, 10 Credits.

    Differences:
  • The duration of the UD qualification is three years whereas the South African (SA) qualification takes four years to complete.
  • The UD qualification is registered at EQF Level 6 of eight Level Framework whereas the SA qualification is registered at NQF Level 8 of ten level Framework.
  • The UD qualification carries a weighting of 360 credits whereas the SA has 480 credits.
  • The scope of UD qualification's elective modules is comprehensive as compared to limited elective modules in the SA qualification.

    Conclusion:
    The comparison analysis indicates that the South African qualification compares extremely well with the above-cited international qualifications in that the coverage for areas of knowledge and skills development outcomes/competencies are considered indispensable for the future success of LLB graduates and required as part of the LLB graduate attributes such as:
  • Computer/information literacy and professional skills development.
  • Legal research and writing skills development.
  • Adjectival/procedural law training.
  • Exposure to elective modules - both non-law and specialised law subjects.

    However, there are some notable differences when the South African qualification is compared to its peers in Australia, New Zealand (NZ) and the United Kingdom (UK) in terms of duration, entry requirements and structure similar to the LLB degrees offered by the universities of Botswana and Namibia, the curriculum of the LLB offered in Australia, NZ and the UK are also dominated by modules/courses aimed at the achievement of the knowledge and skills outcomes referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The design and delivery of the SA qualification have been influenced by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) LLB qualification standard and review reports. Nevertheless, scrutiny of the curriculum content reveals more similarities than differences. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Family Law, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours: Management and Labour Studies, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Laws, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Business Administration, NQF level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.
     
    NONE 


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