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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Laws: General 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
13812  Master of Laws: General 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  200  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Laws. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge about the theoretical aspects of the specified fields they are specialising in and to demonstrate their practical knowledge of the law by applying research findings

Learners should demonstrate NQF-level 7 knowledge, skills and applied competence in a number of fields, with reference to learner's elected sub-fields

A secondary purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with the foundation for further research and development at subsequent NQF levels

The added value of this qualification is to provide South Africa with professionals specialising in specific sub-fields of law, as required by the emerging fields of specialisation in law

This qualification indicates that the recipient of the qualification has both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to translate into competent performance in the workplace. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Matriculation certificate
First degree: LLB 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
LLM (General) (Course work)

Learning outcomes:
Knowledge:
To contribute to the prospective/ practising lawyer's effectiveness by increasing his/her theoretical knowledge and practical skills in a specific area of the law.

Skills and proficiencies:
Learners will have all the skills and proficiencies necessary to translate into competent performance in a specific specialised area of the law.

Critical cross-field outcomes:
  • Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information, displaying original and independent research skills
  • Identifying and solving problems in the field of a specified area of the law, by using critical and creative thinking skills
  • Express the findings of their research/content of course work effectively and concisely in the form of written communication and oral persuasion
  • Demonstrating an understanding of an area of the law as part of a set of inter-related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The learner will be assessed through group discussions, dissertations and an examination as to the level of knowledge pertaining to their knowledge of the principles.

    The level of assessment will be to test the learners in the solving of typical practical problems and as to the philosophy of specific chosen sub-fields of law. The latter will serve as a tool to enable the learners to solve problems that were not encountered in the teaching situation.

    Input from practitioners in the different applicable sub-fields of law will be used, as well as academic assessment by external examiners and moderators.

    Integrated assessment:
    Portfolios
    Simulations
    Written examinations
    Oral examinations

    Other:
    Mini-dissertation/research report on an area of the law (with reference to specified related sub-fields where applicable) 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Related qualifications:
    LLD
    LLM (by research or other course work in a specialised subject area)

    LLD serves as an entry point to the related qualification
    LLM (by research or other course work in a specialised subject area) serves as an entry point to the related qualification

    Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific arrangements:
    Possible inter-disciplinary research for the mini-dissertation/research report 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The use of memoranda for written examinations; internal examiners and internal second examiners and external examiners and/or assessment by other experts in the specialised subject areas 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    LLM degree or higher.

    Career experience required:
    Relevant experience in teaching and/or practising law.

    Other criteria:
    Professional qualifications (e.g. attorneys admission or bar exam) or standing in profession (e.g. High Court Judge) a recommendation. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Master of Laws in Jurisprudence
  • Master of Laws in International Air, Space and Telecommunications Law
  • Master of Laws in Public Law
  • Master of Laws in Family Law
  • Master of Laws in Intellectual Property Law
  • Master of Laws in Law and Political Justice
  • Master of Laws in Multidisciplinary Human Rights
  • Master of Laws in Environmental Law
  • Master of Laws in International Trade and Investment Law in Africa 
    		•

    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.
     
    1. University of Pretoria 


    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.