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About the course
Study legal systems, substantive law and procedure through critical reading and reasoned application. You will analyse legal problems, construct arguments and develop supervised research and practical legal skills.
What you'll learn
- Locate and interpret relevant legal authorities.
- Apply legal rules to contested factual situations.
- Construct a reasoned argument considering competing positions.
- Explain procedural and ethical responsibilities.
- Complete a sustained legal research enquiry with accurate attribution.
Requirements
- Entry requires relevant A Level subjects or a National Certificate in a related policing, law, defence or security field. English Language is required. A relevant National Diploma may support second-year entry where BMIT approves module equivalence and professional rules permit. Advanced entry is not automatic.
- African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course content
Sections: 5
•Activities: 1
•Resources: 51
Subjects in this programme
The programme contains 43 subjects in four stages. The BMIT combination includes Crime, Offending and Criminological Theory, Environmental Law and International Human Rights Law as its three selected option subjects. Study foundations before the related advanced subjects. Legal case work uses the applicable Southern African jurisdiction and clearly distinguishes South African and Zimbabwean law.
43 subjects are listed below, with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Language in African Social and Legal Contexts (Core subject). Examine meaning and access in multilingual institutions. You will examine language and identity, meaning in context, multilingual interaction. Analyse a multilingual encounter using TjiKalanga and English examples where appropriate.
- Accounting for Legal Practice (Core subject). Interpret and control legal-practice financial records. You will examine source documents, double entry, client accounts. Reconcile a simulated legal-practice ledger.
- Historical Foundations of Southern African Law (Core subject). Examine legal systems in their historical contexts. You will examine customary traditions, roman-dutch influences, common-law influences. Prepare a comparative timeline and case commentary.
- Introduction to Law (Core subject). Develop an understanding of legal sources and reasoning. You will examine sources of law, legal systems, courts. Analyse a supplied case and explain its legal questions.
- Introduction to Legal and Criminal-Justice Research (Core subject). Frame legal questions and locate trustworthy evidence. You will examine research questions, legal sources, case finding. Prepare a legal memorandum with a traceable source record.
- Introduction to African Philosophy (Core subject). Examine African arguments about knowledge and community. You will examine oral and written traditions, knowledge, personhood. Compare philosophical arguments about a community issue.
- Law of Persons (Core subject). Examine legal personality and status through cases. You will examine legal personality, capacity, minority. Analyse a supplied legal-capacity problem.
- Legal Reading, Writing and Argument (Core subject). Develop communication through close reading and reasoning. You will examine case reading, issue identification, legal analysis. Prepare a legal opinion and short oral argument.
- Social Dimensions of Justice (Core subject). Evaluate justice through access and social context. You will examine access to justice, inequality, legal pluralism. Analyse an access problem and propose a reasoned response.
- Crime, Offending and Criminological Theory (BMIT selected option). Compare explanations of crime using available evidence. You will examine crime concepts, measurement, explanatory theories. Compare explanations for a specified crime pattern.
Stage 2: Core subjects
- Administrative Law (Core subject). Examine legal controls on public decisions. You will examine administrative action, lawfulness, procedural fairness. Analyse a decision and a reasoned review pathway.
- General Principles of Criminal Law (Core subject). Analyse the elements of criminal responsibility. You will examine legality, conduct, unlawfulness. Apply responsibility principles to fictional case facts.
- Specific Crimes (Core subject). Distinguish offences through legal elements. You will examine offence classification, personal offences, property offences. Classify supplied offence scenarios and justify the distinctions.
- Constitutional Law (Core subject). Examine rules allocating and constraining public authority. You will examine constitutional supremacy, separation of powers, legislatures. Prepare a comparative constitutional case analysis.
- Fundamental Rights (Core subject). Evaluate rights claims and appropriate remedies. You will examine rights holders, protected interests, state duties. Write a rights analysis using supplied constitutional materials.
- African Customary Law (Core subject). Examine customary arrangements within plural legal systems. You will examine sources, living customary law, family relations. Analyse a case with attention to community practice and legal authority.
- Interpretation of Statutes (Core subject). Develop reasoned interpretations of legislative text. You will examine text, purpose, context. Compare statutory interpretations and defend the strongest reading.
- Entrepreneurial Law (Core subject). Examine enterprise forms and legal responsibilities. You will examine business forms, formation, agency. Compare structures for a supplied enterprise case.
- Family Law (Core subject). Examine legal relationships and protected family interests. You will examine family formation, marriage, partnerships. Analyse a scenario using supplied current legal materials.
- Law of Succession (Core subject). Analyse the transfer and administration of estates. You will examine testamentary capacity, wills, intestate succession. Prepare an estate-distribution analysis for a fictional case.
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
- Civil Procedure (Core subject). Explain the progression of civil proceedings. You will examine jurisdiction, pleadings, service. Prepare a procedural timeline and simulated pleading.
- Criminal Procedure (Core subject). Examine proceedings through procedural rights and duties. You will examine pre-trial processes, jurisdiction, plea. Identify safeguards in a supplied procedural case.
- Law of Evidence (Core subject). Evaluate relevance, admissibility and proof. You will examine relevance, admissibility, witnesses. Prepare an evidence analysis for a fictional case file.
- Legal Research Methodology (Core subject). Design sustained legal enquiry with a justified method. You will examine problem formulation, doctrinal research, comparative methods. Produce a research proposal and annotated evidence plan.
- Insolvency Law (Core subject). Analyse financial distress and creditor interests. You will examine insolvency principles, insolvent estates, creditors. Prepare an estate and creditor analysis from supplied facts.
- Labour Law (Core subject). Examine employment rights and dispute resolution. You will examine employment relationship, individual rights, dismissal. Write an employment-law analysis using current supplied law.
- Law of Property (Core subject). Analyse acquisition and protection of property rights. You will examine property concepts, ownership, possession. Analyse competing claims in a fictional property dispute.
- Law of Contract (Core subject). Evaluate contractual duties and remedies. You will examine agreement, capacity, validity. Analyse an agreement and a reasoned response to breach.
- Law of Delict (Core subject). Examine civil liability for harm and its limits. You will examine conduct, wrongfulness, fault. Prepare a structured liability analysis from fictional facts.
- Unjustified Enrichment and Estoppel (Core subject). Distinguish claims based on benefit and reliance. You will examine enrichment, impoverishment, legal justification. Compare enrichment and estoppel arguments in a dispute.
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
- Public International Law (Core subject). Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
- Advanced Customary Law (Core subject). Critically examine customary law and legal change. You will examine living law, legal change, rights interaction. Write an advanced customary-law case commentary.
- Legal Philosophy (Core subject). Evaluate accounts of law, authority and justice. You will examine natural law, positivism, interpretivism. Defend a philosophical position through legal argument.
- Professional Legal Ethics (Core subject). Evaluate duties to clients, courts and the public. You will examine professional duties, conflicts, confidentiality. Prepare reasoned responses to professional-ethics scenarios.
- Company Law (Core subject). Examine corporate governance and stakeholder rights. You will examine incorporation, corporate capacity, directors. Analyse a fictional board decision and legal implications.
- Law of Damages (Core subject). Evaluate compensable loss and its proof. You will examine compensation principles, patrimonial loss, non-patrimonial loss. Prepare a reasoned damages calculation from supplied evidence.
- Legal Research Report (Core subject). Complete an original enquiry into a legal question. You will examine proposal refinement, evidence review, legal analysis. Submit an extended research report and oral defence.
- Trial Preparation and Litigation Practice (Core subject). Integrate law, procedure and evidence in classroom practice. You will examine case theory, file preparation, procedural documents. Prepare and present a simulated hearing.
- Environmental Law (BMIT selected option). Analyse environmental duties and legal decisions. You will examine environmental rights, regulatory institutions, authorisations. Analyse supplied public environmental-law case materials.
- International Human Rights Law (BMIT selected option). Examine international rights systems and domestic interaction. You will examine rights instruments, regional systems, state duties. Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.
African History and Pan Africanism
- African History and Pan Africanism 101 (Level 1, compulsory core module): Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201 (Level 2, compulsory core module): Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
- African History and Pan Africanism 301 (Level 3, compulsory core module): Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.
Assessment and practical learning
- Legal problem questions and research essays.
- Drafting, moot or simulated client exercises.
- A supervised research project and oral argument.
Practical application
Complete proposed supervised legal research and practical exercises. Use moot, drafting or approved placement work to demonstrate legal reasoning and ethical conduct. Real client work requires an authorised supervisor and a suitable approved setting.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
- African History and Pan Africanism 301: Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.
Subject descriptions
Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.
Language in African Social and Legal Contexts
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine meaning and access in multilingual institutions. You will examine language and identity, meaning in context, multilingual interaction. Analyse a multilingual encounter using TjiKalanga and English examples where appropriate.
Learning outcomes
- Explain language and identity in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between meaning in context and multilingual interaction.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing translation, institutional access and ethical communication.
Main topics
- Language and identity
- Meaning in context
- Multilingual interaction
- Translation
- Institutional access
- Ethical communication
Practical task
Analyse a multilingual encounter using TjiKalanga and English examples where appropriate.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Accounting for Legal Practice
Stage 1: Foundations
Interpret and control legal-practice financial records. You will examine source documents, double entry, client accounts. Reconcile a simulated legal-practice ledger.
Learning outcomes
- Explain source documents in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between double entry and client accounts.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing reconciliations, financial statements and internal controls.
Main topics
- Source documents
- Double entry
- Client accounts
- Reconciliations
- Financial statements
- Internal controls
Practical task
Reconcile a simulated legal-practice ledger.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Historical Foundations of Southern African Law
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine legal systems in their historical contexts. You will examine customary traditions, roman-dutch influences, common-law influences. Prepare a comparative timeline and case commentary.
Learning outcomes
- Explain customary traditions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between roman-dutch influences and common-law influences.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing colonial institutions, constitutional change and legal pluralism.
Main topics
- Customary traditions
- Roman-Dutch influences
- Common-law influences
- Colonial institutions
- Constitutional change
- Legal pluralism
Practical task
Prepare a comparative timeline and case commentary.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Introduction to Law
Stage 1: Foundations
Develop an understanding of legal sources and reasoning. You will examine sources of law, legal systems, courts. Analyse a supplied case and explain its legal questions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources of law in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between legal systems and courts.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing legal rights, interpretation and case analysis.
Main topics
- Sources of law
- Legal systems
- Courts
- Legal rights
- Interpretation
- Case analysis
Practical task
Analyse a supplied case and explain its legal questions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Introduction to Legal and Criminal-Justice Research
Stage 1: Foundations
Frame legal questions and locate trustworthy evidence. You will examine research questions, legal sources, case finding. Prepare a legal memorandum with a traceable source record.
Learning outcomes
- Explain research questions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between legal sources and case finding.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing source evaluation, citation and research integrity.
Main topics
- Research questions
- Legal sources
- Case finding
- Source evaluation
- Citation
- Research integrity
Practical task
Prepare a legal memorandum with a traceable source record.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Introduction to African Philosophy
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine African arguments about knowledge and community. You will examine oral and written traditions, knowledge, personhood. Compare philosophical arguments about a community issue.
Learning outcomes
- Explain oral and written traditions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between knowledge and personhood.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing community, ethics and contemporary debate.
Main topics
- Oral and written traditions
- Knowledge
- Personhood
- Community
- Ethics
- Contemporary debate
Practical task
Compare philosophical arguments about a community issue.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Persons
Stage 1: Foundations
Examine legal personality and status through cases. You will examine legal personality, capacity, minority. Analyse a supplied legal-capacity problem.
Learning outcomes
- Explain legal personality in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between capacity and minority.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing domicile, status and protection of interests.
Main topics
- Legal personality
- Capacity
- Minority
- Domicile
- Status
- Protection of interests
Practical task
Analyse a supplied legal-capacity problem.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Legal Reading, Writing and Argument
Stage 1: Foundations
Develop communication through close reading and reasoning. You will examine case reading, issue identification, legal analysis. Prepare a legal opinion and short oral argument.
Learning outcomes
- Explain case reading in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between issue identification and legal analysis.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing drafting, citation and oral argument.
Main topics
- Case reading
- Issue identification
- Legal analysis
- Drafting
- Citation
- Oral argument
Practical task
Prepare a legal opinion and short oral argument.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Social Dimensions of Justice
Stage 1: Foundations
Evaluate justice through access and social context. You will examine access to justice, inequality, legal pluralism. Analyse an access problem and propose a reasoned response.
Learning outcomes
- Explain access to justice in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between inequality and legal pluralism.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing dispute resolution, institutional fairness and community justice.
Main topics
- Access to justice
- Inequality
- Legal pluralism
- Dispute resolution
- Institutional fairness
- Community justice
Practical task
Analyse an access problem and propose a reasoned response.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Crime, Offending and Criminological Theory
Stage 1: Foundations
Compare explanations of crime using available evidence. You will examine crime concepts, measurement, explanatory theories. Compare explanations for a specified crime pattern.
Learning outcomes
- Explain crime concepts in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between measurement and explanatory theories.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing social context, offending patterns and prevention.
Main topics
- Crime concepts
- Measurement
- Explanatory theories
- Social context
- Offending patterns
- Prevention
Practical task
Compare explanations for a specified crime pattern.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Administrative Law
Stage 2: Core subjects
Examine legal controls on public decisions. You will examine administrative action, lawfulness, procedural fairness. Analyse a decision and a reasoned review pathway.
Learning outcomes
- Explain administrative action in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between lawfulness and procedural fairness.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing reasonableness, review and remedies.
Main topics
- Administrative action
- Lawfulness
- Procedural fairness
- Reasonableness
- Review
- Remedies
Practical task
Analyse a decision and a reasoned review pathway.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
General Principles of Criminal Law
Stage 2: Core subjects
Analyse the elements of criminal responsibility. You will examine legality, conduct, unlawfulness. Apply responsibility principles to fictional case facts.
Learning outcomes
- Explain legality in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between conduct and unlawfulness.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing capacity, fault and participation.
Main topics
- Legality
- Conduct
- Unlawfulness
- Capacity
- Fault
- Participation
Practical task
Apply responsibility principles to fictional case facts.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Specific Crimes
Stage 2: Core subjects
Distinguish offences through legal elements. You will examine offence classification, personal offences, property offences. Classify supplied offence scenarios and justify the distinctions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain offence classification in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between personal offences and property offences.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing economic offences, public-order offences and defences.
Main topics
- Offence classification
- Personal offences
- Property offences
- Economic offences
- Public-order offences
- Defences
Practical task
Classify supplied offence scenarios and justify the distinctions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Constitutional Law
Stage 2: Core subjects
Examine rules allocating and constraining public authority. You will examine constitutional supremacy, separation of powers, legislatures. Prepare a comparative constitutional case analysis.
Learning outcomes
- Explain constitutional supremacy in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between separation of powers and legislatures.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing executives, courts and constitutional review.
Main topics
- Constitutional supremacy
- Separation of powers
- Legislatures
- Executives
- Courts
- Constitutional review
Practical task
Prepare a comparative constitutional case analysis.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Fundamental Rights
Stage 2: Core subjects
Evaluate rights claims and appropriate remedies. You will examine rights holders, protected interests, state duties. Write a rights analysis using supplied constitutional materials.
Learning outcomes
- Explain rights holders in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between protected interests and state duties.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing horizontal application, limitations and remedies.
Main topics
- Rights holders
- Protected interests
- State duties
- Horizontal application
- Limitations
- Remedies
Practical task
Write a rights analysis using supplied constitutional materials.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
African Customary Law
Stage 2: Core subjects
Examine customary arrangements within plural legal systems. You will examine sources, living customary law, family relations. Analyse a case with attention to community practice and legal authority.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between living customary law and family relations.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing property relations, traditional institutions and constitutional interaction.
Main topics
- Sources
- Living customary law
- Family relations
- Property relations
- Traditional institutions
- Constitutional interaction
Practical task
Analyse a case with attention to community practice and legal authority.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Interpretation of Statutes
Stage 2: Core subjects
Develop reasoned interpretations of legislative text. You will examine text, purpose, context. Compare statutory interpretations and defend the strongest reading.
Learning outcomes
- Explain text in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between purpose and context.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing interpretive presumptions, constitutional interpretation and application.
Main topics
- Text
- Purpose
- Context
- Interpretive presumptions
- Constitutional interpretation
- Application
Practical task
Compare statutory interpretations and defend the strongest reading.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Entrepreneurial Law
Stage 2: Core subjects
Examine enterprise forms and legal responsibilities. You will examine business forms, formation, agency. Compare structures for a supplied enterprise case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain business forms in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between formation and agency.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing governance, liability and dissolution.
Main topics
- Business forms
- Formation
- Agency
- Governance
- Liability
- Dissolution
Practical task
Compare structures for a supplied enterprise case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Family Law
Stage 2: Core subjects
Examine legal relationships and protected family interests. You will examine family formation, marriage, partnerships. Analyse a scenario using supplied current legal materials.
Learning outcomes
- Explain family formation in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between marriage and partnerships.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing parental responsibilities, maintenance and relationship dissolution.
Main topics
- Family formation
- Marriage
- Partnerships
- Parental responsibilities
- Maintenance
- Relationship dissolution
Practical task
Analyse a scenario using supplied current legal materials.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Succession
Stage 2: Core subjects
Analyse the transfer and administration of estates. You will examine testamentary capacity, wills, intestate succession. Prepare an estate-distribution analysis for a fictional case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain testamentary capacity in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between wills and intestate succession.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing administration, beneficiaries and disputes.
Main topics
- Testamentary capacity
- Wills
- Intestate succession
- Administration
- Beneficiaries
- Disputes
Practical task
Prepare an estate-distribution analysis for a fictional case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Civil Procedure
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Explain the progression of civil proceedings. You will examine jurisdiction, pleadings, service. Prepare a procedural timeline and simulated pleading.
Learning outcomes
- Explain jurisdiction in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between pleadings and service.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing case preparation, hearings and judgments.
Main topics
- Jurisdiction
- Pleadings
- Service
- Case preparation
- Hearings
- Judgments
Practical task
Prepare a procedural timeline and simulated pleading.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Criminal Procedure
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Examine proceedings through procedural rights and duties. You will examine pre-trial processes, jurisdiction, plea. Identify safeguards in a supplied procedural case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain pre-trial processes in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between jurisdiction and plea.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing trial, sentencing procedure and appeal.
Main topics
- Pre-trial processes
- Jurisdiction
- Plea
- Trial
- Sentencing procedure
- Appeal
Practical task
Identify safeguards in a supplied procedural case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Evidence
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Evaluate relevance, admissibility and proof. You will examine relevance, admissibility, witnesses. Prepare an evidence analysis for a fictional case file.
Learning outcomes
- Explain relevance in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between admissibility and witnesses.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing documentary evidence, evidential rules and burden of proof.
Main topics
- Relevance
- Admissibility
- Witnesses
- Documentary evidence
- Evidential rules
- Burden of proof
Practical task
Prepare an evidence analysis for a fictional case file.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Legal Research Methodology
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Design sustained legal enquiry with a justified method. You will examine problem formulation, doctrinal research, comparative methods. Produce a research proposal and annotated evidence plan.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem formulation in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between doctrinal research and comparative methods.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing socio-legal evidence, ethics and argument structure.
Main topics
- Problem formulation
- Doctrinal research
- Comparative methods
- Socio-legal evidence
- Ethics
- Argument structure
Practical task
Produce a research proposal and annotated evidence plan.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Insolvency Law
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Analyse financial distress and creditor interests. You will examine insolvency principles, insolvent estates, creditors. Prepare an estate and creditor analysis from supplied facts.
Learning outcomes
- Explain insolvency principles in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between insolvent estates and creditors.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing liquidation, rescue and distribution.
Main topics
- Insolvency principles
- Insolvent estates
- Creditors
- Liquidation
- Rescue
- Distribution
Practical task
Prepare an estate and creditor analysis from supplied facts.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Labour Law
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Examine employment rights and dispute resolution. You will examine employment relationship, individual rights, dismissal. Write an employment-law analysis using current supplied law.
Learning outcomes
- Explain employment relationship in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between individual rights and dismissal.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing collective bargaining, industrial action and dispute processes.
Main topics
- Employment relationship
- Individual rights
- Dismissal
- Collective bargaining
- Industrial action
- Dispute processes
Practical task
Write an employment-law analysis using current supplied law.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Property
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Analyse acquisition and protection of property rights. You will examine property concepts, ownership, possession. Analyse competing claims in a fictional property dispute.
Learning outcomes
- Explain property concepts in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between ownership and possession.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing limited rights, transfer and remedies.
Main topics
- Property concepts
- Ownership
- Possession
- Limited rights
- Transfer
- Remedies
Practical task
Analyse competing claims in a fictional property dispute.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Contract
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Evaluate contractual duties and remedies. You will examine agreement, capacity, validity. Analyse an agreement and a reasoned response to breach.
Learning outcomes
- Explain agreement in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between capacity and validity.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing terms, breach and remedies.
Main topics
- Agreement
- Capacity
- Validity
- Terms
- Breach
- Remedies
Practical task
Analyse an agreement and a reasoned response to breach.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Delict
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Examine civil liability for harm and its limits. You will examine conduct, wrongfulness, fault. Prepare a structured liability analysis from fictional facts.
Learning outcomes
- Explain conduct in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between wrongfulness and fault.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing causation, harm and defences.
Main topics
- Conduct
- Wrongfulness
- Fault
- Causation
- Harm
- Defences
Practical task
Prepare a structured liability analysis from fictional facts.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Unjustified Enrichment and Estoppel
Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application
Distinguish claims based on benefit and reliance. You will examine enrichment, impoverishment, legal justification. Compare enrichment and estoppel arguments in a dispute.
Learning outcomes
- Explain enrichment in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between impoverishment and legal justification.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing restitution, representations and reliance.
Main topics
- Enrichment
- Impoverishment
- Legal justification
- Restitution
- Representations
- Reliance
Practical task
Compare enrichment and estoppel arguments in a dispute.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public International Law
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between statehood and jurisdiction.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing treaties, responsibility and dispute settlement.
Main topics
- Sources
- Statehood
- Jurisdiction
- Treaties
- Responsibility
- Dispute settlement
Practical task
Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Advanced Customary Law
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Critically examine customary law and legal change. You will examine living law, legal change, rights interaction. Write an advanced customary-law case commentary.
Learning outcomes
- Explain living law in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between legal change and rights interaction.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing land relations, institutional authority and comparative analysis.
Main topics
- Living law
- Legal change
- Rights interaction
- Land relations
- Institutional authority
- Comparative analysis
Practical task
Write an advanced customary-law case commentary.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Legal Philosophy
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Evaluate accounts of law, authority and justice. You will examine natural law, positivism, interpretivism. Defend a philosophical position through legal argument.
Learning outcomes
- Explain natural law in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between positivism and interpretivism.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing critical approaches, african jurisprudence and legal obligation.
Main topics
- Natural law
- Positivism
- Interpretivism
- Critical approaches
- African jurisprudence
- Legal obligation
Practical task
Defend a philosophical position through legal argument.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Professional Legal Ethics
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Evaluate duties to clients, courts and the public. You will examine professional duties, conflicts, confidentiality. Prepare reasoned responses to professional-ethics scenarios.
Learning outcomes
- Explain professional duties in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between conflicts and confidentiality.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing client relations, court responsibilities and accountability.
Main topics
- Professional duties
- Conflicts
- Confidentiality
- Client relations
- Court responsibilities
- Accountability
Practical task
Prepare reasoned responses to professional-ethics scenarios.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Company Law
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Examine corporate governance and stakeholder rights. You will examine incorporation, corporate capacity, directors. Analyse a fictional board decision and legal implications.
Learning outcomes
- Explain incorporation in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between corporate capacity and directors.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing shareholders, capital and corporate remedies.
Main topics
- Incorporation
- Corporate capacity
- Directors
- Shareholders
- Capital
- Corporate remedies
Practical task
Analyse a fictional board decision and legal implications.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Law of Damages
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Evaluate compensable loss and its proof. You will examine compensation principles, patrimonial loss, non-patrimonial loss. Prepare a reasoned damages calculation from supplied evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain compensation principles in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between patrimonial loss and non-patrimonial loss.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing causation, mitigation and quantification.
Main topics
- Compensation principles
- Patrimonial loss
- Non-patrimonial loss
- Causation
- Mitigation
- Quantification
Practical task
Prepare a reasoned damages calculation from supplied evidence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Legal Research Report
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Complete an original enquiry into a legal question. You will examine proposal refinement, evidence review, legal analysis. Submit an extended research report and oral defence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain proposal refinement in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between evidence review and legal analysis.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing argument development, limitations and defence.
Main topics
- Proposal refinement
- Evidence review
- Legal analysis
- Argument development
- Limitations
- Defence
Practical task
Submit an extended research report and oral defence.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Trial Preparation and Litigation Practice
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Integrate law, procedure and evidence in classroom practice. You will examine case theory, file preparation, procedural documents. Prepare and present a simulated hearing.
Learning outcomes
- Explain case theory in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between file preparation and procedural documents.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing witness questions, submissions and professional conduct.
Main topics
- Case theory
- File preparation
- Procedural documents
- Witness questions
- Submissions
- Professional conduct
Practical task
Prepare and present a simulated hearing.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Environmental Law
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Analyse environmental duties and legal decisions. You will examine environmental rights, regulatory institutions, authorisations. Analyse supplied public environmental-law case materials.
Learning outcomes
- Explain environmental rights in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between regulatory institutions and authorisations.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing participation, compliance and remedies.
Main topics
- Environmental rights
- Regulatory institutions
- Authorisations
- Participation
- Compliance
- Remedies
Practical task
Analyse supplied public environmental-law case materials.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
International Human Rights Law
Stage 4: Professional integration and research
Examine international rights systems and domestic interaction. You will examine rights instruments, regional systems, state duties. Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.
Learning outcomes
- Explain rights instruments in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between regional systems and state duties.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing monitoring, complaints and implementation.
Main topics
- Rights instruments
- Regional systems
- State duties
- Monitoring
- Complaints
- Implementation
Practical task
Prepare a comparative human-rights briefing.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
African History and Pan Africanism 101
Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
African History and Pan Africanism 201
Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
African History and Pan Africanism 301
Compulsory core module · Level 3
Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate continuity and change from the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union.
- Assess a contemporary Pan African issue using historical evidence and contrasting views.
- Develop an ethical, well-sourced project connecting African history with your field or community.
Main topics
- The African Union, regional cooperation and Southern African integration
- Agenda 2063, development and debates about continental priorities
- Citizenship, migration, diaspora connections and cultural exchange
- African knowledge, heritage, public history and contested narratives
- Research ethics, source attribution and evaluation of a community or professional project
Practical task
Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.
Assessment
Submit a project brief, an annotated source portfolio, a public-facing learning resource and an evaluation of your interpretation. Assessment considers evidence, ethical practice, historical reasoning and usefulness to the intended audience.
Learning resources
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Bachelor of Laws (Lawyers LLB)
Course modified date: 13 October 2026
Study legal systems, substantive law and procedure through critical reading and reasoned application. You will analyse legal problems, construct arguments and develop supervised research and practical legal skills.
- Teacher: ImfundoSpace Administrator
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