Law Degrees

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

The LLB degree is the minimum academic qualification for practising law in South
Africa. At Rhodes, the LLB degree is offered as a four-year under-graduate program,
a two-year postgraduate program, or a three-year postgraduate program.

Students who enter Rhodes for the first time usually register for a general degree
in another faculty (for example: Humanities, Science or Commerce).
This will entail taking both non-law courses as well as two law courses.

It is suggested that when students reach their second year to choose whether to
continue pursuing a career in law or to change study direction.

The first option when studying law at Rhodes is:

A five-year combined Law and Humanities
OR Law and Commerce
OR Law and Science LLB stream

Students register for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSci),
Bachelor of Business Science (BBusSci) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) in their first
year of study and continue with that degree with Legal Theory as a major subject.

BA, BCOM, BSC CURRICULUM: (3 YEARS), WHICH IS THEN FOLLOWED BY A 2-YEAR LLB

FIRST YEAR

Any three non-law courses (from the faculty you are registered in – Humanities,
Science or Commerce).

First Semester: Legal Theory 1 – Foundations of Law
Second Semester: Legal Theory 1 – Introduction to Law

SECOND YEAR

One non-law course at second year level;
Two non-legal courses at first-year level or second-year level.

First Semester: Legal Theory 2 – Legal Interpretation; Constitutional Law A
Second Semester: Legal Theory 2 – Customary Law; Constitutional Law B

THIRD YEAR

One non-law course at third-year level

First Semester:
Law of Contract A; Law of Persons; Law of Property and Security A

Second Semester:
Law of Contract B; Law of Life Partnerships; Law of Property and Security B

THE LLB CURRICULUM FOLLOWING A BA, BCOM OR BSC (LAW CURRICULUM): 2 YEARS

Penultimate Year or Fourth Year

First Semester:
Administrative Law A; Business Structures A; Civil Procedure A; Individual Labour Law;
Criminal Law A; Legal Skills; Public International Law.

Second Semester:
Administrative Law B; Business Structures B; Criminal Law B; Criminal Procedure A;
Law of Evidence A; Forms of Payment; Jurisprudence; Legal Practice A.

Final Year or Fifth Year

First Semester:
Civil Procedure B; Criminal Procedure B; Law of Delict A; Legal Practice B;
Law of Lease and Agency;
2 Electives from the first semester list

Second Semester:
Succession and Administration of Estates; Law of Evidence B;
Insolvency and Winding Up of Companies and Close Corporations;
Law of Delict B; Sale and Insurance;

2 Electives from the second semester list