Bachelor of Commerce in Law

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with integrated knowledge of the central areas of law and commerce, including the disciplines economics, business management, and accounting sciences. This includes an understanding of and ability to apply and evaluate the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories in the law and commercial fields.

The qualification prepares learners as potential commercial role players with a solid background in law, who can be trained further to the exact needs of the business and corporate world, and are able to start and manage their own enterprises. Moreover, the qualification provides qualifying learners with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to gain entry into the formal legal profession (e.g. Attorneys/Advocates) and other careers in law and related fields. The qualification also sets the foundation for advanced studies in law and/or commerce.

Rationale

The importance of understanding the role and implications of law in the commercial world continues to grow. Given the critical role and intrinsic importance of law in the commercial and related professions, a legal education is important for all business persons to help them recognise and manage legal risks in business decision-making and to enhance their understanding of legal processes so that these processes can be used more efficiently and effectively in the commercial environment. The commercial world is being increasingly shaped and constrained by law. Thus, professionals in the field should have an integrated knowledge of law and commerce.

This qualification has been designed with more law modules and elective streams in Financial Accounting and Economics which results in a more than a 50% change in the current Degree. With the high number of registered learners, it is important to provide articulation routes.

This qualification takes into account the growing importance of understanding the role and implications of law in the commercial world. Given the critical role and intrinsic importance of law in the commercial and related professions, a legal education is important for business persons to help them recognise and manage legal risks in business decision-making and to enhance their understanding of legal processes so that these processes can be used more efficiently and effectively in the commercial environment. The learners with this qualification will be able to work in fields across the board, for example commerce, business, finance, government, insurance, logistics, entrepreneurs, auditors, risk and compliance, tax, financial accounting and law (especially in the fields of paralegal law).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

To either access this qualification or to obtain credits for modules, RPL is applicable.

Access

All admission through RPL must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the the university's RPL Policy. A learner may apply to access this qualification through RPL. They need to demonstrate that they have acquired the required knowledge and skills from a combination of:

• Life and work experience.
• Short courses or workplace training.
• Community work in a relevant field.

Module credits

The learner may apply for credits through RPL for modules already completed.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate with Degree endorsement, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4.

Or

• Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption, NQF Level 4.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4.

Or

• Any relevant Higher Certificate, NQF Level 5, 120 Credits.

Or

• Any relevant Diploma, NQF Level 6, 360 Credits.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 372 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5,108 Credits

• Introduction to Law, 12 Credits.
• History of the Foundations of South African Law, 12 Credits.
• Law of Persons, 12 Credits.
• Social Dimensions of Justice, 12 Credits.
• Citizenship, Public Participation and Democracy, 12 Credits.
• Economics 1A, 12 Credits.
• Financial Accounting Principles, 12 Credits.
• Business Management 1A, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 84 Credits

• Business Management 1B, 12 Credits.
• Family Law, 12 Credits.
• Law of Succession, 12 Credits.
• General Principles of Criminal Law, 12 Credits.
• Administrative Law, 12 Credits.
• Entrepreneurial Law, 12 Credits.
• General Management, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 48 Credits (Select 4 in each stream)

Optional Stream 1: Financial Accounting.

• Financial Accounting and Reporting, 12 Credits.
• Financial Accounting for Companies, 12 Credits.
• Selected accounting standards and simple group structures, 12 Credits.
• Principles of Taxation, 12 Credits.

Optional Stream 2: Tax

• Financial Accounting and Reporting, 12 Credits.
• Financial Accounting for Companies, 12 Credits.
• Principles of Taxation, 12 Credits.
• Enterprise Risk Management, 12 Credits.

Optional Stream 3: Economics

• Economics 1B, 12 Credits.
• Microeconomics, 12 Credits.
• Macroeconomics, 12 Credits.
• Enterprise Risk Management, 12 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 108 Credits

• Law of Evidence, 12 Credits.
• Civil Procedure, 12 Credits.
• Law of Property, 12 Credits.
• Law of Contract, 12 Credits.
• Insolvency Law, 12 Credits.
• Labour Law, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Planning, 12 Credits.
• Strategic Implementation and Control, 12 Credits.
• Corporate Citizenship, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 7, 24 Credits (Select 2 in each stream)

Optional Stream 1: Financial Accounting

• General Financial Reporting, 12 Credits.
• Distinctive Financial Reporting, 12 Credits.

Optional Stream 2: Tax

• Taxation of Business Activities, 12 Credits.
• Tax Administration, 12 Credits.

Optional Stream 3: Economics

• Monetary Economics, 12 Credits.
• Public Economics, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the central areas of the fields and disciplines of law and commerce.
2. Apply the cognitive and reflexive skills and values required in the fields of commerce and law.
3. Select and apply the appropriate methods to investigate and resolve problems in the fields of law and commerce.
4. Demonstrate the ability to identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of the central areas of law and commerce in real or simulated factual scenarios.
• Discuss and apply the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories in law and commerce fields within the relevant contexts.
• Discuss detailed knowledge in the field of law and related to the field of commerce with practical examples and case studies.
• Evaluate different types of knowledge and explanations in law and commerce through theoretical and practical assessments.
• Present well-structured, theory-driven arguments, opinions and evidence-based solutions relating to law and commerce, showing an awareness of audience and using professional discourse appropriately.
• Analyse and critically evaluate the relevance and applicability of various legal and commercial sources and authorities in terms of identified problems relating to law and commerce. Language use is consistent with the conventions in the disciplines of law and commerce.
• Critically discuss terms, rules, concepts, principles and theories related to law and commerce.
• Map new knowledge onto existing theories related to law and commerce.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Demonstrate the ability to take decisions and act ethically and professionally by being able to identify problems and draw on appropriate ethical values and approaches relating to law and corporate citizenship.
• Justify decisions and actions drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches within a supported environment through the application of relevant ethical approaches related to the context.
• Solve practical problems from legal case law or jurisprudence and the commercial environment using appropriate methods and applying the principles and rules of law and commerce.
• Select the most appropriate and authoritative legal and commerce related materials to solve identified problems relating to law and commerce.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate an understanding of a range of methods of inquiry in law and commerce by exposure to a range of appropriate dispute resolution and problem solving methods.
• Identify and apply appropriate methods of investigation to specific investigations to resolve law and commerce problems, and where relevant, change within a practice introduced.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Solve complex problems from legal case law, jurisprudence and the commercial environment using appropriate methods and applying the principles and rules of law and commerce.
• Give evidence-based and theory-driven advice on an appropriate course of action in respect of law and commerce.
• Select the most appropriate and authoritative legal and commerce related materials to solve identified problems relating to law and commerce.
• Identify unfamiliar concrete and abstract legal problems and issues relating to law and commerce in real or simulated factual scenarios.

Integrated Assessment

Evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills, attitudes and expertise) and of the candidate's ability to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole at the time that the qualification is awarded, is required by means of comprehensive and Integrated Assessment (constituting a range of formative and summative assessments). Continuous formative and summative assessment methods are used in the form of written and practical assignments and exams, and the supervision of a research project.

Formative and summative assessment will be conducted within the guidelines of the institution Assessment Policy. The learner's summative assessment mark will comprise a year mark that will be gained from the specified number of compulsory assignments and a written non-venue based examination or portfolio in each module, which comprises the total summative assessment mark. The pass mark shall be a minimum of 50% acquired from both continuous and summative assessment in a proportionate ratio; 75% shall constitute a pass with distinction.