Doctor of Laws

This is the highest legal qualification offered in academia. This involves a detailed study and research into a chosen topic in the field of law. The candidate must display knowledge of the chosen and allied field as well as make original contribution

Candidates must have acquired LLM qualification or its equivalent and must have competency to do research in law

1. Demonstrate the capacity of further autonomous research and study at an advanced level
2. Identify, engage and deal with the complex legal issues and lacunae and or contradictions in the law pertaining to the law in the selected field of study
3. Demonstrate ability to autonomously integrate information gathered from both research and the work of others in the creation of responses that expand and or redefine existing knowledge in the law pertaining to the selected field of study
4. Experience and conduct full academic and professional communication with others in field of study
5. Make original and significant contribution to law in the selected field of study

1. In depth evaluation of learners knowledge and understanding the relevant principles, doctrines theories and conflicting options in relation thereto
2. Write research proposal and indicate that learners are able to identify a problem or problems in the application of a legal principles and formulate research problems and subsets of problems
3. Formulate hypothesis
4. Know, select and utilise research methods relevant to legal research and investigation into legal problems
5. Where applicable select and use appropriate data analysis methods and conduct fieldwork
6. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, analyse, formulate and interpret findings of an investigation
7. Create a new model, theory or principle that can be applied to solve the problem that is investigated
8. Identify and analyse different scientific procedures in terms of the problems being researched
9. Critically read, interpret and analyse literature from different sources
10. Search for additional literature and materials relevant to the identified research problems
11. Compare the writings of different authors on the same topic or related topics and identify aspects on which they hold different opinions
12. Sytemise and synthesise reading material on the topic being researched
13. Draw conclusions from different readings and indicate anomalies
14. Create a theoretical framework by the literature review
15. Compile a complete bibliography
16. Write a thesis that shows that learner can express him/herself clearly
17. Write thesis that is linguistically correct, acceptable and of a high standard
18. Write a thesis that is technically well presented and has an acceptable lay out
19. Should meet deadlines for submission of writings

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The following methods shall be incorporated to achieve an integrated assessment contribution to the purpose of the qualification:

a) Oral test

b) Written test

c) Tasks or reports

d) Dissertation/thesis

e) Research presentation