Master of Laws in Development and Management Law

Purpose

The Degree provides training among others in Research Methodology to equip the learner with the skills necessary either for employment in a variety of fields in development law or for further independent research for a Cognate Degree in the same or a related subject area. The research dissertation must reflect professionalism in research expertise and skill. Specialisation areas in which candidates are prepared include Development Law; Constitutional and Fundamental Rights; Business Law; Research Methodology of Law; Mining Law; Environmental Law; Administrative Law; Agricultural and Water law; Legal Pluralism and Traditional Authorities.

Rationale

The qualification is intended to enhance the basic knowledge and skills of entry-level lawyers in a specialised area of Development and Management Law by providing an opportunity for law graduates to adapt their basic qualifications to a rapidly changing world work.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is guided by the institutional policy and is aligned to the objectives of the NQF. Entry into the programme is possible via RPL as well as indicating advanced standing, provided that it is aligned to the institutional policy and that the applicant is evaluated by a qualified RPL assessor in a manner that is free from any form of discrimination. RPL practices also include standard Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) practices of equivalent modules that may have been achieved in the course of the applicant's studies.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Relevant Bachelor Honours Degree or equivalent, Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 200 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 188 Credits

• Mini-Dissertation (Development and Management Law), 100 Credits.
• Development Law, 16 Credits.
• Constitutional and Fundamental Rights, 12 Credits.
• Business Law, 12 Credits.
• Research Methodology of Law, 12 Credits.
• Mining Law, 12 Credits.
• Environmental Law, 12 Credits.
• Administrative Law, 12 Credits.

Elective Modules, 12 Credits (Choose/Select one)

• Agricultural and Water law, 12 Credits.
• Legal Pluralism and Traditional Authorities, 12 Credits.

1. Demonstrate specialist knowledge and be able to critique and evaluate current research or practices that are pertinent to the specialisation area.
2. Demonstrate a command of and the ability to design, select and apply appropriate and creative methods, techniques, processes or technologies to complex practical and theoretical problems in the specialisation area.
3. Solve problems in the field of chosen specialisation.
4. Accesses, manages and produces information ethically in the context of the specialisation practitioner's profession.
5. Show sensitivity to and understands the contexts and systems of the profession.
6. Manages his or her own learning and takes accountability for his or her own work.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate familiarity with contemporary philosophical and theoretical issues in the field of specialisation.
• Debate complex issues orally and in writing.
• Display specialised knowledge in a critical and comparative manner, depending on the particular field of focus in the courses selected.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Drafts a research proposal of acceptable standard in line with the faculty guidelines for the chosen specialisation.
• Produce a research mini-dissertation of the required length and complexity that demonstrates the application of the research design to the identified problem.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Produces a research dissertation that reflects on current research, problem analysis and implementation of strategies to solve problems.
• Indicative Solutions to problems posed in the assessment of the structured part of the course of the student's mastery of the complexities that characterise the field of specialisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The research dissertation contributes to the understanding, analysis and resolution of identified research areas in an ethically appropriate manner, aligned to the Faculty requirements for ethical knowledge production.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Properly contextualised and rooted responses to assessment tasks in the structured part of the course, as well as the research mini-dissertation, in the specialisation area.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Properly contextualised and rooted responses to assessment tasks in the structured part of the course, as well as the research mini-dissertation, in the specialisation area.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Applies him/herself to the researching and writing of the mini-dissertation in the prescribed time frame.
• Complete modular components of the course with due observation of formative and summative assessment requirements.

Learning and assessment across exit level outcomes within the qualification should be integrated to ensure a well-structured cohesive qualification. Assessments are based on formative assessments which are in place to assure continuous learning and feedback to candidates and summative assessments which ensure a judgement of learning at exit level outcomes. Such assessments should assess the candidate's ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the exit-level outcomes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification.

Moderation: The teaching and learning policy of the institution requires that all exit level modules be assessed by external assessors, who have been approved by the Faculty. Additionally, all internal moderation of all other modules are carried out by internal moderators, as required by the institution's Assessment Policy, to ensure the quality of all assessments within a particular qualification.