Intro To LAW MODULE LEARNING GUIDE - 2023 VG Final
Intro To LAW MODULE LEARNING GUIDE - 2023 VG Final
FACULTY OF LAW
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
Ms V. Gobeni
LLB; LLM
NELSON MANDELA SCHOOL OF LAW
FACULTY OF LAW
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Pages
Table of Contents
I – GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1. Welcome 4
2. Contact Details 4
2.1 Role Players 4
2.2 Consultation Hours 4-5
3. Overview of the Qualification 5
3.1 Name of the Qualification or Programme 5
3.2 Rationale for the Degree 5
3.3 Purpose of the Module/Course 5
II – LEARNING COMPONENT
1. Structure of the Module 6
2. Level Descriptors of the Module 6
3. Learning Outcomes 6
4. Outline of Course Content 7
5. Teaching and Learning Methods 7
6. Assessment Methods 7
7. Assessment-Related Prescriptions 8
8. Plagiarism 9
9. Faculty referencing style 10
10. Consequences of fraud 11
11. Time Allocation 11-14
12. Roles and Responsibilities 14
13. Assessment Plan 15
14. Learner Support 16
15. Course Readings 17
Compulsory Readings
Additional Readings
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I – GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1. WELCOME STATEMENT
This module is designed for students who will eventually become legal
practitioners and administrators and who will be required to give legal advice and
carry out administrative responsibilities respectively.
The first part deals with the roots of our law and answers questions such as:
“what is the law?”, “where does our law come from?”, “where can we find the
law?” and “who are the people in the legal profession?” and “what are the
structures within which they operate?”
The second part introduces the specific branches of our law, under which both
public and private law, as well as substantive and procedural law are considered.
Although not the primary objective of this course, linguistic skills, problem-solving,
critical-thinking, research skills, e-learning, group work and the management of
voluminous information, all of which are skills necessary for the study and
practice of law, will be introduced to the first year law student through the
opportunities provided for engagement with the discourse of law in the
substantive content in the two sections above.
2. CONTACT DETAILS
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2.2 Consultation Hours
The LL.B. is now the only recognised-qualification for legal practice. Formerly,
holders of a B. Proc were allowed to enter into the attorney’s profession and
holders of a B Juris could serve in the civil service as magistrates or prosecutors.
The B. Proc and B. Juris programmes have been phased out. No new candidates
have been allowed to register for these programmes since 2004.
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II – LEARNING COMPONENT
Ability to isolate and explain Demonstrate by referring to Formative seminars and discussions
rules and principles from the principles of law extracted from calling for explanation of principles
common law and statute and Common law and Textbooks and Formative/ Summative Assignment
to basic application of same in other materials and proposing and class tasks
appropriate manner as well-reasoned, logical and Formative/ Summative
authority for propositions and adequately sourced arguments Tests in Continual mode
in basic problem solving or solutions Summative Examination posing
questions testing knowledge of South
African legal principles and
competency in the linking of
substantive legal sources
appropriately with particular legal
issues
Ability to appropriately Demonstrate by referring to Formative seminars and discussions in
communicate knowledge of the principles of SA Law extracted which the knowledge of the South
South African law, its history, from Common law and African law, its history, divisions,
divisions, structures and the Textbooks and other materials structures and the legal profession is
legal profession verbally and in and through appropriate called for
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writing construction of answers in oral Formative/ Summative Assignment
and written mode and class tasks
Formative/ Summative Tests in
continual mode
Summative Examination posing
questions that require students to
provide well expressed cogent written
answers
6. Assessment Methods
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All work must be properly acknowledged; plagiarism is not tolerated in the
University and any plagiarised work will not be assessed and the author
will be reported to the Faculty for appropriate action.
On the cover page, the assignment must have the name of the University
and of the faculty, the name of the course/module, the full title of the
assignment question, the due date and the name, student number and
contact telephone number and e-mail address (where possible) of the
student .
Every assignment must be handed in on the due date. Failure to hand in
an assignment on the due date will result in a loss of 10% of marks for
each day of default.
Assignments must be handed in to the lecturer personally and the date of
submission must be recorded and signed for by the student.
Every assignment should preferably have an introduction, a body of
argument and a conclusion.
In marking assignments, credit will be given for conciseness and focus of
argument, relevance, evidence of understanding of themes and
grammatical presentation of the essay.
All students are expected to adhere to the stipulated length of an
assignment; any excess pages will not be marked or credited.
Failure to adhere to instructions will carry mark penalties.
Assessments
Tests must be written at the appointed time.
Candidates must write legibly.
Questions may be answered in any order but each question must be
answered together sequentially.
A student who fails to write the test due to illness must provide proof of
such illness as soon as possible for admission to a sick test.
A sick test will be written at the time and place as appointed by the
lecturer.
All tests will be closed- book, unless otherwise indicated.
Failure to complete a compulsory assessment (test or assignment) will
result in the learner being disqualified from writing the examination,
irrespective of the marks obtained for assessments which were completed.
7. ASSESSMENT-RELATED PRESCRIPTIONS
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learner’s class attendance record shall be considered for the purposes of
considering condonations of final marks and any other discretionary student
matters.
Special note:
Class attendance is compulsory for all students. Therefore every student should
obtain 100% lecture attendance in each module. A leave of absence will only be
granted to students who, by reason of illness or other special circumstances, are
unable to attend lectures; provided that no student shall be absent from lectures
for a period/periods exceeding 25% of the required attendance in each
module. Every application for leave of absence should be accompanied by
satisfactory evidence of such illness or special circumstances and, further,
should be submitted to the Faculty Secretary prior to the date of absence from
class.
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8. Plagiarism Alert – Additional learner responsibility
DEFINITIONS
Using the direct words of another without using quotation marks (even if
the passage is referenced);
The unacknowledged copying of a sentence or two of text; copying more
extensive blocks of text;
The syndication of a single piece of work by more than one student
(unless the assignment task is a legitimate group assignment);
The borrowing and using of another person’s assignment (with or without
their knowledge and permission);
Stealing an entire essay from another person or from the Internet; or
infringing copyright.
Cut-and- paste for material off the internet without quotation marks or
reference.
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and its counterpart at Rhodes University). Copies of Speculum Juris are also
available on short loan in the Library.
Students should carefully note that the Dean of Law will not provide a testimonial
in respect of any law student who is convicted of cribbing, plagiarism or any other
form of cheating/dishonest conduct in a test/examination or on an assignment or
any assessment exercise. Without a testimonial from the Dean, a law graduate
will not (a) be admitted as an attorney; or (b) be allowed to register for articles of
clerkship – which is necessary in order to qualify for admission as an attorney.
Also, a law graduate who is not in possession of a testimonial issued by the
Dean may not (a) be admitted as an advocate; or (b) be accepted for pupilage
training – which is necessary for admission to the bar (of advocates).
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Lecture 7: What is customary law?
Customary Law How do Customary Law & the Constitution
work together?
Lecture 10: What are the common types of legal professionals in SA?
The Legal profession Contrast the roles that each play.
What is your understanding of professional legal ethics?
Public law: Explain the difference between constitutional values and principles.
Constitutional Law What are human rights?
What legislation guarantees basic human rights to all?
Identify and give examples of the three generations of human rights.
How important is the Bill of Rights for the law in South Africa? Explain.
Right to equality:
When will treating people differently amount to discrimination & when
will this discrimination be unfair?
[Test set out in Harksen v Lane NO 1998 (1) SA 300 (CC)
Right to life: The CC was asked to decide Whether the death penalty
was consistent with the right to life. Identify the relevant case,
the court’s decision and discuss the reasons.
Limitation of rights:
South African law makes prostitution a criminal offence. Find the case
of S v Jordan and others 2002 (6) SA 642 (CC)
and discuss the constitutional validity of this prohibition.
List the types of relief that a court can award when a right in the Bill
of Rights has been infringed.
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criminal action.
What is meant by the:
‘unlawful’?
‘voluntary’?
‘conduct’?
‘fault’?
‘causation’?
‘criminal capacity’?
Discuss when there will be a legal duty on you to prevent harm to
another.
Briefly explain two defences excluding unlawful voluntary conduct.
Law of Obligations: What branches of private law are covered by the ‘law of obligations’?
- law of contract What is a ‘contract’?
- law of delict What is the law of delict?
What are ‘damages’?
What is the ‘Aquilian action’?
What is the actio iniuriarum?
Identify and explain the four elements that must be proved in every
situation where you want to sue a wrongdoer in delict for the loss or
damage suffered.
What is an omission?
What is the difference Between patrimonial and non-patrimonial loss?
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Lecture: 17 & 18 What is commercial law?
Commercial Law:
Law of contract List and briefly explain the six requirements for a valid contract.
Do all contracts have to be in writing in order to be valid?
Insolvency law When is a person said to be insolvent?
List and explain three acts of insolvency.
What are the consequences of Insolvency?
Criminal Procedure Briefly outline and explain the sequence of events from the commission
of a crime to sentencing.
The Student
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1. It is the responsibility of every candidate in this course to have thoroughly
read and digested all the materials prescribed/supplied for each topic
ahead of lecture hours.
2. Assignments must be typed with page numbers and stapled together and
are to be executed with precision and care, and plagiarism is to be
avoided.
3. The lecturer may require students to maintain an active e-mail box for
communication purposes and for forwarding of materials. Students must
ensure that they empty their mailboxes regularly so that e-mail
communication is not thereby disrupted.
4. Should the lecturer so stipulate, assignments must be submitted
electronically, via e-mail.
5. Students must pay attention to grammar, spelling, correct citation of
authorities and proper organisation of the essay.
6. Failure to hand in an assignment on the due date will result in deduction of
marks at the rate stated in paragraph 7.1 above
7. Students must attend lectures and tutorials punctually and regularly. The
lecturer reserves the right to exclude students who disrupt classes by their
late arrival.
8. Students must write the class test on the set date, and at the set time and
venue.
The Instructor
It is the responsibility of the instructor to:
Assessment Timetable
Exercise Description Value
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Final Examination To be advised 50% of final mark (100
internally moderated marks) Semester mark
also equals 50% of final
mark
Subject to such additional requirement(s) as may be set out in the General Rules,
a learner shall only be entitled to write the final examination in a module if he/she
has obtained:
1. 100% attendance at lectures, unless the learner was absent with leave of
absence obtained prior to the date(s) of the lecture(s) from which the
learner was absent;
2. 75% attendance at tutorials unless the learner was absent with leave of
absence obtained prior to the date(s) of the lecture(s) from which the
learner was absent;
3. 100% participation in mandatory tests and assignments;
4. Leave of absence shall only be granted to learners in exceptional
circumstances.
Diversity of learning styles is catered for in the variety of verbal and non-
verbal course material provided/ delivered, the variety of formative modes
of engagement and situated learning activities and tasks, individual and
group work, as well as the mix of formative and continual assessment
activities.
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15. COURSE READINGS
Textbook:
The prescribed text for INTRODUCTION TO LAW is:
Meintjies van der Walt, L et al Fresh Perspectives: Introduction to South
African Law (2019)(3rd Edition), Pearson/Prentice Hall: Cape Town
Copies of the textbook are available on 1 hour Short Loan in the Library.
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