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SOUTH AFRICA

1. University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law
2. University of Natal, Howard College School of Law
3. University of Natal, School of Law
4. University of the Witwatersrand, School of Law

The University of the Witwatersrand did not respond to our emails, so some answers are missing or they are incomplete.

1. University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law
Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
Phone: +27 21 650 2705; Fax: +27 21 650 5662;
Email: corder@law.uct.ac.za

• Awarded degrees are: LL.B – 4 years; LL.M – 3 years;
• The University has a clinical program.
• The admission requirement is: for LL.B – high school matriculation at a high level. for LL.M – a good LL.B degree.
• The number of admitted students is about 175 for LL.B. and about 100 for LL.M.
• The number of graduate students is about 100 for LL.B. and about 70 for LL.M.
• The University charges tuition fees to students.
• The number of full-time faculty – approx. 50
• The number of part-time faculty – approx. 5
• The University has a separate law library with approx. 75.000 volumes.
• The University provides 56 computer terminals for students.

Process from Law School to practice:

Split Bar – for attorney’s profession: practical legal training and a year’s service as a candidate attorney plus national examinations. Practical legal training offered by the Law Society lasts for six months full-time, or 12 months part-time (evening classes).

For a barrister/advocate: six months pupilage and completion of National Bar examinations.

This regime is set to change within the next year or so. Future requirements likely to be: six months further study of practical legal application, followed by six months of practical work, plus success in national examinations. This will lead to registration as a legal practitioner.

2. University of Natal, Howard College School of Law
Durban, 4041, South Africa
Phone: +27 31 260 2487; Fax: +27 31 260 1464; Email: louw@nu.ac.za

• Awarded degrees are: LL.B. – 4 years; LL.M – 1 year; PhD – 6 years;
• The University has a clinical program.
• The admission requirement is for LL.B – matriculation exemption (minimum of 34 admission points)
• The number of admitted students is: LL.B.–approx. 220; LL.M.–approx.180; PhD-2 each year.
• The number of graduate students is: LL.B.-approx. 168; LL.M-approx.20
• The University charges tuition fees to students.
• The number of full-time faculty – 33
• The number of part-time faculty – 14
• The University has a separate law library with 100.000 volumes.
• The library provides 40 computer terminals for students.

Process from Law School to practice:

On obtaining an LL.B. degree a graduate may enter into an internship with a law firm for a period of two years, and is eligible to sit for the admissions exam after having served at least 6 months of the internship. Alternatively, graduates could attend the 6-month full-time practical legal training course at the school for legal practice (based on university campus), and on completion (successful) of this course, sit for the admissions exam. Successful completion of this exam entitles graduate to apply for admission as an attorney and to be registered as such with a law society.

3. University of Natal, School of Law
Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209
Phone: +27 (033) 260 5377; Fax: +27 (033) 260 5015;
Email: anthonyj@nu.ac.za

• Awarded degrees are: LL.B. – 4 years; LL.M – 5 years;
• The University has a clinical program.
• The admission requirement is 35 Matriculation Points.
• The number of admitted students is approx. 240 each year.
• The number of graduate students is approx. 200 each year.
• The University charges tuition fees to students.
• The number of full-time faculty – 18
• The number of part-time faculty – 7
• The University has a separate law library with 27.000 volumes.
• The library provides 30 computer terminals for students.

Process from Law School to practice:

Attorney – 10 months Practical Legal Training School and 12 months Articles.

Advocate – 12 moths Pupillage.

4. University of the Witwatersrand, School of Law
Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 717 8411; Fax: +27 11 339 3427;
Email: skeena@law.wits.ac.za

• Awarded degrees are: LL.B LL.M. PhD
• The University has a clinical program.
• The number of admitted students is approx. 250 each year.
• The number of graduate students is approx. 150 each year.
• The University charges tuition fees to students.
• The number of full-time faculty – 51
• The number of part-time faculty – 15
• The University has a separate law library with approx. 15.000 books, plus Law Reporters and Journals.
• The library provides 6 computer terminals for the students.

Process from Law School to practice:

Either pupillage to become an advocate, or articling or clerkship to become an Attorney.