Faculty of Law
FLA 1.00
Admissions Requirements
No person shall be registered as a candidate for the Degree of Bachelor of Laws (Five Year Programme Programme) unless he/she has satisfied the minimum University entrance requirement, and satisfied the special requirements prescribed by the Faculty of Law.
Re-admission
Subject to Regulation 10.9.3.2 and 10.13 of the Semesterisation Regulations, a student who has been discontinued from a programme within the Faculty of Law may reapply for admission after a minimum of two semesters provided that they have taken and completed non-credit remedial course(s).
FLA 101
A student who has, prior to admission to the Bachelor of Laws programme, attended courses of instruction and passed examinations equivalent in standard to courses and examinations which form part of the Bachelor of Laws programme, may, subject to the approval of the Board of the Faculty of Law, be exempted from attendance of classes and examinations in those courses, provided that no student shall be exempted in more than six semester courses per year of study.
FLA 1.02
Where a student has been given exemption in accordance with regulation 1.01 above, he/she shall not be required to register for or take additional courses equivalent to the law courses exempted. However, she/she may be advised to take or register for courses as may be deemed necessary by the Faculty or department.
FLA 1.03
COURSE OF STUDY
BACHELOR OF LAWS (5-YEAR Programme)
The Bachelor of Laws course shall normally be completed in five consecutive years of full-time study.
Students shall take and pass:
Year 1
Semester one
L1301-11 Introduction to law
L1303-11 Customary Law I
L1305-11 Family Law I
ELG1311-14 Communication and Study Skills
M1400-12 Essential Mathematics
CS1311-07 Computer Awareness Skills
Semester two
L1302-11 Legal Methods and Systems
L1304-11 Customary Law II
L1306-11 Family Law II
ELG1312-14 Remedial Grammar
Electives: 22 credits of non-law courses (i.e. 11 credits per semester)
PHI1301-11 Introduction to Logic and Scientific Methods
PHI1305-11 Introduction to Political Philosophy
Year II students shall take and pass the following courses:
Year 2
Semester one
L2301-11 Law of Contract I
L2303-11 Constitutional Law: Separation of Powers
L2305-11 Delict I
L2307-11 Principles of Criminal Law
L2309-11 Administrative Law I
L2311-11 Interpretation of Statutes
Semester two
L2302-11 Law of Contract II
L2304-11 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights
L2306-11 Delict II
L2308-11 Specific Crimes
L2310-11 Administrative law I
Electives: 11 credits (Non-Law Course(s))
PHI212-3 General Ethics
Year III students shall take and pass the following courses:
Year 3
Semester one
L3301-11 Property Law I
L3303-11 International Law I
L3305-11 Criminal Procedure: Pre-trial
L3307-11 Evidence I
L3309-11 Special Contracts I
L3313-11 Succession and Administration of Estates
Semester two
L3302-11 Property Law II
L3304-11 International Law II
L3306-11 Criminal Procedure: Trial and Post Trial
L3407-14 Evidence II
L3310-11 Special Contracts II
L3411-13 Accounting for Lawyers
Attachment (6 weeks)
Year IV students shall take and pass the following courses:
Year 4
Semester one
L4301-11 Civil Procedure I
L4303-11 Human Rights Law
L4305-11 Insurance and Banking I
L4307-11 Jurisprudence I
L4409-13 Practical Legal Training I
Semester two
L4402-11 Civil Procedure II
L4304-11 International Humanitarian Law
L4306-11 Insurance and Banking II
L4308-11 Jurisprudence II
L4410-14 Practical Legal Training II
Electives: Two law courses of 11 credits each
Attachment (6 weeks)
Year V students shall take and pass the following courses:
Year 5
Semester one
L5301-11 Labour Law I
L5303-11 Business Associations I
L5305-11 Legal Aspects of Economic Development I
L5307-11 Clinical Legal Education I
Semester two
L5302-11 Labour Law II
L5304-11 Business Associations II
L5306-11 Legal Aspects of Economic Development II
L5308-11 Clinical Legal Education II
L5309-11 Dissertation (10,000 words)
Electives: Two law courses of 11 credits each selected from the list below
L5310-11 International Organisations
L5311-11 Environmental Law I
L5312-11 Environmental Law II
L5313-11 Intellectual Property
L5314-11 Criminology and Penology
L5315-11 Sociology of Law
L5316-11 Export Trade Law
L5317-11 Taxation
L5318-11 Conflicts
L5319-11 Insolvency
L5320-11 Comparative Law
L5321-11 Conveyancing and Notarial Practice
L5322-11 Gender and Law
NOTE:
(a) Candidates must ensure that they register for courses whose total credits is 60 or more per semester.
(b) The order in which the various courses are taken is dependent upon staffing arrangements in any particular year. The Dean shall advise students at the end of each academic year regarding the subjects that will be offered in the following year.
(c) Students from other Faculties may take such Law courses as are required for their degree programmes, subject to any requirements as to prerequisites which may be specified by the Board of the Faculty of Law.
BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL.B) (3 -YEAR Programme)
FLA 2.00
No student shall be admitted into any of the LL.B. (Three Year Programme) except upon the written recommendation of the Faculty Board.
FLA 2.01
To be admitted into this programme, a student must hold a good first degree which shall normally not be less than a second class pass.
FLA 2.02
Candidates in the following category may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Laws (Three Year Programme):
(a) Graduates of either the National University of Lesotho or any other recognized University in disciplines other than Law.
FLA 2.03
Course Structure:
BACHELOR OF LAWS (3 -YEAR Programme)
The Bachelor of Laws course (Three Year Programme) shall normally be completed in three consecutive years of full time study.
Students shall take and pass the following courses:
Year I
Semester one
L1301-11 Legal Methods and Systems I
L1303-11 Customary Law I
L2305-11 Constitutional Law: Separation of Powers
L2301-11 Law of Contract I
L2305-11 Delict I
L2307-11 Criminal Law I
L2311-11 Interpretation of Statutes
L3313-11 Succession and Administration of Estates
Semester two
L1302-11 Legal Methods and Systems II
L1304-11 Customary Law II
L2306-11 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights
L2302-11 Law of Contract II
L2306-11 Delict II
L2308-11 Criminal Law II
Year II
Semester one
L2309-11 Administrative law I
L3301-11 Property Law I
L3303-11 International Law I
L3305-11 Criminal Procedure I
L3307-11 Evidence I
L3309-11 Special Contracts I
L5301-11 Labour Law I
Semester two
L2310-11 Administrative law II
L3302-11 Property Law II
L3304-11 International Law II
L3306-11 Criminal Procedure II
L3407-14 Evidence II
L3310-11 Special Contracts II
L3411-13 Accounting for Lawyers
L5302-11 Labour Law II
Year III
Semester one
L4301-11 Civil Procedure I
L4305-11 Insurance and Banking I
L4307-11 Jurisprudence I
L4409-13 Practical Legal Training I
L5303-11 Business Associations I
L5307-11 Clinical Legal Education I
L5309-11 Dissertation (10,000 words)
Semester two
L4402-11 Civil Procedure II
L4306-11 Insurance and Banking II
L4308-11 Jurisprudence II
L4410-14 Practical Legal Training II
L5304-11 Business Associations II
L5308-11 Clinical Legal Education II
Attachment: 6 weeks Attachment
Year I Plus 11 credits from the Law Electives.
Year II Plus 11 credits from the Law Electives
Year III Plus 22 credits from the following courses:
L4303-11 Human Rights Law
L4304-11 International Humanitarian Law
L5305-11 Legal Aspects of Economic Development I
L5306-11 Legal Aspects of Economic Development II
OR any elective from Law courses in the Five-Year Programme.
Note: The elective courses to be offered in any given academic year will depend upon the availability and specialization of staff members. The Dean may amend this list of subjects from time to time.
FLA 2.04
Course Structure
BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL.B) (2 -YEAR Programme)
The Bachelor of Laws (Two Year Programme) shall normally be completed in two consecutive years of full-time study.
Candidates in the following categories may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Laws (Mode three programme):
- A holder of a Bachelor of Arts in Law (B.A.) (Law) of the National University of Lesotho, OR
- Holders of equivalent qualifications.
Year I: Students shall take and pass the following courses:
Semester one
CS1301-07 Computer Awareness Skills
L1303-11 Customary Law I
L2311-11 Interpretation of Statutes
L3305-11 Criminal Procedure I
L3307-11 Evidence I
L4301-11 Civil Procedure I
L4409-13 Practical Legal Training I
Semester two
L1304-11 Customary Law II
L3306-11 Criminal Procedure II
L3407-14 Evidence II
L3411-13 Accounting for Lawyers
L4402-11 Civil Procedure II
L4410-14 Practical Legal Training II
Plus – Attachment for 6 weeks
Year II: Students shall take and pass the following courses
Semester One
L3313-11 Succession and Administration of Estates
L4303-11 Human Rights Law
L5305-11 Legal Aspects of Economic Development I
L4307-11 Jurisprudence I
L5307-11 Clinical Legal Education I
L5309-11 Dissertation (10,000 words)
Semester two
L4304-11 International Humanitarian Law
L5306-11 Legal Aspects of Economic Development II
L4308-11 Jurisprudence II
L5308-11 Clinical Legal Education II
Plus – electives of 22 credits
FLA 3.00
No candidate shall be admitted to any examination in any course unless he has completed, by attendance or otherwise, the requirements of the course. A student shall be deemed not to have completed the requirements of the course if he/she has not attended at least two thirds (2/3) of the total number of lectures and tutorials, and has not done at least two-thirds confirmed(2/3) of the coursework prescribed in that course.
FLA 3.01
No candidate shall proceed to years 2,3,4 and 5 or, as the case may be, shall be entitled to a degree award in the Faculty of Law unless he/she has passed all compulsory courses and has attained a weighted point average of 50% or a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
FLA 3.02
A student’s performance in each semester shall be assessed on the basis of a ratio of coursework to formal examinations of 1:2, except that, with respect of L5322-11 (Conveyancing and Notarial Practice), L4409-13 (Practical Legal Training I); L4410-14 (Practical Legal Training II); L5307-11 (Clinical Legal Education I); and L5308-11 (Clinical Legal Education II), he/she shall be assessed on the basis of a ratio of coursework to formal examination of 1:1.
FLA 3.03
Coursework shall normally consist of a minimum of two assignments/tests in a semester the content and length of which shall be at the discretion of the course lecturer.
FLA 4.00
A student shall be allowed to supplement provided passing the course(s) will result in the student satisfying requirements of the programme the student is registered for.
FLA 4.01
Subject to other Faculty regulations, a full-time student shall not be allowed to supplement more than 45 credits per semester. A part-time student shall not be allowed to supplement more than eight (22) credits per semester
FLA 4.02
Supplementary examinations shall normally be taken before the following semester, and in computing the results of these examinations, coursework shall count as in the ordinary course assessment. The final mark for a supplementary examination shall not be more than 59%.
FLA 4.03
A student may proceed from one semester to another with or without restrictions. A student shall proceed without restrictions if he /she has:
(a) Obtained a GPA of 2.00 or better
(b) Passed at least 60 credits
(c) In Good Academic Standing.
FLA 4.04
Subject to other Faculty regulations, each course shall be assessed in two (2) parts as follows:
(a) The coursework
- Which shall contribute not less than 30% or more than 50% of the Total Final Mark
- Which shall consist of at least two pieces of continuous assessment of which at least one shall be a written test.
(b) The formal examination, which shall contribute a maximum of 70% of the Total Final Mark.
(c) Performance in each course shall be assessed on the basis of a ratio of coursework to formal examination in the range 1:1 to 1:2.
(d) The Faculty shall seek Senate approval, providing justification, to vary from (a)(i) above.
(e) Performance in a course shall be assessed on a numerical scale. Percentage mark, letter grades, and/or Grade Points shall be used to indicate performance according to the equivalence set out in the General Academic Regulations.
FLA 4.05
A student who does not satisfy FLA 4.03 above, shall proceed with a restriction as follows:
Proceed with Academic Warning:
(i) A student who does not satisfy FLA 4.03 above for the first time or immediately following a semester of Good Academic Standing, but with GPA not less than 1.2, shall proceed with Academic Warning.
(ii) A student who proceeds with an Academic Warning shall be allowed to repeat the failed course(s) so as to improve their status.
(iii) Students placed on Academic Warning may be required to participate in programmes/courses designed to help them return to good academic standing.
(iv) Failure to comply with the conditions of warning shall result in further restrictions on registration or Academic Suspension or Dismissal.
FLA 4.06
Proceed with Academic Probation:
(i) A student with GPA from 1.0 to 1.2 or who has received Academic Warning for two consecutive semesters shall be placed on Academic Probation; provided that, Students placed on Academic Probation may be required to participate in programmes designed to help them return to good academic standing.
(ii) Failure to comply with the conditions of Academic Probation may result in further restrictions on registration as stated in FLA 4.07 to 4.09 below.
(iii) A student who proceeds with a restriction shall be allowed to repeat the failed course(s) so as to improve their status.
FLA 4.07
A student who accumulates three (3) consecutive Academic Warnings or two (2) consecutive Probations based on reasons other than the GPA shall be discontinued from the programme.
FLA 4.08
(i) A student who obtains a GPA less than 1.0 shall be discontinued from programme.
(ii) Such a student may change to another Faculty or Institute where he/she qualifies and is acceptable or take a different programme in the same Faculty or Institute where applicable
FLA 4.09
A student who has been discontinued from the programme may reapply for admission after a minimum of one semester provided they have taken and completed non-credit remedial course(s).
FLA 5.00
In-coming to a decision as to the class of the degree to be awarded to a candidate, the Board of the Faculty shall have regard to the Weighted Point Average and Grade Point Average obtained by the candidate in the
- Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth years of study in the case of Five-Year Programme
- First, Second and Third years in the case of Three-Year Programme
- First and Second years in the case of Two-Year Programme
and shall be guided by the following principles:
(i) First Class: The student must attain a minimum weighted point average of 75% or Grade Point Average of GPA 4.5 or higher.
(ii) Second Class, First Division: The student must obtain a weighted point average of 70% but not more than 74% or Grade Point Average of 4.0.
(iii) Second Class, Second Division: The student must obtain a weighted point average of 60% but not more than 69% or Grade Point Average of 3.0.
(iv) Pass: The student must obtain a weighted point average of 50% but not more than 59% or Grade Point Average of 2.0.
FLA 5.01
The Weighted Point Average or Grade Point Average shall be computed by dividing the sum of the product of the credits multiplied by percentage scores divided by the sum of credits. The minimum credits allowed for each semester is 60 in respect of Five Year Programme and 73 in respect of Three Year Programme.
LL.B. Five Year Programme:
At the end of each semester, a student’s Weighted Point Average or Grade Point Average as regards Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) shall be a combination of the best weighted average or point average that includes all law courses making a total of 60 credits.
LL.B. Three Year Programme:
At the end of each semester, a student’s Weighted Point Average or grade point average, as regards the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Three Year Programme, shall be the combination of the best weighted average or grade point of all law courses making a total of 73 credits.
LLB. Two Year Programme
At the end of each semester, a student’s Weighted Point Average or grade point average, as regards the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Two Year Programme, shall be the combination of the best weighted average or grade point of all law courses making a total of 66 credits.
FLA 5.02
Performance in a course shall be assessed on a numerical scale ranging from 0 to 100 but published course grades shall be on a nine-point letter scale, according to the following equivalence:
A 80 and above means Outstanding
B+ 75-79 means Very Good
B 70-74 means Very Good
C+ 65-69 means Good
C 60-64 means Good
D+ 55-59 means Pass
D 50-54 means Pass
E 40-49 means Fail (Supplementable)
F Below 40 means Fail
FLA 5.03
Discretionary Marks: Discretionary marks may be allowed based on 1% below the pass mark, provided that compensation shall be limited to one course in any semester.
FLA 6.00
No student shall be permitted to graduate unless he/she has undertaken and passed the attachment programme.
FLA 6.01
During the Third and Fourth years of the LL.B. Five Year Programme and the First and Second years of the Three Year Programme, a candidate shall be required to undertake the attachment programme for the duration of six weeks during the long vacation.
FLA 6.02
The attachment programme shall be undertaken at Magistrates Courts, High Court, Law Offices, Legal Aid office and Legal Practitioners’ Chambers approved by the Faculty.
FLA 6.03
Candidates may, prior to the commencement of the attachment programme, identify and inform the Dean at which office they prefer to undertake the programme.
FLA 6.04
The assessment of attachment programme shall be based on the following criteria:
(a) A report submitted by the candidate detailing his experience during the period of attachment;
(b) An assessment of the candidate by the immediate supervisor (Magistrate, Judge or Legal Practitioner), where the candidate was attached; and
(c) An assessment of the candidate by a member of the Faculty.
FLA 6.05
The assessment of a clinical programme shall be a pass or fail.
FLA 7.00
No student shall be permitted to graduate unless he has presented a satisfactory dissertation in accordance with the current rules governing the preparation of dissertations.
FLA 7.01
During the final year of the LL.B. programmes, a candidate shall be required to write a dissertation of approximately 10,000 words on a topic following an outline approved in advance by a supervisor.
FLA 7.02
Students must have their dissertation topics approved and registered with the Dean at the end of March preceding the academic year in which they have to submit it.
FLA 7.03
Students should submit the first draft of their dissertations not later than six months from the date of registration as provided in Reg. 7.02.
FLA 7.04
The final drafts of dissertations shall be submitted in triplicate hard copies and a soft copy. The final drafts shall be submitted by the 31st of March in the year in which the student seeks to graduate.
FLA 7.05
No dissertation shall be accepted, which does not make a contribution to knowledge or understanding of the subject matter and afford evidence of originality.
FLA 7.06
Upon registration, each student shall be assigned a supervisor from among the members of the full-time member of the Faculty.
FLA 7.07
Students shall consult with their supervisors on the selection of the dissertation topic and the supervisor shall supervise completion of the dissertation and set out schedules for consultations.
FLA 7.08
It shall be the responsibility of the student:
(a) To consult his supervisor regularly, and
(b) To bring to the attention of the supervisor any problems that he/she may be encountering in relation of his/her dissertation topic.
FLA 7.09
The supervisor shall reserve the right to refuse to accept a dissertation if, in his opinion the student has not consulted him/her at regular intervals.
FLA 7.10
A student may within two months of being assigned a supervisor apply to the Dean to have his supervisor changed. Provided that when the Dean refuses a change of supervisor, the student concerned may appeal to the Faculty Board.
FLA 7.11
No student may, in the absence of any compelling reasons, be allowed to change a supervisor after the 31st of August of the academic year in which the student seeks to graduate.
FLA 7.12
The Dean may, in his/her discretion, change a supervisor, at any time.