law universities in south africa 2024-2025

law universities in south africa 2024-2025

Do you want to be a lawyer or work in the legal field and are looking for a place to study? Here are some places in South Africa where you can study law.

Choosing to study law is a popular option in South Africa, and fortunately, the country provides many options for where to study law.

University of the Western Cape

• The University of the Western Cape (UWC) offers a Law qualification that they claim will prepare you for a career in the legal profession, whether in the private or public sector, as an attorney or advocate, a legal adviser or a legal academic, or, eventually, as a magistrate or a judge.
• There are four departments in the Faculty: Criminal Justice and Procedure, Mercantile and Labour Law, Private Law, and Public Law and Jurisprudence.

To learn more about studying law at UWC, visit the UWC website here.

Unisa

• The University of South Africa, or Unisa for short, offers Law qualifications through their open distance learning method, which combines online and self-study. If you consider studying law at Unisa, you will be introduced to a world of opportunities.
• The College of Law at Unisa is divided into two parts: the School of Law and the School of Criminal Justice.

If you want to know more about studying Law at Unisa, visit the Unisa website here.

University of Cape Town

• The Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is well worth a look.
• Commercial Law, Public Law, and Private Law are the three departments within the Law Faculty. Each of these departments is in charge of offering courses and conducting research in specific areas of legal theory, knowledge, and practice. Furthermore, each department houses one or more specialized academic and research units.

Should you be interested and want to know more about studying Law at UCT, visit the UCT website here.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

• The Department of Applied Legal Studies at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) offers a Bachelor of Paralegal Studies program.
• This course is ideal if you want to work as a Paralegal Practitioner.
• Students will be exposed to a distinctive blend of theory, procedure, and practice in public, private, and commercial law.

For more information on studying Law at CPUT, visit the CPUT website here.

University of Johannesburg

• If you live in Johannesburg and want to study law, you might end up at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The Faculty of Law at UJ offers legal studies.
• This faculty provides traditional law programs such as BA Law, BCom Law, and LLB, as well as LLM degrees by dissertation and coursework and LLD degrees in a variety of important fields.
• Aside from these degrees, the Faculty has a strong non-formal programs division that provides postgraduate diplomas, certificates, and short courses in specialized areas such as tax law, compliance, criminal justice, and forensic investigation, insolvency law, labor law, corporate law, contract drafting.

If you want to know more about studying Law at UJ, visit the UJ website here. 

University of the Witwatersrand

• The School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is a premier institution for legal studies on the African continent.
• Wits University offers a BA in Law, a BCom in Law, and an LLB. They also offer postgraduate law programs. Wits study programs are highly valued in the market for their academic excellence and practical relevance. Students can develop themselves into world-class legal specialists by studying a wide range of subjects taught by recognized experts.

To find out more about studying Law at Wits, visit the Wits website here.

University of Pretoria

• The University of Pretoria (UP) Faculty of Law aspires to be an internationally recognized leader in socially relevant legal research and education in South Africa and around the world.
• There are several departments within UP’s Faculty of Law, including the Centre for Human Rights, Jurisprudence, Mercantile Law, Private Law, Procedural Law, and Public Law. They provide LLB, BA in Law, and BCom Law degrees.

If you want to know more about studying Law at UP, visit the UP website here.

Vaal University of Technology

• The Department of Legal Services at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) offers Law and Law-related qualifications.
• VUT offers the following diplomas: A diploma in Labour Law, Diploma in Legal Aid, Diploma in Policing, Diploma in Safety Management, Advance Diploma in Mediation, Advance Diploma in Policing, and Advance Diploma in Safety Management.
• In addition to its own qualifications, the department offers all discipline-specific law and safety subjects to students who are registered for qualifications offered by other departments and faculties.

To learn more about studying Law at VUT, visit the VUT website here.

Durban University of Technology

• The Durban University of Technology is one of the many law schools in South Africa (DUT).
• DUT has a Department of Applied Law that provides a variety of law subjects to other Durban University of Technology departments. As a result, the department provides legal background to students who may need it for their specific courses.
• Only a Diploma in Management Sciences: Business Law is offered by the department.

To know more about studying Law at DUT, visit the DUT website here.

Nelson Mandela University

• Nelson Mandela University (NMU) has a Faculty of Law that offers a Law qualification. Their legal curriculum includes Public Law, Mercantile Law, Private Law, and Criminal and Procedural Law.
• Law degrees at NMU range from Certificates and Diplomas to Doctoral Degrees.

If you’re interested in studying Law at NMU and want to learn more, visit the NMU website here.

University of the Free State

• The University of the Free State (UFSFaculty )’s of Law offers an LLB degree.
• The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State produces a number of highly sought-after graduates each year. An active placement program for graduates in suitable positions, managed within the faculty, ensures a bright future for the successful student who seizes this opportunity.

Should you want to find out more about studying Law at UFS, visit the UFS website here.