IIE Master of Laws in Integrative Dispute Resolution and Advanced Litigation Techniques - (Distance)

Admission requirements

Minimum Admission Requirements:

A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree at NQF level 8
A Postgraduate Diploma in Law at HEQSF Level 8

For International candidates:

• A foreign LLB Degree with SAQA Certificate of Evaluation indicating that the Degree is equivalent to a Bachelor of Laws, a minimum of 480 credits and at HEQSF Level 8; OR 
• If SAQA Certificate shows equivalence to 360 credits degree then at least 4 Law modules must be at NQF level 8 with at least one being a research module; OR
• Foreign Master of Laws (LLM) with SAQA Certificate of Evaluation indicating that the qualification is equivalent to NQF Level 9.
• If the degree was not completed in English, then proof of English Proficiency is required.
• An average of 60% of the prior qualification is required, normally.

*Accredited and registered with SAQA registration, awaiting DHET listing but approval granted by DHET to advertise

For alternative admission options, please click here or reach out to student recruitment.

Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification are correct at the time of publication, however, these may change.

Curriculum

•  Alternative Dispute Resolution The purpose of this module is to provide students with the theoretical underpinnings of the advanced principles and content of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Students will be required to analyse conflict in different contexts, devise the most appropriate resolution technique to be utilized by comparing the frameworks and methods available in South Africa as well as other comparable jurisdictions. Students will be able to deploy the selected technique holistically including considerations such as therapeutic principles, restorative justice, indigenous customs and finalize the process including the drafting of necessary agreements and/or memorandums.
• Integrative Law The purpose of this module is to introduce graduates and legal practitioners to integrative law and integrative techniques in the resolution of legal disputes against the background of South African dispute resolution history and the infusion of ubuntu.
• Evidence and Litigation Techniques The purpose of this module is to provide students with advanced knowledge and practical skills in the Law of Evidence and Litigation Techniques, in both the local and global contexts. The practical skills will enable students to improve their performance and client representation in trial proceedings. Students will apply and examine the various principles and concepts governing different forms of evidence in varying contexts of legal dispute resolution and through the different lenses of ethical considerations, therapeutic jurisprudence, transformative constitutionalism, integrative law, and innovative developments within the realm of criminal and civil litigation.
• Advanced Civil and Criminal Procedure The purpose of this module is to emphasize specialist areas of the laws of civil and criminal procedure by focusing on procedural justice. The module draws together complex theoretical and practical elements of court procedure, applying the principles of both integrative law and legal comparison to the modern South African law of procedure – including assessing the roles of constitutionalism and high ethical standards, the potential impacts of technology, legislative reform, and the role of non-traditional forms of dispute resolution in the settling of civil- and criminal disputes.
• Research Methodology and Mini Dissertation Students are required to evaluate various research methodologies and identify an appropriate method for researching a selected research question ethically within a theme relevant to alternative dispute resolution, integrative law, evidence and procedural law or therapeutic jurisprudence and independently produce a mini dissertation using critical thinking and sound argumentation which contains conclusions and / or recommendations using the identified appropriate research methodology and applying a comparative technique.

Accreditation

The IIE Master of Laws degree is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a 180-credit qualification on level 9 (SAQA ID: 123586)

Career opportunities

A graduate who exits this qualification having achieved and demonstrated the four exit level outcomes will be highly employable in either the public or private sector in any of the professions listed, although this is not an exhaustive list:

• Policy and Planning Manager,
• Policy Analyst,
• Company Secretary,
• Organisational Risk Manager,
• Research and Development Manager,
• Legislator,
• Attorney,
• Judges
• Advocate,
• Legal professionals not elsewhere classified,
• Faculty Head,
• Public Prosecutor / State Advocate,
• Legal Advisor / Legal Consultant,
• Judicial Official such as Magistrate/Judge,
• Academic – in secondary and tertiary spheres,
• Compliance Officer, and
• Mediator.

Teaching and Learning strategy

At Emeris, we believe that effective teaching is about creating experiences that foster student growth. Our academic team design activities that challenge students and identify their strengths, allowing for real-time adaptation in the learning journey. By combining subject expertise with teaching insights and digital tools, we extend learning beyond the classroom. This approach ensures students not only keep up but thrive.

On-Campus written examination venue information

• For students based in South Africa, online students may select any campus of Emeris as their Examination Centre.
• An alternative examination centre is only permissible for students studying abroad and those located in a province of South Africa where there is no Emeris campus. If there is no Emeris campus within reach, an alternative venue will need to be sourced by you. For non-Emeris venues, there is an alternative venue levy per module.

Device and connectivity specifications required for online study

• Reliable internet connection (we recommend 5-10 GB of data per month and an internet speed of at least 0.15 Mbps). 
• Desktop PC or laptop with at least an i3 processor and 4GB RAM memory.
• Windows 8 or MacOS 10.15 (Microsoft Office 365 is available as a free download for IIE Emeris students), and Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge Chromium or Firefox.
• A working webcam and microphone.
• An uninterrupted power supply is also highly recommended.
• Exams are written at an exam centre and in some instances online. These details will be specified in your programme assessment schedule.