Blantyre International University BACHELOR OF LAWS (LLB) HOUNORS

Blantyre International University BACHELOR OF LAWS (LLB) HOUNORS

BACHELOR OF LAWS (LLB) HOUNORS
Programme Mission
First and foremost, law is an academic discipline which is studied with a view to furthering modern understanding of its origins, growth and its interaction with related disciplines such as economics, politics, sociology and history. Law also has a practical aspect which is studied with a view to enabling students to become practising lawyers and advocates.
While the studying of law is stimulating in its own right, it is also a smart career move. A law degree is a first and necessary step if you want to practise law professionally. It is also an asset for many careers that are not directly related to law. For instance, roles in finance, human resources, local government or general management all benefit from a legal background, whether in corporate business, local and central government or the voluntary sector.
Legal qualifications are not just for lawyers! Law is relevant to everyone, not just those who work within the legal profession. It can be studied as an academic discipline in its own right as well as being the stepping-stone to a law career. Law provides the framework within which society operates, regulating almost all aspects of our lives. It is therefore of direct interest to all of us.
Aims of the Programme
The aim of this degree programme is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and attributes fit in them to take their place in their chosen career path and to prepare them for the practice of law and also for work and service to a broad range of sectors. The programme seeks to do that by imparting a strong appreciation both of the rule of law and role of law in its social, economic, environmental and political contexts. In addition, it aims to  enable to understand the significance of the law for ensuring stable government, economic prosperity and the protection and preservation of individual and cultural rights and the protection of the environment. Furthermore, it seeks to empower students by instilling core skills for life, including a capacity for lifelong learning, an ability to critically evaluate, a strong ethical commitment, strong analytical and problem solving skills, good written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
Objectives of the Programme
The objectives of this degree programme are to enable students to:
a) understand, identify, use, and evaluate rules, concepts, and principles of law, their derivation, and the various theories that systematise them;
b) acquire the techniques of legal reasoning and argument, in oral and written form;
c) acquire knowledge of the institutions of the law, and their social, economic and political context;
d) to find the law, to carry out independent research and analysis, and to think creatively about legal problems;
e) have a continuing interest in law and obtain satisfaction from its study and practice;
f) develop a critical interest in the reform of the law;
g) know the responsibilities of lawyers to the courts, the legal profession, the community and individuals within it;
h) be committed to the promotion  justice;
i) practice law at the bar;
j) work as law officers for the State;
k) work as corporate lawyers; and
l) work as legal advisors to non governmental organizations.
Justification
Malawi is a developing country with a huge deficit in human resources. The legal profession is one of the areas with such a glaring deficit.  This yawning gap in supply and demand for legal services must be read against the realization that law is one of the critical instruments for human transformation and development. There is currently only one university offering legal training at degree level in Malawi. It is therefore in the interests of the rule of law, good governance, social and economic justice that more lawyers be trained and to make justice more accessible to the poor.
Career Prospects
There is a wide spectrum of opportunities for people with law degrees both in Malawi and the wider world. Such individuals can work for the State in various ministries as legal advisors, state counsel, public prosecutors, magistrates, and indeed as judges of both the High Court and the Supreme Court. They can also work in private firms as legal practitioners and may eventually manage their own private legal firms. They can also serve on a variety of tribunals and other statutory bodies.
Candidates may also work for NGOs, and various international bodies, tribunals and commissions such as the United Nations tribunals and those of the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to name but a few. Candidates can also practice law on their own account.
COURSE CURRICULLUM 
FIRST YEAR
Semester 1
Law111:     Introduction to Law
Law 112:    Constitutional and Administrative Law
Law 113:    Law of Torts
Semester 2
Law 121:  Law of Contract
Law 122:  Criminal Law:
Law 123:  Media Law/ Law 124: Gender and Law (optional courses)
SECOND YEAR
Semester 1
Law 211:  Family Law
Law 212:  Property Law
Law 213:  Law of Trusts
Semester 2
Law 221:  Law of Succession
Law 222:  Public International Law
Law 223:  Law of Business Organizations
THIRD YEAR
Semester 1
Law 311:  Commercial and Consumer Law
Law 312:  Insurance Law/Labour Law(optional courses)
Law 313:  Customary Law
Law 314:  Human Rights Law
Semester 2
Law 321:  Conflict of Laws/ Law 326: Environmental Law(optional courses)
Law 322:  International Trade Law
Law 323:  Intellectual property Law
Law 324:  Jurisprudence
FOURTH YEAR
Semester 1
Law 411:  Evidence Advocacy and Ethics
Law 412:  Civil Procedure
Law 413:  Legal Drafting and Conveyancing
Law 414:  Clinical Legal Education
Semester 2
Law 421:  Criminal Procedure
Law 422:  Accounting and taxation
Law 423:  Dissertation