UWC Faculty Of Law, The history of the UWC Law Faculty starts with the establishment in 1960 of the University College of the Western Cape as a constituent college of the University of South Africa. A Department of Law was established in the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy in 1970, which presented the BA (law) and LLB degrees. A B.Com (law) degree was at the time presented by the Department of Commerce. In 1973 the Faculty of Commerce and Law was established. The Law Faculty became an independent faculty on 1 January 1979 when the Faculty of Commerce and Law was divided in two: the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and the Faculty of Law. The Law Faculty was first located in what is now the Education building, then in a ‘Prefab’ building which burned down, and later in what is now the ‘Old Arts’ building. In 1992 the Faculty moved to the current ‘law’ building. The Faculty today has approximately 2100 students (about 250 of whom are postgraduate students) and 104 staff members, 44 of which are permanent academic appointments.
Mission, vision and values
Mission statement
The Faculty of Law is an intellectually vigorous, engaged and diverse faculty, with a vibrant culture of research, teaching and social engagement.
Vision statement
The Faculty of Law is committed to being a prominent law faculty, renowned nationally and internationally for its high quality research publications, specifically in certain niche areas, for its innovative ideas, for developing graduates within the minimum prescribed time who are committed to social justice, and are furthermore well-qualified, workplace-ready, technologically equipped and have adaptive expertise for the 21st century, as well as for its extensive social engagement.
Values
The core values which the Faculty staff and students embrace are the pursuit of justice; ethical conduct and integrity; respect for diversity; transparency and accountability in decision-making; and excellence in research and teaching.
To this end the Faculty aims to:
- be the first choice South African law faculty for prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students by offering a relevant and innovative legal education steeped in a culture of human rights and constitutionalism;
- make a quality legal education available to students from disadvantaged communities;
- provide an excellent all round student experience, through access to outreach activities, student societies, mentoring and support;
- foster a culture of academic discipline and excellence amongst students in order to establish itself as a leading research faculty;
- engender co-operation with regional and international academic and research partners –
Our Ethos
The UWC Law Faculty has a long tradition of breaking barriers and constraints while striving for justice and equality. The Faculty remains infused with a sense of community duty and public spirit: its various centres and projects focus on enhancing the wellbeing of all people in South Africa and Africa through innovation and engagement.
CONTACT DETAILS
Ms. A Rhoda
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville
South Africa
7535
Tel. +27 (0) 21 959 3291
Web : www.ac.za/law
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