Law course trouble

Problems have arisen as to what constitutes a full-time law course

Four law units have been reclassified by the Professorial Board for bursary purposes.

Two subjects, legal ethics and advocacy, and office administration and accounting, are courses involving 12 classes, all of which are held in February.

The classes in conveyancing and draftsmanship and the law of evidence are one hour a week, and in determining an appropriate course load each subject is regarded as being equivalent to half a degree unit.

But all four are "law subjects".

A part-time student, enrolled for these four units plus another law unit is taking "five law subjects" which in terms of the Professorial Board's ruling is a full-time course for bursary purposes.

It was decided that legal ethics and advocacy and office administration should not count as "law subjects"; and conveyancing and draftsmanship and the law of evidence should be considered half units.

These will take effect from this year.