Llb handbook university of nairobi

TITLE: BACHELOR OF LAWS

COURSE DURATION – Four (4) Years

SCHEDULE OF INTAKE : (Once a year) SEPTEMBER

PHILOSOPHY

The programme is underpinned by ‘The University of Nairobi’s Philosophy which is guided by the need to connect and inspire the Kenyan community, to provide leadership and stewardship and to give hope and faith to the Kenyan society that it can excel in whatever it chooses to do with passion, moral responsibility and a strong sense of patriotism.

RATIONALE

The Faculty of Law through this programme seeks to train lawyers exposed to different spheres of transdisciplinary knowledge, and who understand the varying social, political and economic contexts in which the law operates. To produce lawyers who appreciate and can engage competently in these contexts, the Faculty of Law will offer courses that continually imbue exemplary transdisciplinary scholarship and research competence organized around the following four thematic areas:

1. Financial and Commercial Law;
2. Human Rights, Democracy, Governance and Law;
3. Environmental Law; and
4. International Law.

These thematic areas will be the embryonic foundation for centres of excellence to facilitate research, enhance pedagogy, and contribute to national, regional and international discourses.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the programme, the learner should be able to:

1. Apply the theories, principles and rules to the sociopolitical and economic foundations and transdisciplinary perspectives of the law
2. Evaluate the nature, manifestations and linkages of the regional and international geopolitical and legal orders.
3. Bear responsibility for the national heritage and have a practical and intellectual interest in nation-building.
4. Appraise how technology interacts with law.
5. Have integrity and are committed to service beyond self.
6. Are practice-ready, analytical, holistic problem solvers, independent and empowered thinkers and effective communicators.

MODE OF DELIVERY

Face to Face Mode

Lectures, lecture discussions, class presentations, seminars, tutorials, case studies, fieldwork, role plays, simulations, students–teacher consultation, supervised independent studies, group projects, guest speakers.

Open, Distance Learning and e-learning Mode

Application of written self-instruction study modules, mediated technical learning materials, for example, audiovisual, video conferencing and e-learning platforms and online learning that utilizes video-conferencing, e-learning portals and other technological innovations

Blended Mode

Application of a combination of both face-to-face and online delivery of courses, integrating both formal and informal modes of delivery.

How to Apply: Click here

Contacts of Support persons

GOALS OF THE PROGRAMME

The goals of this programme are to:

1. Expose learners to the socio-economic, political and cultural context within which law operates;
2. Train students to be analytical and holistic problem solvers as well as critical thinkers. The curriculum trains students to be able to solve problems beyond the courtroom and to respond to the needs of society;
3. Train learners to not only focus on the content of the law but also the business of the law;
4. Equip the learner with values of human rights, the rule of law, sustainable development and norms of governance established by the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Admission Requirements

The following shall be eligible for admission:

1. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) or its equivalent recognized by Senate and the Council of Legal Education with a mean grade of C+ and a B (plain) in English or Kiswahili at KCSE; or other qualifying grades equivalent to B plain as approved by Senate and the Council of Legal Education; OR
2. Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) or its equivalent from an institution recognized by Senate and the Council of Legal Education with at least three principal passes of “C” and
   • A s ubsidiary pass in the general paper; and
   • A grade of “B” (plain) or credit “4” in English at O level; OR
3. Diploma in Law with a credit pass from an institution recognized by Senate and accredited by the Council of Legal Education and a mean grade of C (plain) and a B (plain) in English or Kiswahili at KCSE; (the diploma should have lasted for a minimum of 2 taught years); OR
4. Degree in any field from a university recognized by Senate or the Council of Legal Education; OR
5. Qualification equivalent to that in (1), (2), (3) or (4) as determined by Senate or the Council of Legal Education.

Credit Transfer and Exemptions

The following rules shall apply to credit transfer and exemption:

1. The University of Nairobi policy on academic credit transfer and exemption shall apply.
2. Any candidate who has a relevant qualification not covered by these regulations may with the approval of the Senate be exempted up to a maximum of one-third of the courses offered in the programme.
3. The following categories of applicants may seek exemptions:

• A candidate who has followed the prescribed course of instruction in the relevant course unit and passed the applicable examination at the University of Nairobi;
• A candidate who has followed a course of instruction in a course unit that subsumes the current content of the relevant course unit and passed the applicable examination in the course units at the University of Nairobi;
• A candidate who has followed the prescribed course of instruction in the relevant course unit and passed the applicable examination at any other University recognized by Senate;
• A candidate who has followed a course of instruction in a subject which subsumes the current content of the relevant course unit and passed the applicable examination in the course unit at any other University recognized by the Senate;
• A candidate who has passed a law examination administered by a recognized professional body of repute and based on a curriculum the content of which is not less exhaustive than that of the University of Nairobi with regard to the course unit;

Attachment Opportunities and Careers:

While law graduates are well-suited for specific legal careers, studying a law degree does not limit you to roles specifically in this field. Like other social science subjects, the academic challenges provided by law degrees can be good preparation for a broad range of different career paths. Other sectors you might consider as a law graduate include: accountancy, banking, business and management, commerce, finance, government, HR and recruitment, journalism, marketing and PR, media, politics, publishing, teaching, the civil service, not-for-profit and NGOs, or think tanks and policy development.

Examples of opportunities for lawyers -

• Advocates - lawyers who are admitted to the Bar as advocates of the High Court and are employed in law firms, engage in private practice, or work as in-house counsel. They usually advise clients, or employers about their legal matters and how to move forward.
• Judicial officers - magistrates and judges employed by the Judiciary whose main responsibility is the resolution of different types of legal disputes.
• Lawyers may also work for international organisations such as the UN, AU and utilise their skills to serve the needs of the employer.
• Lawyers may also return to the University to teach as lecturers and eventually become professors.
• Lawyers have an important role to play in civil society in Kenya across various areas of interest.

This is a small sample of opportunities. There are very many opportunities for lawyers. Keep an eye out for the University of Nairobi Open Day to learn more about this.