The LL.B Degree programme is a four-year academic programme. Under the programme, a student studies nineteen (19) law subjects within a span of four academic years. The four academic years of the LL.B Degree programme are called the Bachelor of Laws Degree Year I, Year II, Year III, and Year IV respectively.

Revision of the current curriculum is in progress and will be introduced in the near future. However, the programme which was revised in 1996 has the following features:

  • Several new subjects were introduced and the total number of lecture hours for certain subjects was reduced in order to enable undergraduates to carry out independent research and study.
  • A subject called Legal Method was introduced in Year I to familiarise undergraduates with areas such as legal history, the legal profession, how to carry out research, how to read cases, and how to write a research paper. Undergraduates are strongly advised to make use of the study skills and opportunities provided by this subject and to actively interact with the lecturer concerned.
  • Another change was that Public International Law was made compulsory for Year III law undergraduates.
  • To provide knowledge in the area of Commercial Law, new subjects such as International Investment Law, Business Law and Intellectual Property Law have been introduced under this programme.

Interpretation of Statutes and Documents, and Evidence and Procedure were made compulsory electives in the Year III; and Human Rights Law and Environmental Law have been made compulsory electives in the 4th Year. Accordingly, in the 3rd Year you must study either Interpretation of Statutes and Documents or Evidence and Procedure; and in the 4th Year you must study Human Rights Law or Environmental Law. The idea was that all undergraduates must study a course which has a practical basis in the 3rd Year and that all undergraduates in the 4th Year should study a course which will make them socially responsible citizens. Please refer the section on “Subjects Offered.”

 

New optional subjects were introduced and teaching methodology was revised to encourage more student participation in class and to reduce the dependence on lecture notes.