SA law degrees scrutinised

Johannesburg - The Law Society of SA (LSSA) on Monday welcomed a review of the LLB degree brought on by the declining quality of law graduates.

"The LSSA's discussions with government and with the university law deans for the past four years regarding a review of the LLB degree have been premised on concerns about the declining quality of law graduates entering the attorneys' profession," said LSSA co-chairpersons Thoba Poyo-Dlwati and Henri van Rooyen in a statement.

Poyo-Dlwati and Van Rooyen welcomed an investigation into the degree announced by the Council of Higher Education (CHE) last month.

"We will support the CHE with its investigation and comment on the findings and recommendations to ensure the best possible outcome for the public,' said Poyo-Dlwati and Van Rooyen.

The organisation said it had invested significant funds in remedial numeracy, literacy and other training in an attempt to address some of the inadequacies which it perceived among law graduates.

It said many graduates were "unable to do simple legal research and are not able to draw up basic legal documents".

The LSSA said there were large disparities between law faculties at universities. Some faculties offered 90 law courses while others provided only 24.

- Sapa