Labour Dispute Resolution Practice

The LLM in Law Dispute Resolution Practice (LDRP) aims to contribute to the transformation and capacity building in the labour dispute resolution sector.

Overview

New field.

The LLM in LRDP will be of interest to labour lawyers, commissioners, labour bargaining council panellists or those wishing to enhance their industrial relations/dispute resolution skills. LDRP courses focuses on mediation, conciliation, labour arbitration and collective labour law.

Curriculum

The following four compulsory courses, two of which must be completed at core ** level and two at non-core level:

  • Advanced Individual Labour Law (Core)
  • Advanced Collective Labour Law (Core)
  • Labour Arbitration (Non-core) * (1-week course during office hours - please consult Mandela Institute webpage for timing and duration of course)
  • Mediation and Conciliation  (Non-core) * (1-week course during office hours - please consult Mandela Institute webpage for timing and duration of course)

* Course subject to the following prerequisite(s):

  • Labour Law (LAWS4053;LAWS4066A) or an equivalent course at undergraduate level;
  • or  Advanced Individual Labour Law and Advanced Collective Labour Law
  • or Certificates of Competence in Individual Labour Law Practice and  in Collective Labour Law Practice and Jurisdiction

Note that candidates who have not completed these prerequisites prior to commencing this programme, will have to register for this programme on a part-time basis. Such candidates will only be able to complete these courses in their second year of study, after having completed Advanced Individual Labour Law and Advanced Collective Labour Law in the first year of study.

**  Core courses

A core course covers the same content as a non-core course, but students must complete an additional research component, counting for 50% of the final mark for the core course.

Entry Requirements

  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with an average mark of 70 percent. If you have an LLB with an average mark of between 65% and 70%, you may be considered for admission.
  • However, you may be requested to submit a sample of academic writing which, in the sole discretion of the School of Law, demonstrates your ability to perform legal research and produce writing of a high standard, including the ability to think conceptually, footnote and reference properly, and communicate effectively in writing.
  • Such evidence could, for instance, consist of a legal publication or a law essay written by you during your LLB that received a high mark. This sample should not be submitted together with your application – if needed, the School will request the sample from you once your application has been marked as complete.
  • We admit only law graduates and legal professionals who have the interest, ability and time to conduct research at an advanced academic level. Entry to the programme is limited.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place.

University Application Process

  • Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
  • Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.