Choosing Your Topic
When choosing your topic keep the following important key considerations in mind:
- Does the substantive area you wish to research relate to the content covered in one/more of your courses and your chosen specialisation (if relevant)?
- Is the proposed area of research contemporary and novel?
- Is there sufficient and relevant academic resources on which you can draw to found your analysis?
- Is the scope and ambit of you proposed topic viable within the allotted word count - 25 000 words in the case of LLM/MPhil students doing a mini-dissertation along with coursework.
Choosing your Supervisor
Students are encouraged to approach a member of staff or programme convenor and propose an outline for their minor dissertation. The proposal should ideally contain the following aspects: the title; an abstract (of 400 words); the main research question and sub-questions to be addressed in the dissertation; the structure of the dissertation (with a brief description of the type of content to be included under each heading and subheading); and a provisional reading list. If the proposal is acceptable to the prospective supervisor, the student must arrange with that member of the Faculty staff to act as their supervisor.
When choosing a prospective supervisor keep the following important considerations in mind:
- Is the prospective supervisor academically competent in your anticipated area of research?
- Do you feel that the prospective supervisor will represent your interests and meet your expectations?
- Do you feel freely able to communicate with your prospective supervisor?
Registering your Topic and Supervisor
The formal appointment of your supervisor and registration of your topic is done by way of completing a Memorandum of Understanding and lodging it with the SALS Administrator (Law Faculty Office, Rm 4.48, Kramer Law Building). This Memorandum of Understanding should set out: the respective responsibilities and expectations of both supervisor and student; and the deadline for submission of the dissertation/or parts of it for comment and examination. An example of such a Memorandum, which must be signed by both you and your prospective supervisor, is attached to the Guidelines For Minor Dissertation/Research Papers. This process must be completed at the point of registration. Any subsequent change of supervisor must be similarly registered.The list of supervisors available for 2022, along with their areas of specialisation is below:
| Ms |
Carels, M |
ON SABBATICAL 2025 |
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Negotiation |
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Prof |
Chirwa, D |
International Human Rights; the Rights of the Child; Domestic implementation of Human Rights; Administrative Law; Social and Economic Rights |
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Emeritus Prof |
Corder, H |
Rm 5.42, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 3085 |
Administrative Law; the Judicial Process |
tbc |
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Ms |
Cupido, R |
ON SABBATICAL 2025 |
Contract Law, Private International Law |
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Prof |
De Vos, P Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Constitutional Governance |
Rm 5.37, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 3079 |
Constitutional Law; Current issues in Constitutional Law; Governing under the Constitution; Human Rights Law |
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Prof |
Khan, F |
Rm3.07, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5632 |
Refugee Rights |
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Prof |
Le Roux, R |
Rm 6.22, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5661 |
Labour law |
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Ms |
Lutchman, S |
Rm 5.38, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5654 |
International Law; Human Rights; Evidence; Children’s rights |
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A/Prof |
Moult, K |
Rm 6.35.1, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 2185 |
Law and society, criminal justice policy implementation, women and the law, violence against women, empirical research methods |
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Dr |
Mosaka, T |
Evidence, Criminal Jurisprudence, Decolonial studies, Criminal Law, Legal theory, Procedural law, Criminal Justice. |
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Dr |
Maphiri, MC |
Rm 5.23, Kramer Law Building |
Corporate governance, CSR, Business and Human Right, Shareholder Activism, Company law |
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Prof |
Naude, T |
Rm 4.26, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 3084 |
Contract Law, Consumer Law |
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Prof |
Ncube, C |
Rm 5.22, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 3776 |
Intellectual property law and policy; Electronic law. |
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A/Prof |
Omar, J |
Rm 6.04, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 2672 |
Criminal law; Criminal Procedure |
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Prof |
Ordor, A |
Rm 4.42, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5687 |
Law and Development, Law and Regional Integration, Civil Society and the Law of Nonprofit Institutions. |
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A/ Prof |
Osman, F |
RM 4.21 Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5654 |
Customary Law, Family lLw, Succession and Legal Pluralism. |
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Prof |
Paterson, A |
Rm 6.27, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5644 |
Environmental Law with a specific focus on biodiversity, protected areas, land use planning and incentive-based regulation |
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A/Prof |
Powell, C |
Rm 6.17, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5103 |
Public International Law, International Organisations, The Theory of International law, Separation of Powers, Terrorism |
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Dr |
Ramalekana, N |
Equality, non-discrimination, Human rRghts, Feminist Legal Theory, Critical Race Theory and Law, Constitutional Theory |
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Dist Prof |
Salazar, P |
Rm 4.24, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5610 |
Rhetoric |
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A/Prof |
Schonwetter, T |
Rm 6.21, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 2064 |
Intellectual Property Law and Policy; IT Law |
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Prof |
Schwikkard, P |
Rm 6.02, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 2087 |
Evidence, Criminal Law, Criminal Justice and Human Rights |
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Dr |
Thabane, T |
+27 21 650 5299 |
Company Law, Corporate governance, CRS, Business and Human Rights |
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A/Prof |
Tong, L-A |
Rm 5.11, Kramer Law Building +27 21 650 5686 |
Intellectual Property Law |
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A/Prof |
Woolaver, H |
Rm 5.40, Kramer Law Building +27 21 560 2493 |
Public international law generally, including international criminal law |
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