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Centre for Law and Society

The Centre for Law & Society is focused on the challenges facing contemporary South Africa at the intersection of law and society. The Centre runs an excellent programme of talks, seminars, workshops, film screenings and discussions.
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Democratic Governance and Rights Unit

The Democratic Governance and Rights Unit focuses on supporting judicial governance and providing free access to legal resources in Africa, with related projects such as the Judicial Institute of Africa and AfricaLII.
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Land and Accountability Research Centre

Land rights form the main focus of the Land and Accountability Research Centre, which provides strategic support to struggles for the recognition and protection of rights and living customary law in the former homeland areas of South Africa
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Refugee Rights Unit

The Refugee Rights Unit provides direct legal services to thousands of refugees and asylum seekers in the Western Cape each year; conducts research in refugee law and related topics; teaches refugee law to undergraduate and postgraduate...
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Welcome to Public Law

Associate Professor Cathleen Powell
Assoc Prof Cathleen Powell
Head of Department

Public Law is the field of law focused on the relationship between individuals and government.  

Engaged in research and teaching in an exciting range of key public law areas, staff in the Department of Public Law are also members of Faculty research units.  Areas of expertise in the Department include (amongst other areas) Law & Society; Constitutional Law; Criminal Justice; Criminology; Human Rights; Governance & the Judiciary; Refugee Rights; Land issues; Access to Case Law; Administrative Law; and Marine & Environmental Law.

Cosmopolitan in terms of staff and student composition, the Department is known for its cutting edge research in specialised areas of Public Law. Staff are involved in exploring, educating and advising in areas associated with human rights, good governance and criminal justice, not just in the classroom but also on popular media platforms such as blogs, news op eds and social media.

The Department of Public Law does much of its socially responsive work through its active and engaged research units, focused on key issues related to Law.  These units include:

  1. The Land and Accountability Research Unit
  2. The Centre for Law & Society
  3. The Democratic Governance and Rights Unit
  4. The Refugee Rights Unit
  5. The Institute of Marine and Environmental Law
  6. The Centre of Criminology

 

Faculty Handbook The Nelson Mandela Rules - Model Act