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:

     

    Title

    Name

    Contact details

    Areas of Supervision

    Available in 2022

    Ms

    Ally, N

    nurina.ally@uct.ac.za

    Public interest litigation, right to education, children’s rights, administrative law

    Yes

    Prof

    Amien, W

    Waheeda.Amien@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.41, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5885

    Family Law and Human Rights, Religion, Gender and Women’s Rights, Muslim Family Law, Legal Pluralism, International Human Rights Law.

    Yes

    Prof

    Barnard-Naude, J

    Aj.barnard-naude@uct.ac.za

    Transitional Justice, Critical Legal Theory, Jurisprudence, Fairness in Contract Law, Queer Legal Theory, Law and Sexuality, Spatial Justice, Law & Literature

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Barratt, A

    amanda.barratt@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.30, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 3083

    Women and Law, and Feminist Jurisprudence Family Law Children's Law International Human Rights Law, particularly that based on the ICESCR (economic, social, and cultural rights) or the Women's Convention.

    On sabbatical

    Ms

    Baase, M

    mathabo.baase@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.15, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 7039

    Child Law; Customary Law; South African Legal History 

    Yes

    Dr

    Boonzaier, L

    leo.boonzaier@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.31, Kramer Law Building

    Delict; Private Law Theory; General Jurisprudence; Constitutional Theory

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Bradfield, G

    graham.bradfield@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.01, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 2676

    Admiralty jurisdiction; Shipping law; International Law of the Sea; Contract law, including specific or applied contracts; International payments and guarantees; Insolvency; Secured Transactions, and Insurance law.

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Calland, R

    Richard.Calland@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.35, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5606

    Accountable Government; Access to Information; Whistle Blowing Legislation; Constitutional Law; Public Ethics

    Yes

    Ms

    Carels, M

    Monique.Carels@uct.ac.za 

    Rm 5.06, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 3066

    Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation and Negotiation

    Yes

    Prof

    Chirwa, D

    Danwood.Chirwa@uct.ac.za

    International Human Rights; the Rights of the Child; Domestic implementation of Human Rights; Administrative Law; Social and Economic Rights

    No

    Emeritus Prof

    Corder, H

    Hugh.Corder@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.42, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 3085

    Administrative Law; the Judicial Process

    tbc

    Ms

    Cupido, R

    robin.cupido@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.19, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 1750

    Contract Law, Private International Law

    Yes

    Prof

    De Vos, P

    Claude Leon Foundation Chair in Constitutional Governance

    Pierre.Devos@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.37, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 3079

    Constitutional Law; Current issues in Constitutional Law; Governing under the Constitution; Human Rights Law

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Hutchison, A

    andrew.hutchison@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.08,  Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5613

    specific contracts – particularly credit agreements and insurance; secured transactions; and insolvency (excluding business rescue). Topics with a focus on decolonisation; have a legal pluralism angle; deal with the constitutionalisation of contract law; or which involve contract theory are particularly welcome.

    Yes

    Prof

    Khan, F

    Fatima.Khan@uct.ac.za

    Rm3.07, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5632

    Refugee Rights

    Yes

    Ms

    Kohn, L

    Lm.Kohn@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.39, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5692

    Constitutional Law; Administrative Law

    Yes

    Prof

    Le Roux, R

    rochelle.leroux@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.22, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5661

    Labour law

    Yes

    Ms

    Lutchman, S

    Salona.Lutchman@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.38, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5654

    International Law; Human Rights; Evidence; Children’s rights

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Moult, K

    Kelley.Moult@uct.ac.za

    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

    Yes

    Dr

    Mosaka, T

    Tshepo.mosaka@uct.ac.za

    Evidence, Criminal Jurisprudence, Decolonial studies, Criminal Law, Legal theory, Procedural law, Criminal Justice.

    Yes

    Ms

    Maphiri, MC

    mikovhe.maphiri@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.23, Kramer Law Building

    Corporate governance, CSR, Business and Human Right, Shareholder Activism, Company law

    Yes

    Prof

    Naude, T

    Tjakie.naude@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.26, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 3084

    Contract Law, Consumer Law

    Yes

    Prof

    Ncube, C

    caroline.ncube@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.22, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 3776

    Intellectual property law and policy; Electronic law.

    Yes

    Ms

    Omar, J

    Jameelah.Omar@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.04, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 2672

    Criminal law; Criminal Procedure

    Yes

    Prof

    Ordor, A

    ada.ordor@uct.ac.za

    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.

    Yes

    A/ Prof

    Osman, F

    Fatima.Osman@uct.ac.za

    RM 4.21 Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5654

    Customary Law, Family lLw, Succession and Legal Pluralism.

    Yes

    Prof

    Paterson, A

    Alexander.Paterson@uct.ac.za

    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

    Yes

    Ms

    Phelps, K

    Kelly.Phelps@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.32, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5625

    Substantive criminal law, especially the principle of legality and sexual offences; topics on the Constitution and criminal justice; punishment theory and practice; sentencing

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Powell, C

    Cathleen.Powell@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.17, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5103

    Public International Law, International Organisations, The Theory of International law, Separation of Powers, Terrorism

    Yes

    Dr

    Ramalekana, N

    nomfundo.ramalekana@uct.ac.za

    Equality, non-discrimination, Human rRghts, Feminist Legal Theory, Critical Race Theory and Law, Constitutional Theory

    Yes

    Dist Prof 

    Salazar, P

    philippe.salazar@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.24, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5610

    Rhetoric

    Yes

    Mr

    Samuels, A

    alton.samuels@uct.ac.za

    Rm 4.32, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5217

    Law of Property (Nuisance, Neighbour Law, Constitutional Property Law) & Law of Succession

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Schonwetter, T

    Tobias.schonwetter@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.21, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 2064

    Intellectual Property Law and Policy; IT Law

    Yes

    Prof

    Schwikkard, P

    Pamela.Schwikkard@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.02, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 2087

    Evidence, Criminal Law, Criminal  Justice and Human Rights

    Yes

    Prof

    Smythe, D

    Dee.Smythe@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.41, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5680

    Most topics relating to criminal justice practice and policy.  Law and society and most topics relating to women and law

    Yes

    Dr

    Thabane, T

    tebello.thabane@uct.ac.za

    +27 21 650 5299

    Company Law, Corporate governance, CRS, Business and Human Rights

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Tong, L-A

    Lee-ann.Tong@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.11, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 5686

    Intellectual Property Law

    Yes

    A/Prof

    Woolaver, H

    Hannah.Woolaver@uct.ac.za

    Rm 5.40, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 560 2493

    Public international law generally, including international criminal law

    Yes

    Prof

    Van der Spuy, E

    Elrena.VanderSpuy@uct.ac.za

    Rm 6.33, Kramer Law Building

    +27 21 650 2988

    Policing (public); Police Reform; History of criminal justice reform; Crime and Criminology; Victims and Victimology

    Yes