Graduate profile, Bachelor of Laws, University of Jaffna

The Department of Law will produce graduates who:

• are competent in the field of law, aware of comparative perspectives and understand the interaction between law and other academic disciplines.
• possess the core legal skills necessary to practice law in Sri Lanka either by way of litigation and/or non-litigation such as working in the private sector, non- governmental sector et al )
• apply legal skills towards problem solving, policy making and other related relevant interventions at the local, national or global levels.
• develop a critical and empathetic perspective of the law in terms of relationship with plural notions of justice, impact on societies and are committed to using their skills to help the marginalized in society
• are passionate about justice, empathetic, aware of the impact of the law on society, sensitive to the needs of different communities in Sri Lanka and committed to using their skills to help the marginalized in society.

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Graduate attributes

Having completed the LLB, graduates will possess the following capabilities:

• Demonstrate knowledge in law
• Identify the applicable law in a given situation: Accurately identify the applicable statutory, case law and legal principles so as to correctly apply the law on a given issue.
• Develop skills to effectively articulate legal arguments: Advance arguments for legal interpretation based on sound legal research and legal writing skills.
• Adopt a holistic approach to resolving legal problems: Analyse a legal problem and, having taken into account its legal, historical, social, political and economic context, propose a meaningful solution to the said problem.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage in life-long learning for professional and personal development: Advance and update their knowledge and skills in order to progress in a professional and personal capacity.
• Adapt to a plural environment: Understand the dynamics of a multicultural, multilingual, multi-religious environment in order to promote justice and peace.
• Determined to seek justice and to apply the law to assist the marginalised: Determined to seeking justice through the law, empathising with the needs of the marginalised, and finding legal solutions to their problems.

Graduate of bachelor of laws, university of Jaffna able to improve analytical skills, Independently handling issue, lifelong learning, debating, self-management, free from bias, presentation skills, interpersonal skills and team working throughout their life.

Graduate of bachelor of laws, university of Jaffna with this skills able to become Lawyer, Academics, legal advisor, Notary public, company secretary, and joint legal advisor wherever relevant field required.

Each academic year of the Degree Programme shall consist of two Semesters with lectures, discussion, tutorials, legal clinics etc being conducted for Course Units offered for that year. In-Course Assessments and End-of-Course Examinations shall be conducted for each Course Unit during the course of the Semester and at the end of the Semester respectively.

Instruction in each Course Unit at each year of the Degree Programme takes the form of lectures, tutorials, discussions, workshops, seminars, legal clinics, assignments, research, presentation of papers, demonstration, self-study exercises and/or any other forms approved by the Faculty Board. The Faculty Board shall have authority to decide the courses to be taught and the method(s) of imparting instruction in each Semester.

The performance of a student shall be evaluated through a system of in-course assessment such as Mid-Semester Examination as well as an end-of-course assessment such as Semester Examination in respect of each Course Unit.

The in-course assessment shall be based on the performance of the students at Take-Home Assignments, Term Papers, Class Room Tests, Seminars, Demonstrations, Performances, Recitals, Workshops, Tutorials, Legal Clinics, Projects, Paper-Presentations, Mid-Semester Examination and/or any other form of exercise decided by the Faculty Board.

Semester Examination

A Semester Examination shall be conducted in respect of all the course units at the end of the Semester after the completion of the teaching allocated for that Semester.

A student shall not be permitted to take a Semester Examination unless the Head of the Department has certified that s/he has satisfied the requirements of the relevant Course Units, including regular attendance at classes and submission of assignments at the appropriate time, as prescribed by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Board.

It shall be the responsibility and duty of the students to attend and participate at not less than 80% , of all the different forms of instructions employed for a given course.

No student shall keep away from attending the different forms of instructions for more than three consecutive days without informing and obtaining the written approval of the Head of the Department.

Importance of English Language

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Laws degree is designed to be taught in English medium. Though the university offers course units in English and assess the knowledge in English for a period of 3 years continuously through English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC), the students are expected to take extra steps to enhance the competency in English Language so that they could continue with the study programme with confidence.

After successfully completing the LL.B Degree at the Department of Law, University of Jaffna, in order to become a lawyer, law graduates have to pass the Final Examination conducted by the Sri Lanka Law College, which is administered by the Council of Legal Education. LL.B graduates are exempted only from the Preliminary and Intermediate Examinations.

Once the Final Examination of the Law College is completed, students have to undergo a period of six month apprenticeship with a senior lawyer, in addition to following the practical training programme conducted by the Law College.