The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa
Current debates about legal education in South Africa have revealed the perception that the LLB curriculum does not adequately integrate various outcomes, in particular outcomes relating to the development of skills in communication, problem solving, ethics, and in general a holistic view of the law...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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North-West University
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.nwu.ac.za/sites/www.nwu.ac.za/files/files/p-per/issuepages/2014volume17no4/2014%2817%294Quinot%26vanTonder.article.pdf |
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| author | Geo Quinot SP van Tonder |
| author_facet | Geo Quinot SP van Tonder |
| author_sort | Geo Quinot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current debates about legal education in South Africa have revealed the perception that the LLB curriculum does not adequately integrate various outcomes, in particular outcomes relating to the development of skills in communication, problem solving, ethics, and in general a holistic view of the law in practice. One mechanism that has been mooted as a potential remedy to this situation is capstone courses, which will consolidate and integrate the four years of study in the final year and build a bridge to the world of practice. A literature review on capstone courses and learning experiences (collectively referred to as capstones) indicates that these curriculum devices as modes of instruction offer particular pedagogical advantages. These include inculcating a strong perception of coherence across the curriculum and hence discipline in students, providing the opportunity for students to reflect on their learning during the course of the entire programme, creating an opportunity to engage with the complexity of law and legal practice, and guiding students through the transition from university to professional identity. An empirical analysis of the modes of instruction used in LLB curricula at 13 South African law faculties/schools indicates that there are six categories of existing modules or learning experiences that already exhibit elements of capstone-course design. These are clinics, internships, moots, research projects, topical capstones and capstone assessment. A further comparative study into foreign law curricula in especially Australia and the United States of America reveals four further noteworthy approaches to capstone-course design, namely problem-based learning, the virtual office, conferences and remedies courses. The empirical study suggests that capstones indeed hold the potential as learning experiences to address some of the challenges facing legal education in South Africa but that further development of this curriculum-design element is required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:01:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56ef864a590645089da50c5ac88a0b4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1727-3781 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:01:46Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | North-West University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-56ef864a590645089da50c5ac88a0b4c2022-12-22T00:15:05ZafrNorth-West UniversityPotchefstroom Electronic Law Journal1727-37812014-11-0117413491390http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/pelj.v17i4.05The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South AfricaGeo Quinot0SP van Tonder1Stellenbosch UniversityUniversity of the Free StateCurrent debates about legal education in South Africa have revealed the perception that the LLB curriculum does not adequately integrate various outcomes, in particular outcomes relating to the development of skills in communication, problem solving, ethics, and in general a holistic view of the law in practice. One mechanism that has been mooted as a potential remedy to this situation is capstone courses, which will consolidate and integrate the four years of study in the final year and build a bridge to the world of practice. A literature review on capstone courses and learning experiences (collectively referred to as capstones) indicates that these curriculum devices as modes of instruction offer particular pedagogical advantages. These include inculcating a strong perception of coherence across the curriculum and hence discipline in students, providing the opportunity for students to reflect on their learning during the course of the entire programme, creating an opportunity to engage with the complexity of law and legal practice, and guiding students through the transition from university to professional identity. An empirical analysis of the modes of instruction used in LLB curricula at 13 South African law faculties/schools indicates that there are six categories of existing modules or learning experiences that already exhibit elements of capstone-course design. These are clinics, internships, moots, research projects, topical capstones and capstone assessment. A further comparative study into foreign law curricula in especially Australia and the United States of America reveals four further noteworthy approaches to capstone-course design, namely problem-based learning, the virtual office, conferences and remedies courses. The empirical study suggests that capstones indeed hold the potential as learning experiences to address some of the challenges facing legal education in South Africa but that further development of this curriculum-design element is required.http://www.nwu.ac.za/sites/www.nwu.ac.za/files/files/p-per/issuepages/2014volume17no4/2014%2817%294Quinot%26vanTonder.article.pdfLegal educationLLBcapstone coursecapstone learning experiencecurriculumcurriculum designcomparative educationcontent analysis |
| spellingShingle | Geo Quinot SP van Tonder The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal Legal education LLB capstone course capstone learning experience curriculum curriculum design comparative education content analysis |
| title | The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa |
| title_full | The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa |
| title_short | The Potential of Capstone Learning Experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in LLB Training in South Africa |
| title_sort | potential of capstone learning experiences in addressing perceived shortcomings in llb training in south africa |
| topic | Legal education LLB capstone course capstone learning experience curriculum curriculum design comparative education content analysis |
| url | http://www.nwu.ac.za/sites/www.nwu.ac.za/files/files/p-per/issuepages/2014volume17no4/2014%2817%294Quinot%26vanTonder.article.pdf |
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