IIE Higher Certificate in Legal Studies

Overview

NB: this information was accurate at the time of publication and is valid for academic year 2024. The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) reserves the right to alter any of the content prior to commencement of registration due to changes in regulation, policy, market requirements or any other valid reason.

THE IIE HIGHER CERTIFICATE IN LEGAL STUDIES

If you're passionate about the complex and fascinating world of law and wish to pursue a fulfilling career in the legal industry, the IIE Higher Certificate in Legal Studies is the perfect choice for you to succeed in South African law. This IIE qualification is skillfully crafted to provide you with the necessary tools and knowledge required to navigate through the dynamic and multifaceted realm of law. The higher certificate is designed to equip students with a broad range of foundational legal skills, including communication, various aspects of South African law, and legal office management. However, it's important to note that the content of this Higher Certificate is not limited to individuals with an interest in the law.

MODE OF DELIVERY

Contact (Full-time): contact lectures take place during the day, on weekdays, at the following campuses:

• Braamfontein
• Bloemfontein
• Durban
• Pretoria
• Polokwane
• Nelson Mandela Bay
• Cape Town

Skills You Will Develop

Upon completion of this IIE qualification, IIE graduates will acquire a comprehensive understanding of South African law and the legal system. They will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while also gaining knowledge across a diverse range of legal and support areas.

Possible Careers

• Legal Secretary
• General Law Office-Assistant
• Clerk in Government/Private  Offices
• Paralegal/Attorneys Assistant
• Clerks of the Court
• Legal Clerk
• Legal Research Assistant

Qualification Accreditation

Your qualification has weight!

The IIE Higher Certificate in Legal Studies is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) as a 120-credit qualification on Level 5 (SAQA ID No: 94696). 

On successful completion, you will receive an IIE Higher Certificate in Legal Studies from The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), a leading registered private provider of higher education in South Africa.

Important Information

To be awarded this qualification, a minimum final year mark of 50% for each module must be achieved.

We've got your back!

All our IIE Rosebank College registered students get free software. The software includes and is not limited to MS Excel, MS Project, MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Outlook, which come with Office 365 bundle. Students can  access the software online using their RCCONNECT email addresses on office 365 or visit the campus IT Department to get FTP access to download the software.

DEVICE REQUIREMENTS 
To get the best out of the blended learning experience, you will need the following minimum requirements: a computer or laptop with WI-FI, Windows 10 or higher, Intel Pentium 4 Processor or Higher, 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or a System on a Chip (SoC), 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit (Or Higher) for your RAM, 16 GB for 32-bit OS 32 GB for 64-bit OS (or Higher) Hard Drive space, DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver for your Graphics card, and a Screen Resolution of a minimum 1280 x 800

Admission Requirements

Minimum Admission Requirements

Senate Discretionary Admissions

Mature Age Admission - 23 years and older

Candidates must have attempted the Senior Certificate or equivalent, attained the age of 23 before or during the first year of registration with three years’ work experience and proven ability relating to the proposed programme as well as adequate communication skills.

Mature Age Admission - 45 years and older

Candidates must have attained the age of 45 before or during the first year of registration.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Where candidates do not satisfy the formal admission requirements for this qualification, The IIE may consider an admission application in terms of the Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning and Qualification Completion Policy (IIE010).

If applicant does not meet minimum admission requirements and there is no alternative (such as completion of NQP modules) but they have relevant experience, the following must be requested to consider admission via RPL:
1. Certificates for all formal (Accredited Higher Education qualifications) and/or informal qualifications/modules (SLP’s, Microcredentials etc). SAQA certificates must be provided for any international qualifications.
2. CV to determine whether the following are related to the qualification that the applicant is applying for:
a. Formal (Accredited Higher Education qualifications) and/or informal qualifications/modules (SLP’s, Microcredentials etc)
b. Relevant work experience.

General Education Development (GED) - An USA qualification developed by the American Council on Education (ACE).

Candidates with a GED qualification may be admitted if they have a SAQA Evaluation Certificate with NSC L4 equivalence, a minimum score of 165 out of 200 for Reasoning through Language Arts and a minimum of 145 out of 200 for each of the other GED subjects (Mathematical Reasoning, Social Studies and Science).

OQSF Qualifications

Candidates with an OQSF Level 4 120-credit cognate qualification may be admitted once assessed and approved by the relevant Head of Faculty.

IEB International Secondary Certificate

Candidates must have achieved Higher Certificate pass and meet the additional admission criteria (where applicable). A SAQA Certificate of Evaluation with NQF L4 equivalence is required.

Course Outline

Modules

Pathways

The Independent Institute of Education (THE IIE) offers you the opportunity to start with a higher certificate and progress into a diploma or degree.  There are several pathways offered by The IIE at IIE Rosebank College, that enable access to higher-level qualifications.  Speak to the student advisor for more information.