LLB (Hons) Degree in Law

The Department of Law dates back to 1986, with the creation and authorisation of a one-year law course leading to a Certificate in Law. The first students for the new course were admitted in September 1986 and graduated in June 1987. Holders of the Certificate of the Philips College are eligible for direct entry to the second year at a number of British universities to study for the LLB degree in Law.

The Department is undergoing a period of growth and development. In this regard, new teaching staff have been recruited, students have been given new options, teaching and research links with universities in the USA and the UK have been established and closer links with cognate departments within the College have been forged. In particular, the Department has sought to cultivate a distinctive profile in European and comparative legal studies, and the study of law in its social setting.

Strong links exist between the Department and the local legal community. Several students have enjoyed periods of work experience in local law firms. Most of the teaching staff maintain their links with practice.

The Department of Law offers a four-year program leading to the LL.B. (Hons) degree in Law. The course is challenging and stimulating. The program has several distinctive features:

• students are introduced to understand law within an international context;
• students are encouraged to approach law from a European vantage point; and
• students are encouraged to study the relation between law and society.

Philosophy

The course rests on the philosophy that it should:

• maintain the Aristotelian ideal which sees education as expanding the mind while focusing on legal knowledge complemented by the development of techniques of analytical reasoning and critical evaluation;
• provide students with a sound technical ability to handle legal materials, a strong social, political and historical awareness of the dimensions of law in society, and its impact on society.  The course also seeks to contribute to debates on policy issues relating to the law;
• encourage the undertaking of the study of law, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, creed, colour, ethnic or national origin or disability.

Aims:

• to provide a sound education in law that will benefit students both educationally as well as vocationally;
• to develop the analytical, critical and intellectual skills necessary for a student of law within the modern era;
• to develop a lawyer able to operate globally, competent in English, Cypriot, European and International law;
• to offer a valuable qualification for those wishing to enter industry, commerce, education, public service or to progress into further study at postgraduate level.

Objectives

The course seeks to fulfil its stated aims by:

• developing the students’ critical appreciation of values in law and relationship between law and its environs;
• increasing the students’ sensitivity both to legal techniques and the complexities of the substantive law;
• stressing the interrelationships between the various areas of law;
• preparing students to use their analytical and research abilities and to apply their decision-making skills;
• developing the students’ personal and interpersonal skills and enabling them to participate in mooting exercises that aim to help them deliver arguments, counter arguments, write cogent arguments and experience courtroom etiquette.

Duration of Studies

The period of study for full-time students is four academic years (or eight semesters) covering both core and elective subjects.

Graduation Requirements

Students studying towards the LLB (Hons) Degree in Law are required to take a minimum of 240 ECTS. One hundred and forty (140) ECTS must come from core subjects and eighty (80) from electives.

Honours Degree

At the time of graduation, each candidate for an Honours Degree must have:

• completed successfully all the prescribed course work of the examination syllabus;
• achieved the required minimum number of credits of prescribed course work by completing successfully all core and elective subjects as required by the program of studies.

As a general rule, all students must have

• completed successfully a minimum of 240 ECTS; and secure a GPA of at least 2.00.