The programme of legal education at the University of Zambia commenced at the beginning of the second academic session of the University in March 1967, with a class of thirty-seven students. Formal recognition as one of the Schools of the University was accorded to the School of Law on 1st July 1967.
The following were the objectives as approved by the University’s Senate in setting up the School.
- To join in the building and development of the legal system in Zambia and to avail the resources of the School for the welfare of the community;
- To produce Zambian lawyers that are adequately equipped to meet the legal needs of a developing country like Zambia; and
- To offer where desirable and/or required, law teaching facilities to other institutions in Zambia.
The School’s central commitment has been to the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme and it has been through this programme that it has sought to attain its objectives. The LLB programme takes four years to complete. The first year of the programme is spent in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. After which, students from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences are admitted to the School on a very competitive basis. The remaining three years of the programme are spent in the School of Law.
In Zambia, a law degree is not enough to qualify one to practice law. A further period of post graduate practical training is required. A student who has obtained an LLB degree from an accredited University proceeds to the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education which provides the professional training.
In order to meet the challenges and the changing nature of legal problems in a globalized world, the School embraced the need to enhance the traditional law School curriculum. Over the past few years, new courses like Intellectual Property Law, Human Rights Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Competition Law, Clinical Legal Education and Legal Writing have been introduced. The School has also recently revised its LL.B Programme to mainstream gender in the curricula. In 2017, the School, in conjunction with the Institute for Distance Education at the University, introduced a Bachelor of Laws degree programme by Open and Distance Learning
Furthermore, the School offers a general Master of Laws (LLM) programme. To respond to certain specialist needs and the growing demand for postgraduate studies, the School is currently in the process of finalizing specialized LLM Programmes. Additionally, the School offers Postgraduate Diplomas in International Law and Human Rights Law. It also offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law and a Post Doctorate programme in Law.
