The Department of Public Law at the University of the Free State is a leading academic department committed to excellence in legal education, research, and community engagement. Since 1 January 2015, the department has been responsible for teaching more than half of the LLB curriculum, offering foundational, substantive, procedural, and practice-orientated modules that prepare graduates for the legal profession.
The department's academic and research expertise spans Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights Law, Public International Law, International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law, Medical Law, Educational Law, Environmental Law, Legal Forensics, and Human Trafficking. Through its strong focus on scholarship, advocacy, practical legal skills, and community engagement, the department contributes meaningfully to advancing justice, the rule of law, and constitutional values in South Africa and beyond.
To deliver graduates that will be professionally versed in the demands of the many fields of legal practice, including the demands for lifelong scholarship and responsible citizenship. In research, the department strives to contribute towards the development of the legal science consonant within the demands of the constantly transforming national and international environment. The department is inextricably guided by the values contained in the South African Constitution.
To be a leading centre of excellence in public law, recognised for producing ethical legal professionals, advancing impactful research, and promoting justice, constitutionalism, and the rule of law in South Africa and beyond.
Contact Us
Prof Shaun de Freitas
Head of Department
T: +27 51 401 3004
E: DeFreitas@ufs.ac.za