LJU48O2/101/3//2022

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2022

Professional Ethics
LJU4802

Semester 1 and 2

Jurisprudence

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES......................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Outcomes ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................ 5
4 CONTACTING THE UNIVERSITY VIA EMAIL .............................................................................. 6
5 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................... 6
5.1 Lecturer(s) ...................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Department ..................................................................................................................................... 7
5.3 College of Law Information Centre ................................................................................................. 7
5.4 University ........................................................................................................................................ 7
6 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 8
6.1 Prescribed book(s) .......................................................................................................................... 8
6.2 Recommended book(s) .................................................................................................................. 8
6.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ..................................................................................................... 8
6.4 Library services and resource
information…………………………………………………………………………………………………..8

7 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................. 9

7.1 Module-specific support initiatives .................................................................................................. 9
7.2 Companies falsely advertising Unisa services ................................................................................ 9
8 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 10
9 ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 10
9.1 Assessment criteria ...................................................................................................................... 10
9.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 10
9.3 Unique numbers ........................................................................................................................... 10
9.4 Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 10
9.5 Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 10
9.6 The examination ........................................................................................................................... 10
10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 11
10.1 Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 11
10.2 Cheating ....................................................................................................................................... 11
10.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below .................................... 11
11 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................................ 11
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12 IN CLOSING ................................................................................................................................. 11

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Dear Student

1 INTRODUCTION

Unisa is a comprehensive ODeL higher education institution. The comprehensiveness of our

curricula encapsulates a range of offerings, from strictly vocational to strictly academic
certificates, diplomas and degrees. Unisa's "openness" and its distance eLearning character
result in many students registering at Unisa who may not have had an opportunity to enrol in
higher education. Our ODeL character implies that our programmes are carefully planned and
structured to ensure success for students ranging from the under-prepared but with potential to
the sufficiently prepared.

Teaching and learning in an ODeL context involve multiple modes of delivery ranging from
blended learning to fully online. As a default position, all post graduate programmes are offered
fully online with no printed study materials, while undergraduate programmes are offered in a
blended mode of delivery where printed study materials are augmented with online teaching and
learning via the learner management system – myUnisa. In some instances, undergraduate
programmes are offered fully online as well.

Furthermore, our programmes are aligned with the vision, mission and values of the University.
Unisa's commitment to serve humanity and shape futures combined with a clear appreciation of
our location on the African continent, Unisa's graduates have distinctive graduate qualities which
include

• independent, resilient, responsible and caring citizens who are able to fulfil and serve in
multiple roles in their immediate and future local, national and global communities
• having a critical understanding of their location on the African continent with its histories,
challenges and potential in relation to globally diverse contexts
• the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the credibility and usefulness of information
and data from multiple sources in a globalised world with its ever-increasing information
and data flows and competing worldviews
• how to apply their discipline-specific knowledges competently, ethically and creatively to
solve real-life problems
• an awareness of their own learning and developmental needs and future potential

The module LJU4802 is offered in a blended form. Whether a module is offered either as blended
(meaning that we use a combination of printed and online material to engage with you) or online
(all information is available via the internet), we use myUnisa as our virtual campus. This is an
online system that is used to administer, document and deliver educational material to you and
support engagement with you. Look out for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa
platforms to determine how to access the virtual myUnisa module site. Information on the tools
that will be available to engage with the lecturer and fellow students to support your learning will
also be communicated via various platforms.

You are encouraged to log into the module site on myUnisa regularly (that is, at least twice per
week).

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You will be well on your way to success if you start studying early and resolve to do the
assignments properly.

Your study material for this module consists of:

• Tutorial Letter 501. Please note that you do not have a formal study guide for
LJU4802. Your study guide is in the form of a Tutorial Letter 501.
• Additional material that will be made available on the myUnisa module site.
• Tutorial Letter 101.
• Additional tutorial letters that will be made available on the myUnisa module site.

Right from the start we would like to point out that you must read all the tutorial letters that you
receive carefully, since they always contain important, and sometimes urgent, information. This
tutorial letter (101) contains important general and administrative information about this
module. We therefore urge you to read it carefully.

We wish to stress that the myUnisa module site for LJU4802 is an essential source of
information during your studies of LJU4802. It is therefore very important that you keep up
to date with the always important information that we make available on the module site.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose

While it is accepted that future lawyers should have adequate levels of expertise and skill, the
importance of professional ethics is also increasingly being recognised by the legal profession.
This module is therefore aimed at inculcating and developing the moral character of future
lawyers. When you have completed this module, we hope that you will be properly equipped with
the foundational competence necessary for ethical decision-making in all matters relating to the
practice of law. Hopefully you will also aspire towards a high set of ethical values which will make
you count among the exceptional members of the legal profession.

2.2 Outcomes

For this module, you will have to master the following outcomes:

• Specific outcome 1: Understand the nature of moral discourse.

• Specific outcome 2: Understand the legal profession, legal ethics and codes of conduct.

• Specific outcome 3: Discuss philosophical approaches to ethics.

• Specific outcome 4: Explain and apply the “fit and proper” person test.

• Specific outcome 5: Discuss situations open for unethical conduct.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In
response to this charter, we have placed curriculum transformation high on the teaching and

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learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred
scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars
and their principles will be integrated at both programme and module levels as a phased-in
approach. You will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented by
Unisa, together with how the content is conceptualised in your modules. We encourage you to
embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way within the framework
of transformation.

4 CONTACTING THE UNIVERSITY VIA E-MAIL

To assist Unisa to safeguard your personal information, please ensure that you only use your
myLife e-mail account when communicating with the university. We will not be responding to
any emails sent from private email addresses.
By using your myLife e-mail account, the university has a reasonable assurance that we are
communicating with you, as your e-mail address contains your student number and you use your
login credentials to access the account.
Unisa may only communicate with a student using a private e-mail address under the following
circumstances:

• New applicants who are enquiring about information for the purpose of applying for
admission.
• New applicants who do not yet have a myLife e-mail account, because they have been
admitted but not yet registered.
• Where a student requires assistance in resolving myLife e-mail account access
problems.

Please be aware that any personal information you publish on public platforms, such as social
media platforms and WhatsApp groups, is not covered by the provisions of Protection of Personal
Information Act 4 of 2013. Any personal information published in the public domain is not
considered private and can, therefore be accessed by external parties with access to such
platforms.

5 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

5.1 Lecturer(s)

Dr M Mswela (module leader)

Telephone: 012 433 9494
E-mail: mswelmm@unisa.ac.za

Prof MP Ferreira-Snyman (co-lecturer)

Telephone: 082 947 6606
E-mail: ferremp@unisa.ac.za

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5.2 Department

Mr KH Raligilia
Acting Chairperson: Department of Jurisprudence
E-mail: raligkh@unisa.ac.za

5.3 College of Law Information Centre

For college-specific queries, please email lawdeanery@unisa.ac.za or

CLAWinquiries@unisa.ac.za. The college can also be contacted by phoning 012 429
4718/4860/6166/3253/4428.
Please send all emails from your mylife email account. If you send an e-mail directly to a
Unisa e-mail address, insert your student number in the subject line to effect the correct routing
to an advisor for processing.
5.4 University

To contact the university, please dial 080 000 1870. Remember to keep your student number at
hand when contacting the university. The Unisa Student Communication Service Centre will be
open weekdays from 08:00 – 16:00 (South African Standard Time).

Please send all emails from your mylife email account. If you send an e-mail directly to a
Unisa e-mail address, insert your student number in the subject line to effect the correct routing
to an advisor for processing. Please check the list carefully and send an enquiry to one e-
mail address only. This will ensure that there is no confusion as to who must respond, thereby
preventing unnecessary delays in the response or the email portrayed as spam. Students should
only forward enquiries to the Registrar and Deputy Registrar in instances where those enquiries
could not be resolved at other levels.

TYPE OF QUERY EMAIL ADDRESS TELEPHONE NUMBER

ICT
MyUnisa myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za 012 429 3111 (Option 2)
MyLife myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za 012 429 3111 (Option 2)
STUDENT ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATIONS
General applications and registration
study-info@unisa.ac.za
queries
College of Law jus@unisa.ac.za
International students international@unisa.ac.za
Exemptions adhoccredits@unisa.ac.za
Access and matriculation exemption ame@unisa.ac.za
Re-admissions study-info@unisa.ac.za
STUDENT ASSESSMENT ADMINISTRATION

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 General assignment enquiries assign@unisa.ac.za
General exam queries exams@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
Aegrotat exams aegrotats@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
Exam arrangements for students with examdisabled@unisa.ac.za
012 429 8641
disabilities
Exam admission examadmission@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
International students examinternational@unisa.ac.za + 27 12 429 2268
Remarks remark@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
Purchase of an exam script purchasescript@unisa.ac.za 012 429 8641
FINANCE
Student account enquiries finan@unisa.ac.za 012 429 2441/4299
STUDENT FUNDING
General student funding enquiries letsomp@unisa.ac.za 012 441 5600
STUDY MATERIAL
Despatch enquiries despatch@unisa.ac.za

6 RESOURCES
6.1 Prescribed book(s)

There are no prescribed books for LJU4802.

6.2 Recommended book(s)

There are no recommended books for LJU4802.

6.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no e-reserves for LJU4802. Any additional material will be made available on the
myUnisa module site.

6.4 Library services and resources information

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

• For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance
• For more detailed Library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
• For research support and services (eg Personal Librarians and literature search
services), go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-
services/Research-support

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The Library has created numerous Library guides: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:
• Request and find library material/download recommended material:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
• Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
• Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
• Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability

Important contact information:

• Ask a Librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
• Technical problems accessing library online services: Lib-help@unisa.ac.za
• General library related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• For queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za

7 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

7.1 Module-specific support initiatives

All information relating to module-specific support initiatives will be made available to you via
myUnisa on the module site.
7.2 Companies falsely advertising Unisa services
Some companies and social media pages have been falsely advertising Unisa online information
and various services to assist Unisa students. In the process, companies either solicit money
fraudulently from students or make money through online advertising with no benefit to students.
These companies are in no way associated or related to Unisa.
We request that students only use official Unisa sites and platforms as any other platforms will
provide you with incorrect information and/or act illegally which will be harmful to your studies.
Unisa will always use official communication channels (eg Unisa website, myUnisa, Unisa social
media platforms, myLife e-mail) to communicate with students.
Please use the following Unisa platforms for official Unisa information:

• www.unisa.ac.za
• https://my.unisa.ac.za
• https://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfSouthAfrica
• https://twitter.com/unisa
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/unisa

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8 STUDY PLAN
You will be provided with a detailed study plan for the module on the myUnisa module site.

9 ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for each assignment will be provided with the assignments on the
myUnisa module site.

9.2 Assessment plan

You must log into the module site on myUnisa in order to access the following:

• the due dates for assignments

• the actual assignments that must be completed

• how to submit your assignments

• the weighting of the different assessments

• admission to the exam

• the examination.

9.3 Unique numbers

Assignments are no longer given unique numbers.

9.4 Assignment due dates

• There are no assignment due dates included in this tutorial letter.

• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the landing page of myUnisa for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.

• Please start working on your assignments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for the
submission of the assignments.

9.5 Submission of assignments

All information on when and where to submit your assignments will be made available to you via
the myUnisa site for the module.

9.6 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the University.

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10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft which involves several dishonest academic activities, such as the
following:

• Cutting and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including or using incorrect references.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
10.2 Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student

during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you.
• Using social media (eg WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
• Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files.
• Buying completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).
10.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules

11 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Student with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with new and returning students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact the university by sending an email to
examdisabled@unisa.ac.za, so that you can be assisted. In your email include the name of the
module(s) that you are currently registered for.
For content-related queries, please send an email to Dr M Mswela at mswelmm@unisa.ac.za

12 IN CLOSING
We hope you will find this module interesting and rewarding. We wish you success with your
studies!

Kind regards,

Dr M Mswela
Prof MP Ferreira-Snyman

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