under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws

L.N. 455 of 2014

EDUCATION ACT

(CAP. 327)

Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of the

General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008

for the Degree of Master of Advocacy – M.Adv. – and

the Degree of Master of Notarial Studies – M.Not.St. –

under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred upon him by articles 74(5) and

75(6) of the Education Act (Cap. 327), the Chancellor of the University of Malta has

promulgated the following bye-laws made by the Board of the Faculty of Laws in

virtue of the powers conferred upon it by article 81(1)(c) of the said Act and which

have been approved by the Senate of the University of Malta as required by article 81

(2) of the said Act

Citation and Interpretation

(1) These bye-laws may be cited as the Bye-Laws of 2014 in terms of

the General Regulations for University Postgraduate Awards, 2008 for the degree of

Master of Advocacy – M.Adv. – and for the degree of Master of Notarial Studies –

M.Not.St. - under the auspices of the Faculty of Laws.

(2) In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires -

“the Board” means the Board of the Faculty of Laws;

“the Course” means the programme of study leading to the degree of Master

of Advocacy – M.Adv. - or the degree of Master of Notarial Studies – M.Not.St.;

“the Degree” means the degree of Master of Advocacy – M.Adv. - or the

degree of Master of Notarial Studies – M.Not.St.;

“the Postgraduate Diploma” means the Postgraduate Diploma in Advocacy

– P.G.Dip.Adv. - or the Postgraduate Diploma in Notarial Studies – P.G.Dip.Not.St.;

and

“the Principal Regulations” means the General Regulations for University

Postgraduate Awards, 2008.

Applicability

These bye-laws shall apply to courses commencing in October 2016 or

later.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants for the Degree must be in possession of

(a) the degree of Bachelor of Laws (Honours) – LL.B. (Hons) - classified

with at least Second Class Honours; or

(b) a Bachelor’s degree in Law from this university or any other university

recognised by the Senate for the purpose, with at least Second Class Honours or

Category II; or

(c) the Diploma of Notary Public – N.P., for admission to the degree of

Master of Advocacy only.

Preparatory Programme

Applicants admitted under sub-paragraph (b) of bye-law 3 shall

be required to complete a preparatory programme, to which 60 ECTS credits are

assigned, and to obtain an overall average mark of 55% or better in the preparatory

programme, prior to their registration as regular students on the Course,

provided that applicants who were registered on the course leading to the degree of

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and who did not qualify for the award of the Honours

Degree shall not be eligible to join the preparatory programme.

Course Duration

The Course for the Degree shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study.

Employment

Students shall not engage in full-time or substantial part-time employment

once registered for the Course, except by special permission of the Board.

Programmes of Study

The programmes of study of the Course shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 ECTS credits are assigned, of which 60 ECTS credits are assigned

to taught study-units and 30 ECTS credits are assigned to professional practice.

Students who obtain the 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-

units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not proceed with the Course,

or having proceeded do not successfully complete the professional practice, shall

be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Advocacy or in Notarial

Studies, as the case may be.

The programmes of study shall be published after approval by Senate,

normally not less than eight months prior to the commencement of the Courses.

Assessment and Progress

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be completed by the

end of the semester in which the teaching of the study-unit is held.

(2) Students who fail in the assessment of not more than 20 ECTS credits

for taught study-units shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed assessments

during the September supplementary examination session.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of credits permitted

under paragraph (2) of this bye-law or students who after re-assessment fail to obtain

the credits for any taught study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

Professional Practice

(1) Students shall be required to carry out professional practice in

accordance with the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Students shall be required to pass all the components of the

professional practice study-unit. If students fail in, or for a valid reason approved by

Senate, do not complete the professional practice study-unit, they shall be allowed to

repeat the study-unit or any of its components during an additional year of study.

(3) The Board shall appoint one supervisor from the Faculty and one

co-supervisor from the profession, who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular

basis during the professional practice.

(4) Students shall be required to have regular contact with their

supervisors.

Supervisors shall submit to the Board reports for students under their

supervision.

Students who fail in the re-assessment of any professional practice

component or the whole study-unit, shall be deemed to have failed the Course.

Classification of the Awards

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the classification of

the Postgraduate Diploma and of the Degree shall be based on the results obtained in

all the components of the programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

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