Browsing by Author "Albertus, Latiefa"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Building an evolving method and materials for teaching legal writing in large classes
    (Springer, 2014) Clarence, Sherran; Mwambene, Lea; Albertus, Latiefa
    In South Africa and in other parts of the world, many professions are bemoaning the poor ability of many graduates to communicate their skills and knowledge effectively once they enter the workplace. Increasingly, pressure is placed on higher education to do more in terms of equipping future professionals with the necessary critical reading, research, thinking and writing skills the workplace demands. However, in South Africa especially, the demand for access to higher education is resulting in increased admissions, and in many lecturers standing in front of larger classes filled with students from a wide range of home and educational backgrounds with ‘variable’ commands of English as a medium of instruction and communication (Greenbaum and Mbali 2002). This makes the task of equipping these students with disciplinary knowledge and skills challenge. In responding to this challenge, the Law Faculty at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), in collaboration with a writing specialist, initiated a project aimed at transforming the way in which legal writing was taught at first year level. The overall aim was to start training students, from first year, to adapt their thinking and writing to the kinds of knowledge and practice required by academic study as well as the legal profession. The project was successful in achieving its modest aims, but certain challenges remain. This paper reflects critically on the development and evolution of the model for teaching legal writing in large classes. It argues that teaching legal writing in large classes requires creative and sustainable approaches so that students can become active and critical writers, readers and thinkers over time in this, or any, field.
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    The determinants of the child’s best interests in relocation disputes
    (University of the Western Cape, 2015) Boyd, Miche Theresa; Sloth-Nielsen, Julia; Albertus, Latiefa
    This thesis explores the factors that our courts take into account in determining what would constitute the best interests of the child in granting or refusing relocation applications. This study deals with the formulation and interpretation of the best interests standard by South African courts in relocation cases. The courts are considering reported cases to determine which issues to take into account in determining the best interests of the child, due to the fact that the Children’s Act does not have a set list of criteria. Therefore I will focus on case law in determining what factors are taken into account in order to determine what would be in the best interests of the child with regard to the relocation application. The aim is to determine whether there is any consistent principle or policy which can act as a guideline to practitioners and our courts to direct jurisprudence in this area. The objective is to determine whether the Children’s Act provides sufficient guidelines to assist the court in determining relocation disputes. Furthermore the thesis examines what the approach of our courts is and what constitutional dimensions may arise in relocation disputes. The research aims to explore whether relocation applications (and parenting roles) are disadvantaging women (primary-caregivers). The research investigates whether the courts are gender neutral and acutely sensitive to gender in relocation applications.
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    Relocation decisions: do culture, language and religion matter in the rainbow nation?
    (Centre for Family Law and Practice, London Metropolitan University, 2010) Albertus, Latiefa; Sloth-Nielsen, Julia
    This article turns to culture, language and religion as constitutional constructs in South Africa, in an attempt to clarify their importance generally. The position prior to the Children’s Act is discussed. The article reviews available case material, and legal criteria and practical trends are drawn from this. The threads drawn from this are pulled together to provide some insight into contemporary judicial views in South Africa on the influence of culture, language and religion in the field of relocation disputes.