Research at the Faculty of Law
Research and publication play a central role for academic staff and students within the Faculty of Law. Each of the three law departments (Commercial Law, Private Law and Public Law) hosts specialized research units and encourage publication. All research in the Law Faculty is centrally administered by the Centre for Legal and Applied Research (CLEAR) which serves to advance quality research and ensure conformity with ethical standards.
The Faculty of Law has two research committees: the Faculty Research and Social Responsiveness Committee and the Research Ethics Committee. In addition, a Law Faculty representative sits on the UCT Social Responsiveness and Working Group Committee.
View the Law Faculty's most recent Research Report.
View the Law Faculty's Research handbook.
Departmental Research Groups
The specialized academic and research units are:
in the Department of Commercial Law
- Institute for Development and Labour Law
- Shipping Law which works closely with the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law (IMEL) in the Department of Public Law
in the Department of Private Law
in the Department of Public Law
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Law
- Law, Race and Gender Research Unit
- Democratic Governance and Rights Unit
Faculty Research and Social Responsiveness Committee
This Committee meets quarterly and functions to promote research in the Faculty, further the well-being of those engaged in research and socially responsive activities, and administer research- related matters in the Faculty of Law.
Contact us
| Name | Position | Tel | Fax |
| Prof Loretta Feris | Chair | 021 650 5216 | 021 650 5183 |
| Mrs Lamize Viljoen | Administrator | 021 650 3080 | 021 650 5660 |
Research Ethics Committee
The Research Ethics Committee (REC) reviews all research proposals that intend to gather data from or about living humans and makes the decision whether to grant ethics clearance or to require amendments or clarifications to the proposal. The primary role of the REC is educative rather than policing.
The objective of the Research Ethics Committee is to raise awareness of ethical imperatives and improve research proposals to meet these imperatives. This educative and facilitative function is consistent with South Africa's Constitution which prohibits participation in research without informed consent (s 12(2)(c)). The Committee's function also complies with national legislation - the National Health Act 61 of 2003 - which defines 'health' very broadly to include the well-being of all humans, and 'health research' as including 'surveys, interviews, focus groups or ethnographic observations'.
Ethics guidelines explain the issues which require consideration when designing a research project. There are both general guidelines and discipline-specific guidelines, e.g. sociologists and anthropologists follow guidelines that cater specifically for the types of methodology appropriate to those disciplines. See the Faculty of Humanities Guide to Research Ethics: Research on Human Subjects (pages: 26-33) for a list of discipline-specific guidelines. The Law Faculty has general guidelines and a policy document, and advocates use of discipline specific guidelines where appropriate
Download Research Ethics Clearance Application forms.
Download Research Clearance Frequently asked Questions.
Download renewal or extension request document.
Download Authorship Guidelines.
Download UCT Research Policy.
Download Code for REC members.
Download UCT Research Ethics Code (applicable for research with humans).
Download EiRC Terms of Reference.
Download EiRC Appeal SOP.
Contact us
| Name | Position | Tel | Fax |
| Anne Pope | Chair | 021 650 3358 | 021 650 5770 |
| Mrs Lamize Viljoen | Administrator | 021 650 3080 | 021 650 5660 |
UCT Social Responsiveness and Working Group Committee
The University Social Responsiveness Committee (USRC) is responsible for promoting and strengthening social responsiveness through the following functions:
- providing advice about policy related to social responsiveness;
- promoting awareness of socially responsive activities within the university and externally;
- profiling examples of good practices originating from UCT and other institutions;
- facilitating the consolidation and coordination of effort, resources and activities in the area of social responsiveness;
- generating guidelines for the assessment of the contribution of staff, students and external partners to social responsiveness;
- making recommendations to Senate on Annual Social Responsiveness awards;
- overseeing the production of annual reports to be submitted to the Senate and Council;
- facilitating multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaboration regarding social responsiveness; and
- promoting debate and discussion about social responsiveness
The Law Faculty's current representative on this committee is Dr Dee Smythe. Tel: 021 650 5680.
Administrator (for Law Faculty representative):
Mrs Sue Wright
Tel: 021 650 5906
Fax: 021 650 5660
Centre for Legal and Applied Research (CLEAR)
The Centre for Legal and Applied Research coordinates and advances research within the Faculty of Law. CLEAR's objectives include ensuring the highest quality of research, identifying key research themes, and facilitating fund raising.
Contact us
| Name | Position | Tel | Fax |
| Professor Loretta Feris | CLEAR Chair | 021 650 5216 | 021 650 5183 |
| Mrs Lamize Viljoen | CLEAR Administrator | 021 650 3080 | 021 650 5660 |
CLEAR postal address
Centre for Legal and Applied Research
University of Cape Town
Private Bag X3
Rondebosch 7701
South Africa
Physical Address
University of Cape Town Middle Campus
Wildred & Jules Kramer Law Building, Room 6.28
1 Stanley Road
Rondebosch
South Africa