Dear Learned Fellows,

I completed my BA Human Resource Management Degree in 1998. When I began in 1995 at what was then the Rand Afrikaans University - now the University of Johannesburg) my degree was started as a Bcom Accounts and one of the majors I passed was (then known as) Industrial Psychology. I also studied Clinical Psychology that year and passed.

HOWEVER, parental pressure leaned on my to do a BCom Accounts as that was where the money lay. So I did this, even though I Matriculated with Exemption in 1993, with all subjects on Higher Grade, but failed Mathematics with an E on Lower Grade. Still - parental pressure to follow the money!

Long story short, I failed Accounting at RAU in my first year with 17%. Because it was my Major, I failed the year. But passed Industrial Psychology and Clinical Psychology.

I thus changed my degree the next year to the then named BA Industrial Relations degree and passed with flying colours and awarded my degree at the end of 1998 (but as I've noted, they changed the name of the Degree to BA Human Resource Management, to sound, I believe, more politocally correct).

This is (finally, phew! ) my question:

I've read quite a few articles saying I am allowed to add the letters LLB to the end of my name now, after being awarded an undergraduate degree in HR Management / Industrial Relations. The course obviously also contained subjects such as 3 years Clinical Psychology (passed); 3 years Labour Law (passed); 3 years Business Communication (passed); 1 year Analytical Techniques (passed), 1 year History (passed); 1 year Philosophy / Ethics (passed).

Specific topics I studied whilst at RAU include:
Psychological Measurement,
Career Management,
Organizational Communication,
Ergonomics For Behavioural Scientists,
History: The Western Experience,
Applying Ethics and
Beginning Behavioural Research - A Conceptual Primer.

So: can I legally put the letters LLB behind my name? If so, do I need to note "South African Accreditation"?

Thank you all for your advice to come (hopefully)!

Miss E

It seems very unlikely that these articles are correct, but your university's alumni office can help you. The LLB is a degree in law, but your degree seems to be 90% not law.

Thank you very much, Duncan! Your prompt response is appreciated!
My Human Resource Management / Industrial Relations Degree did concentrate 90% of the time on South African Labour Law. Please see the article below, which has confused me, and had the unfortunate result of me being accused of lying on one single CV, upon which I put the LLB Letters behind my name. It was truly an honest mistake.
Thank you so very much!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Laws

Unless you have an llb diploma, then don't claim one.