1. law, govt and politics
2. legal issues
3. human rights

SCHOOL OF LAW
EXCELLING THE REACH OF LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP
THREE SPECIALIZED LL.M PROGRAMS
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About the Law School
Bahir Dar University is established with the broad objectives of cultivating and transmitting
knowledge, conducting research and studies in various fields that assist in solving societal
problems, and producing competent persons in the respective fields of study, as well as with the
view of providing professional services at the regional and national level that help accelerate the
overall socio-economic development of the country.
The Bahir Dar University Law School has been established within the context of these broader
objectives of the University. The Department of Law was officially established by the decision of
the University Senate in August 2001, and subsequently developed into a full-fledged Faculty in
February 2004, renamed in 2009 as Law School.
The School has as its mission serving the basic purpose of playing a major role in producing
adequately trained legal professionals who will be prepared to serve their community with legal
skills, ethical and intellectual guidance, and to strengthen the qualification and man power of the
personnel in the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, counselling and advisory departments, and
other institutions engaged in law related activities at various levels. Conducting research and
giving community services are also within the mission of the School. The School has also taken
a share of responsibility in guaranteeing the proper dissemination of basic ideals of law and
protection of universally acknowledged human rights through its Legal Aid Centre. Currently, in
the field of law, the School is giving training that leads to Bachelor of Law (LLB) in the Regular,
Continuing Education and Distance programs. Because of the ever increasing demand for
qualified legal professionals with high level of training, the School has already started expanding
its horizon of training into master of laws programs. There are three specialized LL.M Programs
launched by the school. Regular Students have been admitted in all the three programs. Our
students have come mainly from the academia, the judiciary, and the offices of public
prosecution. There are also students who are private attorneys and consultants. Moreover, we
have broadened students’ and stakeholders’ access to our LL.M through summer program. In this
respect, the FDRE Ministry of Defense and the Justice Bureau of Gambella Regional State send
students to our LL.M in Criminal Justice and Human Rights program in the summer
arrangement. We are preparing to admit into our LL.M Programs (on summer) personnel from
the Amhara National Regional State Bureau of Justice, Supreme Court, and Justice System
Reform and Research Institute. We are willing and ready to broaden this opportunity on project
basis to other governmental and non-governmental institutions.
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1. MASTER OF LAW IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
LAW
Our LL.M Program in Criminal
Justice and Human Rights is the first
of its kind all over the country’s law
schools. It provides students with a
unique opportunity to get acquainted
with the knowledge and expertise that
lead them to become matured and
full-fledged professionals in both
specific, but interrelated, fields of
Human Rights and Criminal Justice.
Students in the Class Room attending Professor Pietro’s Lecture
Program Objectives
The program is designed to train qualified
persons in criminal justice and human rights
who can help transform the current state of
the criminal justice system and human rights
practices. The program focuses on a
systematic examination of the criminal
justice system in its entirety which involves
a sustained and methodological investigation
of its normative, institutional, procedural
and cultural framework. The program is
expected
to
widen
the
students’
understanding of theoretical background and
legal framework of human rights law. In
light of the close inter-relationship of
criminal justice and human rights, the LLM
in Criminal Justice and Human Rights
program will allow the students the
flexibility to receive advanced instructions
in both areas of law. The program is
designed in such a way as to enable students
acquire an in-depth understanding of how
the criminal justice system works and relate
it with human rights law. The program will
also develop a range of transferable skills,
including in research, written and oral
presentation.
Graduates will be equipped with an
advanced understanding of the legal and
theoretical framework of the criminal justice
system and human rights. They will be able
to identify problems in the criminal justice
and human rights issues and come up with
workable solutions. Further, they will
acquire the knowledge and skills required to
conduct cutting-edge research in a
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professional manner in their field.
Course Breakdown
 Advanced Criminal Procedure &
Criminal Evidence
 International Human Rights Law
 International Humanitarian Law
 Restorative Justice
 International Criminal Law
 Comparative
Regional
Human
Rights Protection System
 Human Rights and Development
 LLM Thesis
The list of courses offered in the program is
indicated in the table below by the year and
the semester in which they are offered.
 Advanced
Legal
Research
Methodology
 Advanced Issues in Criminal Law
 Criminology
 The History, Philosophy and Politics
of Human Rights
 Comparative Criminal Justice Policy
What Students Say about the Program
this wisdom. This is exactly what I have
experienced as a graduate student in the
criminal justice and human rights program
at Bahir Dar University. Thanks to the
tireless professors, I believe, as a student, I
have benefited a lot.
In my stay at the university, I believe, I
improved my skills to listen to people’s
ideas, critically examine it and support
and/or refute against it on the basis of
established thought or theory. I have also
learned how to work together for a common
goal and hence our classes were more of
cooperative than competitive. This, I could
say, has been quite an important aspect of
the classes we have had. To cut it short, if
one is to have a better exposure to worldly
experience and knowledge related to
criminal justice and human rights, I would
say this school is a number one choice to
avail.
Kidist Gebrehiwot, the first Woman to join our
Postgraduate program. She is extremely
successful, and proven to be exmplary to all our
students and to those who strive to join us.
“To learn and to know the unknown is
always fascinating.” This happiness is
astounding when people with vast
experience and knowledge are the source of
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The program, with no doubt, makes the school perfect
for me. Because, firstly, it is a new program, as far as
my knowledge is concerned, in the history of the
country’s law schools. The courses which are offered
present a number of different approaches to criminal
justice and human rights laws. Starting from criminal
behavior courses, focusing on the reasons why crimes
are committed and the approaches to reduce the same,
to the various legal courses explaining the penalties and
the institutions, it offers also the various aspects of
human rights laws. In doing so, the program makes
criminal justice and human rights two sides of the same
coin. It is really interesting innovation to heighten the
value of human rights by integrating human rights
courses with the criminal justice courses which could
enable a criminal justice system responsive to human
rights issues. This, for me, makes the program a well
ranked program.
Secondly, the school, without
exaggeration, never made the quality of the program
negotiable. I got the opportunity to learn from
celebrated professors and experts, who were extremely
knowledgeable, from across the corners. They all were
marvelous, extremely approachable and helpful so that
succeeding in academics was very easy. Besides, it was
a pleasure for me to spend two years with highly
qualified and cooperative faculty members. All in all,
criminal justice and human rights laws program in this
school was a great choice for me. I would still choose
to go to the School for such program if I had a second
opportunity to do so. I would, therefore, highly
recommend this School to anyone interested in studying
criminal
justice
and
human
rights
law.
Abebe Assefa
Being acquainted with the values of criminal justice
and human rights laws at times means being the
fullest person on the contemporary and pressing
issues of criminal justice and human rights. This is,
however, hardly possible unless a student is certain to
decide and study his/her LL.M in Bahir Dar
University, Law school.
Attending Law School, in Bahir Dar University,
department of “Criminal Justice and Human Rights
Laws” was the best decision I have ever made. My
involvement with this program was one of the most
enjoyable experiences of my entire life. Simply put, the
school offered me the opportunity to grow as an
individual and bestow me other valuable extramural
skills which will benefit me much in the real world life.
Bahir Dar University is really a big university
playing tremendous roles in producing intellectuals
capable of, in my opinion, bringing change to the
country. As part of accomplishing its grand
objectives, the university has ever been able to
launch and offer many postgraduate programs. As
part of the university, the law school is running many
attention-grabbing postgraduate programs-of which
criminal justice and human rights law is one. I feel
lucky that I am expert in both criminal justice and
human rights law. The school has done a lot in
equipping me (and all of my other classmates) with
the expected and required knowledge and skill in the
field of criminal justice and human rights law within,
if not exceeding, the available resources. One can
note that this is not exaggeration when she/he proves
that all the courses we took were delivered by
instructors of high profile, both in academic and
experience qualifications. I believe these good things
Wondimagegn Gebre
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would be kept up for they are the reasons that brand
the school when compared to its most counterparts.
that taught me for sowing the seed that inspired me to
believe in my abilities to reach for greater heights.
All the excellent cooperation of the instructors and
those that were around me will always be an
inspiration throughout my future career. By now, I
appreciated the time I decided to pursue my LLM
study at Bahir Dar University. I would like to
conclude with the statement “Keep the good
thingsup””
It is always a startling for me that almost all the law
school staff have shared and worked for the visions
and objectives of the school. Let me use this
opportunity that I would like to express my special
thanks to the diligent and vibrant law school staff.
Above all, I would like to thank all the instructors
Some of the Professors Handling Courses in the Criminal Justice and Human
Rights Program
Publications
1.
A book entitled “A Rights-Based Approach to HIV Prevention, Care,
Support and Treatment: A Review of Its Implementation in Ethiopia”,
Proquest, USA, 2012, available online.
2.
Participation Rights of the Child, Ethiopian Journal of Legal
Education, V. I, No2, 2009.
3.
HIV Testing From an African Human Rights Perspective: An Analysis
of the Policy and Legal Framework of Ethiopia, Mekelle University Law
Journal, V.1, No.1 2010.
4.
The Ramification of the 2009 Higher Education Proclamation on the
Institutional Academic Freedom of Ethiopian Law Schools,Ethiopian Journal
of Legal Education, V. 3, No. 2, 2011.
5.
The Human Rights Discourse in Perspective: Cultural Relativism and
Women’s Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, Jimma University Law Journal, V. 3,
No. 1, 2010.
Doctor Mizanie Abate (LL.B, Addis Ababa University, LL.M, University of Pretoria, PhD, University of Alabama).
Dr. Mizanie has been the Director of the school and delivered such Courses as International Human Rights Law,
Comparative Regional Human Rights Protection System
studies at Arizona State University in United States.
He is a full professor and teaches Introduction to
Criminal Justice, Criminology, Comparative Criminal
Justice Systems, Ethics in Criminal Justice, and
occasionally Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice. He
has recently taught three sections of a graduate
course in Advanced Criminology (as a visiting
professor in Ethiopia) in the Department of Sociology
at Addis Ababa University, in the Faculty of LAW at
AAU, and in the School of Law at Bahir Dar University
in fall 2011. He gave invitational lectures on
transnational organized crimes at the University of
Teramo (Italy) in May 2009 and on critical survey of
criminological theories at Kenyatta University (Kenya)
in May 2007. Dr. Toggia also co-organized and
conducted a three-day workshop on human rights and
policing for a group of high-ranking Kenyan police
officers in August 2005. He has co-edited two books
on the Horn of Africa and Ethiopia: Crisis and Terror in
the Horn of Africa: The Autopsy of Democracy, Human
Rights and Freedom with Ashgate (2000); Ethiopia in
Professor Pietro
Toggia (PhD), a
visiting scholar,
delivers at BDU Law
School such course as
Comparative
Criminal Justice
Policy, Restorative
Justice.
Professor Pietro Toggia has been teaching in the
Department of Criminal Justice since fall 1998. He
earned his Master's and doctoral degrees in justice
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Transit:
Millennial
Quest
for
Stability
and
Continuity with Routledge (2011). He has also
published peer reviewed articles, and presented
numerous international conference papers with a
primary focus on Africa on such topics as modern
policing in Ethiopia, constitutionalism and the rule of
law, genocide, kidnapping in Kenya, innovative mobile
technology and innovative crimes in Kenya, organized
crime syndicate (Mungiki) in Kenya, transitional
justice in Africa, anti-vagrancy laws in Ethiopia,
comparative police systems and police reforms in
Kenya and South Africa at the American Society of
Criminology, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences,
and the African Studies Association annual
conferences. He has two encyclopedia entries
(forthcoming in early 2012) on kidnapping and
international guidelines on victimization in The
Encyclopedia
of
Criminology
and
Criminal
Justice (Wiley-Blackwell). Dr. Toggia currently serves
as a member of the editorial boards of the African
Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies (online)
and
the International
Journal
of
Ethiopian
Studies (Tsehai Publishers). He also serves as the
book review editor of African Identities (Routledge).
Worku Yazie (Assistant Professor) (LL.B, Addis Ababa
University; LL.M, Addis Ababa University) Worku Yazie is
among the most senior staffs of the school. He has served the
school as a dean for several years. His administration had the
aspiration to realize that the school would run postgraduate
programs, and he took the initiative towards the fulfillment of
that vision.Worku is currently teaching and advising students in
the Criminal Justice and Human Rights LLM Program of the
School. His main research interests are in the area of Criminal
Law, Criminal Procedure Law and Criminal Evidence.
Publications
1.
2.
“Presumption of Innocence and the
Requirement of Proof Beyond reasonable
Doubt: Reflections on Meaning, Scope and
their Place under Ethiopian Law,”
Ethiopian Human Rights Law Series, Vol.
3, (Addis Ababa University Faculty of
Law; AAU Press (January 2010);
“Status and Role of Victims of Crime in the
5.
(Co-author) Molla Ababu & Worku Yaze,
MATERIALS ON LAW OF EVIDENCE: Notes,
Cases and Questions; Eclipse (Addis
Ababa); 2010;
6.
(Co-author) Dessie Seioum & Worku Yaze,
“Issue Framing and Deciding Burdens of
Proof in Civil Cases: A comment on Ato
Gebru G/Meskel v Priest G/Medhin Reda
case,” Bahir Dar University Law Journal,
Vol. 1, No.1, School of Law, Bahir Dar
University; AAU Press (April 2010);
3.
4.
Ethiopian Criminal Justice System,” Bahir
Dar University Law Journal, Vol. 2, No.1,
School of Law, July, 2011;
“False Testimony and Perjury in the Criminal Justice
System of the Amhara National Regional State:
Prevalence, Causes, Impacts and
Solutions,” Higigat, (Journal of Amhara
National Regional State Justice
Bureau), Vol. 1, No 3, June 2012 /Sene
2004 E.C
“Operation and Effect of Presumptions in
Civil Proceedings: An Inquiry into the
interpretation of Art 2024 of the Ethiopian
Civil Code,” Mizan Law Review Vol. 4,
No 2; St. Mary’s University College,
2010;
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2. LL.M IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND LAW
Since the second half of the 20th century, the world has
seen unprecedented breakthroughs in terms of the level
of science, technology, and economic growth. These
are normally meant to maximize opportunity, welfare,
and security and safety to humanity. Unfortunately,
however, there have been numerous phenomena that
are proven to be major setbacks to the gains of the
progress that humanity could have exploited. One of
the most important hindrances to human’s achievement
is problems posed to the environment. Environmental
problems, irrespective of their causes from domestic or
global activities, have kept on threatening the
wellbeing of human race. Needless to mention the fact
that the root-causes for the bulk of ecological problems
are traceable to anthropogenic interferences to nature.
The economic success witnessed in the development
history has been countered by environmental
externalities of the development process itself. There
has literally been few or no development process that
does not put any pressure on the environment. There
seems to be a consensus that there are way-outs to
significantly reduce the adverse environmental effect
of development processes. In doing so, environmental
policies and regulations occupy a central place in all
spheres of human activities. Equally important in that
respect is availability of professionals who are well
equipped with the knowledge and expertise on
important issues and regulatory regimes concerning the
environment. Being cognizant of this fact, the law
school strives to carryout its share of responsibility by
putting in place this unique master’s program. The
school also underscores the important place that land
occupies in the socio-economic life of societies such as
those in Ethiopia where significant numbers of the
people engage in land-based economic and social
activities. There is acute need for legal professionals
trained in land governance. The law school has been
providing this opportunity to current and prospective
students to qualify in the two distinctively important
field of study-Environmental and Land Law.
Training Objectives
The program is designed to train qualified persons in
Environment and Land Law who can act as experts in
the field of land law and environmental law. The
program is expected to widen the students’
understanding of the rules and principle related to land
regulation and environment protection. The program is
designed in such a way as to enable students acquire an
in-depth understanding of domestic and international
environmental law policies and principles and the land
law regime in comparative perspective. It is expected
to equip them with the requisite knowledge that will
enable them to research and find out problems in the
field of environment and land law.
Students in the class-room with their beloved professor, Ato Melese Damtie
8
Courses Offered in the Program








Advanced Research Methods
Introduction to Environmental Science
International Environmental Law
Ethiopian Environmental Policy and Law
Environmental Governance
Law and Sustainable Development
Environmental Ethic
Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations






of Property
Comparative Land Policy and Law
Ethiopian Rural Land Policy and Law
Ethiopian Urban Land Policy and Law
International and Nile Water Law(E)
Ethiopian Water Law and Policy(E)
LL.M. Thesis
What Our Students say about the Program
matured instructors, are proposed in a manner that
broadens students’ perception of the concepts,
underlining principles and legal frameworks of
both domestic and international arena. I,
personally, obtain a variety of stances to
appreciate environmental and land problems with
corresponding mechanisms of solving the
challenges.
Besides, the diversified discussions and thoughts
raised during the lectures enables me (and my
mates as well) to grasp wider range of experience
in the area. The bunch of miscellaneous
experiences, as derived from variety of
personalities, in the class room creates conducive
environment to assemble skills and knowledge
existed in reality with the principles and concepts
under the curriculum.
I am Binyam Seleshi from graduate study program
on Environment and land Law at School of Law in
Bahir Dar University. The program is intended to
produce competent man power in the field of
environment and land with parallel knowledge of
tackling problems arise out of the issues.
The lectures, conducted by well experienced and
I have joined the University
this year as a post-graduate
student of Environment and
Land Law- in the School of
Law. I have seen most of the
courses are being delivered
by different professors and
professionals coming from
different areas outside of
Bahir Dar. In doing so, I have
seen encouraging endeavors to bring well versed and
practically proficient professors and expert to deliver
different courses. Hence, we have got chances to discuss
about problems and proposed solution concerning nature
and the environment with highly specialized and practically
experienced professors and professionals. Besides, there is
cooperative and friendly type of relationship among us, i.e.
students, between students and staffs of the law school.
Haileeyesus T/Mariam
9
Some of the Professors Handling Courses in the Environmental and Land Law
Program
Melese Damtie (Assistant Professor) (BSC, Addis Ababa
University; LL.B, Addis Ababa University, LL.M, University of
Amsterdam; PhD Candidate, University of Warwick). He is a
visiting professor delivering Ethiopian Environmental Policy and
Law
Publications
1.
Mellese Damtie & Mohammud Abdulahi,
“Legal and Institutional Analysis for Sustainable
Use of Forest Resources: The Case of Sheka
Forest in Southwestern Ethiopia”, Forests of
Sheka: Multidisciplinary Case studies in impacts
of land use/ land cover changes, Southwest
Ethiopia, Melca-Ethiopia, 2007
2.
Mellese
Damtie,
“Medico-Legal
Significance of Duration of Pregnancy Under the
Ethiopian Civil Code.” Ethiopian Law Review,
Vol. 1 No. 1, August 2002.
3.
Mellese Damtie and Ellen Alem, “Women’s
Reproductive
Rights
in
the
Ethiopian
Context" BERCHI: The Annual Journal of
Ethiopian Women lawyers Association, Vol. 1 №
2, summer, 2001.
4.
Mellese Damtie, ‘Land use and Forest
Legislation for Conservation, Development and
Utilization of Forests’, published in the
Proceedings of a Workshop conducted on
February 1, 2001 organized by the Biological
Society of Ethiopia under a theme of “Imperative
problems Associated with Forestry in Ethiopia.”
5.
Mellese Damtie, Original W. Giorgis and
Emebet Kebede, “Violence Against Women in
Addis Ababa”, BERCHI: The Annual Journal of
Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, № 5,
2004.
6.
Mellese Damtie and Mesfin Bayou,
“Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment
in Ethiopia: Gaps and Challenges”, Melca
Mahber, 2008.
7.
Mellese Damtie, “Collation Under Ethiopian
Law of Successions: Payment by Taking Less”
MIZAN Law Review, Volume 2 № 2.
8.
Mellese Damtie, “Land Ownership and Its
Relations to Sustainable Development”, Ethiopian
Business Law Series AAU, Faculty of Law, Vol.
3, 2009.
9.
Mellese Damtie (2010) Environmental Law,
Book published as part of the NUFFIC project
entitled “Support to the Development of Faculties
of Law of the Jimma and Bahir Dar Universities”
NPT-Eth-182 and organized by Utrecht
University, Eclipse Press, Addis Ababa.
10. Mellese Damtie, ‘Anthropocentric and
Ecocentric Versions of the Ethiopian Legal
Regime, book chapter in Peter Burdon (ed.)
(2011), Exploring Wild Law: The Philosophy of
Earth Jurisprudence, Wakefield Press, Kent
Town.
11. Mellese Damtie and Solomon Kebede
(2012), The Need for Redesigning and Redefining
Institutional Roles for Environmental Governance
in Ethiopia, MELCA-Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.
10
 Participation
Dr. Dejene Girma Janka
(LL.B,
Addis
Ababa
University;
LL.M
University of Pretoria ;
PhD,
University
of
Alabama). Dr. Dejene is a
visiting professor who
handles a course on
Sustainable Development
of
Stakeholders
in
Environmental Impact Assessment Process
in Ethiopia: Law and Practice, Jimma
University Law Journal, 2011, V 3, No. 1,
ISSN 2074-46-17, October 2010.
 The Domestic Applicability of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare
of the Child in Ethiopia, Ethiopian Journal
Publications:
of Legal Education, V3 No 1, June 2010.
 The Place of Environmental Protection in
 Criminal
the Growth and Transformation Plan of the
Responsibility
of
Juridical
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
Persons in Ethiopia, Jimma University
Oromia Journal of Law, 2013.
Journal of Law, V2 No1, January 2009.
 The Relevance of Hobbesian Principles of
 Tell Me Why I Need to Go to Court: A
Punishment in Today’s World in light of the
Devastating Move by the Federal Cassation
Ethiopian
Division, Jimma University Journal of Law,
Criminal
System,
Jimma
V2, No1, January 2009.
University Journal of Law, V4, No1,
 Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and
December 2012.
their
 The Construction and Distribution of
Enforcement
under
the
FDRE
Condominium Houses in Ethiopia in Light
Constitution, Jimma University Journal of
of the Right to Housing, Ethiopian Journal
Law, V1 No2, January 2008.
 The Defence of Duress, Consent and
of Legal Education, V3 No 2, Dec. 2010.
Necessity under the New Criminal Code of
 Environmental Democracy in Ethiopia:
Emphasis on Public Participation in the
Administration of Environmental Impact
Assessment, Bahir Dar University Journal
of Law, V.1, No.2, November 2010.
 Environmental Impact Assessment, Bahir
Ethiopia, Jimma University Journal of Law,
V1, No1, October 2007
Dar University Journal of Law, V.1, No.2,
November 2010.
11
Ermias Ayalew (Assistant Professor) (LL.B, Addis Ababa University;
LL.M, University of Pretoria & University of Amsterdam; PhD
Candiddate, University of South Africa ). Ermias has been
coordinator of the Postgraduate Program, the Research and
Community Services Unit of the School. He has Been handling such
courses as Advanced Legal Research Methods, Law, Environment
and
Development.

Publications


Environmental Measures for Process and
Production Methods in the GATT/WTO
rules (published in the Jimma University
Law Journal, Vol. 2. 2010).
Eco-labelling in the WTO TBT Agreement
and Concerns of less developing countries
(published in the Bahir Dar University Law
Journal, Vol. 2. 2010).

Civil Law Remedies for Victims of Medical
Malpractice Under the Ethiopian Law
(Ethiopian Journal of legal education, Vol.
4, No.2. 2012).
Co-author a Book on the Ethiopian Law of
Traders and Business Organizations
(published by the support of the
Netherlands NUFFIC-NPT project ).
his Masters degree in Land Management from the
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden.
Ato Daniel has been teaching and researching
Ethiopian land law for several years. Ato Daniel
has a vast experience in teaching and writing
modules, research articles and newspaper
commentaries. He co-authored two teaching text
materials on Jurisprudence and Land Law for
Ethiopian law schools sponsored by the FDRE
Justice and Legal Research Institute. He also
wrote and presented papers on international
conferences related to expropriation, land rights,
and informal settlements in Hanoi-Vietnam,
Marrakesh-Morocco and Rome-Italy respectively.
Daniel Woldegebriel
Daniel Weldegebriel Ambaye (LL.B, MSc) is a
lecturer and a PhD fellow teaching both at the
Institute of Land Administration and the School of
Law, Bahir Dar University. He received his first
degree in laws from Addis Ababa University and
12
3. LL.M IN BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LAW
The dynamics of doing business both locally and
internationally demands legal professionals wellequipped with the knowledge and expertise to deal
with complex situations in business transactions.
Corporate businesses are ever flourishing in the
country and across the globe, and everyone expect
this trend to mushroom in the years to come.
These realities motivate the law school to respond
to the acute demand in legal personal in business
and corporate law.
international and national business regulatory
regimes fare in both economic and legal terms.
The program will also develop a range of
transferable skills, including in research, written
and oral presentation.
Graduates will be equipped with an advanced
understanding of the legal and theoretical
framework of the business, corporate and tax laws
of Ethiopia. They will be able to identify problems
in business and corporate law and come up with
workable solutions. Further, they will acquire the
knowledge and skills required to conduct cuttingedge research in a professional manner in their
field. Most importantly, graduates are expected to
contribute a lot in the understanding and
consolidation of the promising business and
corporate developments in Ethiopia. Generally,
the LLM in Business and Corporate Law prepares
students for:
 a career as an independent researcher in
the public and private sector with special
focus on business and corporate issues;
The program is designed to train applicants with
background in law. The program focuses on a
systematic examination of the basic aspects of the
Ethiopian and international business and corporate
regime. The study involves a sustained and
methodological investigation of its [business and
corporate
law’s]
normative,
institutional,
procedural and cultural framework. The program
is expected to widen the students’ understanding
of theoretical background and legal framework of
commercial law. Also, the LLM in Business &
Corporate Law program will allow the students
the flexibility to receive advanced instructions in
related yet distinct areas of law. The program is
designed in such a way as to enable students
acquire an in-depth understanding of how the

a career as advisor, consultant, and dispute
settlers in matters involving business and
corporate issues.
Course Breakdown
The list of courses offered in the program is indicated in the table below by the year and the semester in which they
are offered.
Advanced Legal Research Methods
Law of Corporate Finance & Governance
Comparative Corporate Law
Business Tax Law
Business Regulation
Ethiopian Competition Policy & Law
International Business Transactions
Seminar on the Law of Public Enterprises &
Commercial Dispute Settlement
Endowments
International Economic Law
LLM Thesis
Law of Financial Market & Institutions
13
What Students Say about the Program
from various universities in Ethiopia and abroad (when the
nature of the course demands). And the presence of qualified
staff also added our confidence. Now, I assure that I feel
quite happy knowing that I am studying in respected
university in respected area of specialization by outstanding
professors across the globe.
As per my view, the inter-displinary nature of all the
programs, flexible and friendly management of problems in
consultation with coordinator, non-existence of unwanted
bureaucracy, presence of reserved safe and well-equipped
class rooms for each programs, certainty of schedules,
opportunities to participate in the research and article
publications, research- centered nature of studies and a
chance to attend many public lectures which may develop
knowledge in addition to individual works and class room
lectures are some strengths that I observed and of course
which many of my friends will share me. These and other
qualities attract the demand of the stakeholders to study in
BDU Law School LLM programs.
Belay Worku
Bahir Dar University School of Law is training students in
its Masters programs launched since the last few years. The
programs are heavily trusted to be interesting in terms of the
demand on the market, currency, and adding working
knowledge of the professionals who are engaged or going to
be engaged in the studies to further their career. As a result,
I have witnessed stiff competition among the practitioners
and academicians from many stakeholder institutions to
enroll in the programs.
Therefore, it is my firm belief that the programs will add a
value in realization of the university’s vision to become one
of the top ten premier research universities as of 2025.
Lastly, let me wind up by quoting Burt Manus’s (well known
leadership writer) statement. He states “[t]here is no more
powerful engine driving an organization toward excellence
and long-range success than an attractive, worthwhile,
achievable vision for the future, widely shared."
So, let’s share the vision of our school’s LLM programs and
in effect assist the realization of the vision of Bahir Dar
University.
Cheers!!!!
I am a student in Business and Corporate Law program.
This program is the youngest in age compared to others. As
first entrant, we have been hesitating about the quality and
sustainability of this program but the doubts were totally
eroded in the first week of the academic year. Because, we
observed the commitment and success of our coordinators to
trap experience wise enriched and well known professors
the courses by great and
renowned
professionals
in
Ethiopia. It also brings foreign
teachers from different parts of
the world.
I am a first year student of LLM program of
business, corporate law at Bahir Dar University. The program is very
interesting and multi disciplinary. All the courses in the program have great
importance and relevant to the current and future world.
As a student of the program I am very happy and learn very
enthusiastically. The most determinant thing in the program which makes it
very special is the teaching learning process. The school is very careful
about the assignment of the professors who teach the courses. It delivers all
14
The staffs are also very
cooperative and supportive. They
strive to make the program
logistically
full.
All
the
coordinators of the postgraduate
program which I observe in my
stay at the school are very
committed and try all their best to
support students and to make
courses to be delivered timely.
The school has also a potential in
this program. There are many
teachers who have expertise in
the area. Their existence enables
the school to expand the program
self sufficiently in the future.
Above all, the university is also now focus on post graduate programs since
it have a plan to be one of the ten research universities in Africa in 2017
EC. This makes the program very strong.
Finally, I should use this chance
to express my wish for a better
future for the program and the
staffs.
Generally, the program is now going fantastic. All the courses delivered
well and timely, the environment is good and the program has bright future.
I invite everyone who wants to learn your LLM to join this nice and full of
market opportunity program at BDU.
Some of the Professors Handling Courses in the Business & Corporate Law Program
Moser (ed.), Dispute Resolution in China, Juris
Publishing, July 2012.
• “Investment Treaties and Investment Arbitration in
Asia: Coming of Age”, Transnational Dispute
Management, Vol. 8, Issue 5, December 2011.
“Chinese Investment Treaties and the Opportunities
Offered by Most-Favoured-Nation Provisions”, N.
Rubins (ed.), Investment Arbitration Decisions, Juris
Publishing, 2011 (co-authored with John Savage).
• “The Emerging Third Generation of Chinese
Investment Treaties”, Transnational Dispute
Management,
Vol. 7, Issue 4, December 2010.
• “Chinese Investment Treaties: What Protection for
Foreign Investment in China?”, in M.J. Moser (ed.),
Doing Business in China, Juris Publishing, 2009 and
2011 update.
• “Structuring an Investment to Enhance Investment
Treaty Protection?”, Singapore Arbitrator, Singapore
International Arbitration Centre, April 2008.
• “The New Generation of China BITs: Will More
Investor Protection Mean More Arbitration?”, The
Asia
Pacific Arbitration Review 2007 (co-authored with
John Savage).
Elodie Dulac (LLM, University of London, King’s
College, United Kingdom DEA (J.D. equivalent),
University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, France)
Elodie is a senior associate in King & Spalding’s
Singapore office and a member of the firm’s
International Arbitration group; appointed as an
arbitrator in ICC, SIAC and ad hoc arbitrations. ; cochair of the Australasian Forum for International
Arbitration. Visiting Lecturer, International Arbitration
Course, University of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Publications
• “Chapter 5 – Chinese Investment Treaties: What
Protection for Foreign Investment in China?”, in M.J.
Economic Law.
Publications
‘The Impact of the Trade Related Intellectual Property
Rights Agreement on the Realization of the Right to
food’, Bahir Dar University Journal of Law, Vol. 1, No.
1, 2010.
2. Contribution of a chapter in a book entitled “Acceding to
the WTO from a Least Developed Country’s Perspective:
The Case of Ethiopia” The contribution is entitled “TRIPS,
Plant Varieties and the Right to Food: A Case Study of
Ethiopia’s Legal Regime on Protection of Plant Varieties.”
The full citation of the book is as follows: Markus
Krajewski and Fikremarkos Merso Birhanu (eds.), Acceding
to the WTO from a Least-Developed Country Perspective :
The Case of Ethiopia, (Nomos Publisher, 2011, Germany,
ISBN 978-3-8329-6270-8).
1.
Tilahun Wolde (Assistant Professor) (LL.B, Bahir Dar
University; LL.M, University of Pretoria & American
University, Washington College of Law). Tilahun
Woldie has been handling the course International
15
3. An Overview of the Legal Regime Governing Minerals in
Ethiopia, Bahir Dar University Journal of Law, Vol. 3 No.3
(Forthcoming)
4. Legal Reform Needed to Govern Ethiopia’s Petroleum
Resources (Addis Fortune Newspaper, Vol. 13, No. 633,
June 17, 2012).
5. Co-authored a Textbook on Criminal Procedure Law,
(Bahir Dar and Jimma Universities: Printed at Eclipse,
Hailegebriel Gedicho (Assistant Professor)(LL.B, Bahir Dar
University, LL.M, University of Groningen). Hailegebriel has
deliver a course on Commercial Dispute Settlement
Publications
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European Influence on Ethiopian Antitrust Regime, 3 Mizan
Law Review 2, at 271-287 (2009) [Available at
http://ajol.info/index.php/mlr/article/view/54012/42555.]
Deck Carriage under the Maritime Code of Ethiopia: A
Comment on the Decision of the Addis Ababa High Court in
Girma Kebede v Ethiopian Shipping Lines Case, 1 Bahir Dar
University Journal of Law 1, at 157-162(2010) [available at
www.ssrn.com ].
The Role of Ethiopian Courts in Commercial Arbitration, 4
Mizan Law Review 2, at 297-333 (2010) [available at
www.ajol.com.]
Managers’ Power, Ultra vires and Third Parties under Ethiopian
Law: a Critique of Ethiopian Mineral Development SC v GTT
Trading, 1 Bahir Dar University Journal of Law 2, at 287299[available at www.ssrn.com ].
Ethiopian Law of International Carriage by Air: An Overview, 5
Mizan Law Review 2, at 215-245 (2011) [Available at
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/mlr.v5i2.2.].
A Legal Appraisal of the Liability of the Actual Carrier under
Ethiopian Law, 2 Bahir Dar University Journal of Law 1, at 85
-101 [available at www.ssrn.com ].
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2010).
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The Scope of Article 2081 of the Civil Code: A Comment on
Negist Makonnen et al v. Ethiopian Airlines, Inc., 2 Bahir Dar
University Journal of Law 1, at 153-158(Also indexed in Public
International Law eJournal, Vol.7, No.59, May 7, 2012;
available at www.ssrn.com).
Bahir Dar Suppliers Conspiring against Competitive Price,
Addis Fortune (Dec 12, 2010, available at
http://www.addisfortune.com/opinion.htm.).
Federalism’s Frailty Where Multiculturalism Exists, Addis
Fortune
(April
19,
2009,
available
at
http://www.addisfortune.com/Vol%209%20No%20468%20Arc
hive/opinion.htm.).
Avoid Misuse of Abuse of Dominance Law, Addis Fortune
(Dec
14,
2008,
available
at
http://www.addisfortune.com/Vol%209%20No%20450%20Arc
hive/LetterAvoid%20Misuse%20of%20Abuse%20of%20Dominance%20L
aw.htm.).
Antitrust Law Regulates Acquisitions, Addis Fortune (July 31,
2011,
available
at
http://www.addisfortune.com/Antitrust%20Law%20Regulates
%20Acquisitions.htm.).
Carrier Liability Limitations Archaic, Addis Fortune (May 27,
2012,
available
at
http://www.addisfortune.net/Carrier%20Liability%20Limitation
s%20Archaic.htm
Admission Requirements in all the Programs
In order to be considered for admission to the programs, candidates must hold an undergraduate degree in
law with a minimum CGPA of 2.0. Additional admission requirements include:
A passing score on the program entrance exam, as set by the School;
Submission of the required number of official transcripts of academic record, which must be sent
directly to the BDU Registrar’s Office by the issuing institution;
16
Submission of application form to the BDU Registrar’s Office;
Presenting a letter of sponsorship from financial supporter, if any;
Payment of the university application fee.
Other requirement set by the University Senate Legislation
Duration of Study in all the Programs
Students are expected to complete the
permitted to extend this time with the
program and earn their degree over a
approval of the Postgraduate Program
period
years.
Coordinator, provided the duration of the
special
study is not more than three (3) Academic
of
However,
compelling
two
(2)
students
academic
showing
circumstances
may
be
Years.
Quality Assurance Mechanisms of the Programs
With a view to achieve the aspired goal of
to assess the performance of students.
excellence by running the programs the proper
programs and their contents will be evaluated
quality assurance mechanism will be used in the
from time to time according to its dynamic nature.
input, process and output levels. Thus due
Feed
consideration will be given to merit and
institutions
excellence in the recruitment of trainees and
questionnaire, interview or discussion forum.
appointment of teaching professors. The training
Impact assessment may also be made to check the
will be student-centered and participatory, and one
achievement of the standards set as graduate
that
profile.
require
intensive
reading.
Standard
backs
from
will
be
trainees
and
gathered
by
employing
way
assessment and testing mechanisms will be used
Our Library Collections
Our Library is one of the best libraries in the country in terms of the variety of books and other
collections that are relatively recent and up-to-date. The school has always been thankful for those
governments, institutions, and individuals who have enabled us to own an excellent library. In this
respect, we recognize the generosity of the Netherlands’ Government that contributed a lot to our
library by putting in place the money through its NPT-NUFFIC project. We are Grateful to the
American Bar Association for donating thousands of books to us through the BDU Law Students
17
The
of
Union. We are extremely indebted to Professor Pietro Toggia for the commitment and selfless
endeavors and successes in bearing the burden of collecting from different sources hundreds of books
in the area of criminal justice and other disciplines.
Research Activities
The Law School has been working to carry out its share of responsibility towards the fulfillment of the
University’s grand vision to become one of the top ten Universities in Africa. To that end, the school has
been making sure that researchers would get the forums to present their research works and share ideas
with fellow scholars. Every single opportunity has not been missed unused in order to make use of and
benefit from expertise of scholars in and out of the country by way of organizing seminars and public
lectures. Academic staffs have been conducting researches in different topics that are expected to have
immense importance in solving community’s problem. The following are the research thematic areas
that the school carefully identified and approved for all future researches:

Criminal Justice and Human Rights

Environmental and Land Law

Economic Laws

Governance and Democratization
These thematic areas are meant, among other things, to strengthen our postgraduate programs through
research. The school’s strategy on putting the research outputs into practical problem solution has been
made clear in its community services thematic areas. They are identified as:

Free-Legal Aid Services

Community-based Legal Awareness Programs
Our Journal
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We have the BDU Law Journal. It has been serving our postgraduate program by proving the opportunity for
the staff and our Masters’ students to publish their works. It is also a forum for legal intellectuals across the
country and abroad to publish their academic works. The school succeeds in maintaining its fourth
uninterrupted publications. The fifth publication is underway, and it will be issued very soon. The dedicated
editor-in-chief and the committed editorial committee work tirelessly with the vision of excelling the reach
of legal scholarship. The advisory board composed of esteemed professors and practitioners in the country
and abroad. They always extend unreserved support for the editorial committee, and watch for the quality of
the Journal.
19
Contact Address:
Mizanie Abate (PhD)
Director, School of Law
Mobile: 0913250026
E-Mail: lawmizane@yahoo.com
Ermias Ayalew Chernet (Assistant Professor)
Postgraduate, Research and Community Service Coordinator
School of Law
Bahir Dar University
Mobile: 0911975810
0918767674
E-Mail:- ermilaw@yahoo.com
P.O.Box. 1364
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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