Law students on the Pietermaritzburg and Howard College campuses turned up in their numbers at the Law Professions Day 2020 to interact with and gain information from prospective employers.
Dean and Head of School, Professor Managay Reddi said the annual event apart from exposing students to the legal profession also serves to forge important links between academics in the Law School and members in the profession. ‘This relationship keeps the academics abreast with the needs of the profession to ensure that the training we offer to our students is relevant and of the highest standard.’
The day attracted representatives from more than 20 law firms including Adams & Adams Attorneys, Bowman Gilfillan, Norton Rose, Werkmans, The Phatshoane Henney Group as well as from organisations such as Legal Aid and the National Prosecuting Authority.
Students heard about various employment and training opportunities available in the legal profession and the value of early job applications. In turn, they raised concerns they had regarding the profession and some gave their CVs to the representatives.
Provincial Human Resources Manager at Legal Aid, Mr Baboo Brijlal said his organisation had over the years recruited a “fair number” of UKZN students and were always happy to come back and find more service oriented recruits passionate about serving the poor.
‘We are committed to giving students hard core experience and access to the law profession by affording them the opportunity to serve their articles,’ said Brijal.
Among those representing their employers at the gathering was UKZN alumna, Ms Moshina Ismail who graduated cum laude last year and is currently a second year candidate attorney at Bowman. ‘I was recruited back in 2017 and started serving my articles of clerkship in Sandton last year,’ said Ismail. ‘I am here to look for candidates to join our graduate programme.’
Fourth-year student Mr Uyanda Maboea said he had already been recruited by Adams & Adams Attorneys to serve his articles. ‘After meeting representatives of the firm in 2018 during my second-year, I was shortlisted for their Recruitment Games programme – a Pretoria-based boot camp event that invites top students around the country. I made it through that and I start serving my articles next year,’ said Maboea.
Words and photographs: Lungile Ngubelanga