Truthfully, this is a difficult question to answer without delving deep into what life dealt me whilst I attempted to achieve this milestone.
Admission day
At the age of 51 on 23 May 2025, I was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of the Republic of South Africa, and to be honest, it is still a bag of mixed emotions.
In a court filled with advocates, forty-two soon-to-be-admitted attorneys, family members, judges’ secretaries and registrars, and me standing at the bench with my hand up in a sworn gesture, a tsunami of emotion overcame me. Right there in front of everyone, including the Honourable Judge Windell and Judge Maier Frawley. I cried like a sobbing child while taking my oath. It was that ugly cry…the sobbing and heaving type of cry, but for me, it was healing and released so much that I had held in for so long.
Changing careers
When you are older or perhaps “a more mature adult”, you are quite settled in your career and life in general, whilst fortunate enough to be earning a fantastic salary and then decide to change careers. There is a lot riding on making that choice to change careers so late in life. By now, you have huge responsibilities, you may have children, a home, vehicles, dependants and many monthly expenses and a steady income, which can very quickly deter you from pursuing a career change, especially one that requires you to head back down the ladder to where you were 20 years ago.
In saying this, as you mature, you come to the realisation that having an employer and receiving a stable income is great, but this is all just a false sense of security. Many know this, and many have experienced this firsthand. Working for an employer can end quite abruptly, and at any time, one can be left stranded, abandoned.
Whilst on this 13-year journey, my integrity, patience, ethics, honesty, perseverance, self-motivation, character and lack of income were challenged over and over. The road to my admission was a long and treacherous one, and there were many days I just wanted to throw in the towel. There was nothing graceful about my achieving this accolade, nor smooth sailing. There were dark, hard days, and I had to dig, really deep, not only to carry on but to keep my mouth shut and learn discernment.
Prior to taking on this mountain of a challenge, I was a well-paid IT expert in my field. In 2013, at the age of 39, I made a crazy decision to pursue an LLB degree.
Whilst working full-time, I studied via correspondence through UNISA. At this stage, I was completely enthusiastic, green behind the ears and totally naive to what was involved and expected of me. Little did I know how much my life would change and just how much my character would be tested.
Facing obstacles
I faced heavy setbacks and challenges physically, mentally and financially. Some of these challenges left me traumatised, heartbroken, ashamed, embarrassed and feeling like a complete failure, but I knew I couldn’t give up until I reached the end.
At the end of 2021, a gruelling nine years later, I finally completed my LLB.
In January 2022, I began my articles, and my candidacy contract concluded in March 2024. It was during my time of candidacy that I really got to see what this career is all about, not just with colleagues and other firms, but court staff too.
By the time my admission arrived in May 2025, I had been unemployed for a year after articles. This is a reality for many candidates if their firm does not retain them after the expiry of the contract.
Needless to say, I was completely stressed out and in an extremely negative state of mind about my legal career. Depression, severe anxiety and despair are real! At this point, I was filled with shame about losing everything to follow my dream. I should have been celebrating this momentous achievement and occasion, and how I overcame every challenge placed on my path, but in all honesty, I could not feel this pride or happiness. I was beaten, bruised, defeated, alone and empty.
Starting a law firm
After my admission, I had to take stock of my mental health and financial situation. I sat down and analysed my future. I was already at ground zero and didn’t have much more to lose. With this in mind, I decided to open my own law practice, Angelique Mansour Attorneys Inc.
Since my admission, I am relieved but stressed and anxious. I am filled with fear. Fear that I am too old, fear of starting over from nothing, fear of the uncertainty of opening my own firm and how I am going to bring in business, fear of the responsibility and the severe consequences of making an error. I am worried about my lack of experience and the lack of support.
I continue to remind myself that with God, all things are possible, and I can vouch for that. With Him at my side, I have overcome so many fears, obstacles, trials and tribulations. Throughout my life and most of my career, I was thrown into the deep end. I was given two choices: sink or swim.
A growth mindset
I am wise enough to know that with every challenge comes progression. Growth does not happen in comfort; it happens in the uncomfortable, in the fear, in the uncertainty. This is the purpose of life: to grow, to learn, to be better humans.
I know this resonates with many reading this. Irrespective of age, each one of us has our own challenges, our own cross to bear, and each emotion, hurt, and challenge is valid. There is no person whose cross is more important. However, no matter what you are facing, I want you to remember that everything is temporary and you are bigger than your problems and fears.
You are resilient, brave and strong, even when you don’t believe it. You will face times that require you to pray, to submit, to find humility, to surrender and to dig deep within yourself to find the strength to move one step forward, and all that counts is that you don’t give in to your mind. You are going to have to enforce faith, hope, belief, consistency, discipline, self-motivation, focus, perseverance and tenacity to overcome the darkness and your tricky mind. You have to get up every day, no matter how you feel.
A final note
I want to reinforce that when you reach the date of admission, please take cognisance of the proud moment you are about to face, as well as the importance of the oath you take. There are not many careers where a person is sworn in and required to take an oath. The oath you take should be what you live by in all your dealings during your career as an attorney.
Be proud of this career and practice with humility, ethics, morals, dignity, respect, consistency, accuracy and honesty at all times. The work and money will follow when you are a person whose character is of high value.
About the author
Angelique Mansour is a Director at Angelique Mansour Attorneys and a Gawie le Roux Institute of Law alumna.