About Mmathapelo
"I recently obtained my LLB degree at the University of South Africa and am currently seeking articles of clerkship."
Background
"I have been drawn to commercial law since the second year of my LLB. Prior to that, I leaned more towards criminal and family law as they were the most common practice areas I was initially familiarised with. Whilst I found court shadowing in the Criminal Court exhilarating and of great value, I realised it is not where I’m primarily called to be. I struggled at first with that revelation and even felt uncertain at some point because when I first discovered my law career at age 13, I had always envisioned myself to be a criminal trial lawyer and couldn’t see anything past that.
Since the discovery of purpose is a journey, I finally found mine during my entrepreneurial law course and, later, a company law course. After thorough research, reading beyond the prescribed material, and active participation within the commercial space, I couldn’t deny but embrace that this is where I’m called to serve."
On enrolling at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
"I chose the GLR PVT school because of its stellar reputation and consistent praise from its alumni. The intention behind my search for a law school was to find one that was committed to providing high-quality practical legal training and that had the ability to impart knowledge that would be long-lasting throughout my career journey. I had sent application queries to various law schools, and the Gawie le Roux administration team was the first to attend to me. They were professional and efficient, which made a great impression on me, and I knew I had to go here."
The GLR lecturers possessed similar friendly and respectful personalities. They had excellent communication skills, and they were patient, knowledgeable, and professional throughout the course. I thoroughly enjoy the lectures of Dr Adriette Dekker, whom I found humorous, and I adored her creative style of teaching."
"She created a cheerful learning atmosphere and had the ability to continuously remind me of why I chose to do this."
400-hour vs 150-hour PVT programme of structured course work
"I chose to enrol for the 400-hour PVT course because my goal was to acquire an extensive practical legal training experience as well as to gain a newly enhanced and comprehensive skill set prior to entering the legal profession. Something that I also appreciated about this particular course was its benefits of enabling students to write their competency-based examinations immediately after completion and its superpower to reduce a two-year PVT contract to a 12-month period."
On facing challenges
"Initially, I struggled in the first few days with adjusting to the fast-paced learning environment. However, I quickly overcame that soon after I drew up a study plan and set my academic goals to keep motivated. Because of the study plan, I was able to study ahead of time, which encouraged my inquisitiveness and helped me to remain actively engaged during class sessions."
"I can testify that this strategy played a pivotal role in my success."
Mmathapelo's tips for PVT students
- "My first tip is to manage your time. This will help you to control the amount of time you spend on each task. It will not only increase your productivity but also assist you in meeting deadlines, as well as alleviating academic stress.
- Secondly, study in advance. The ritual of studying ahead of time promotes active learning. Engage with your course material. The Gawie le Roux notes are structured in a way that they are self-explanatory and easy to comprehend. Pre-studying will help you identify topics you may find challenging, which will enable you to ask questions for clarity during lectures and make your learning journey easier.
- And finally, remember your goals. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially in high-pressure environments. Anxiety may start to creep in, and before you know it, you begin to feel uncertain about your future. The simple task of remembering your 'whys' can resuscitate your goals by reminding you of the reason you stay up late at night, the reason you choose resilience over the countless naysayers, and ultimately, the reason you said YES to this call. This simple exercise can be beneficial in keeping encouraged throughout your journey."
What's next?
"I have decided to pursue a Master of Laws in Commercial Law (LLM) to expand my commercial contract drafting skills and to be better equipped to navigate legal complexities commonly found within the commercial space. My goal in achieving this is to utilise my expertise to provide unique, sound and effective business solutions to future clients, to become a vehicle that will assist business clients to realise their goals and to ultimately partner with them to add value and contribute growth to our South African economy."
Last updated on 20/10/2025