We recently hosted our first-ever GLR PVT School Award Ceremony to celebrate the success of aspiring legal practitioners who excelled in the 400-hour practical vocational training programme.
The top 12 students achieved excellent marks and walked away with Gawie le Roux vouchers which they can spend on any of our courses, workshops, and webinars.
Here are some of the top achievers.
"I enjoy helping people and draw pleasure in finding solutions to areas of need presented to me."
"The struggle of reconciling acquired academic legal theory and applying concepts correctly gave me 'scare moments' upon completing my LLB. The PVT structured coursework, although intense, afforded me a platform that synergised academic legal theory with actual societal legal issues in a manner that provided required legal solutions. Entering the legal field at a time where legal cases are televised live in South Africa has helped me gain confidence seeing that our seasoned legal professionals don't always agree about concepts I considered basic in my amateur legal mind (such as what schedule a case falls under)."
- Abrinah Masondo
"I completed the rigorous 400 notional hours which thoroughly prepared me for practice as well as laid a strong foundation in preparation for the competency-based examinations."
"Currently immersed in practical vocational training and awaiting the results of the last round of CBEs, I am committed to continual growth in the legal field, and aiming to complete my articles by early 2025. I approach challenges with ambition and precision, thriving in fast-paced environments while maintaining meticulous attention to detail. My ultimate goal is to become a conveyancer, and I am very excited for my career which is now starting to take shape."
- Candice-Lee van Rensburg
"I believe that hard work, perseverance, and dedication are the keys to success."
Chardonay earned her LLB from Unisa in 2023 while balancing her studies with her role as an administrative assistant at Essen Sub-Acute/Rehabilitation and Day Hospitals in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. Her experience in the medical field sparked her interest in medical law, a discipline she intends to pursue further. She found the programme "exceptional and transformative for her legal journey". Beyond her legal aspirations, Chardonay is also deeply interested in Theology and plans to pursue a Higher Certificate in Theology in 2025. She is passionate about research and writing, currently working on a book aimed at Christian children.
- Chardonay Naidoo
"I am an older candidate embarking on my third career."
"Now that I have embarked on this law career, I can say that I wish I had done so many years ago but it's never too late! I am, for now, interested in family law, labour law and criminal law but, given my business experience, commercial law would seem worth looking at. To be honest though, I am confident in my ability to manage whatever opportunities may present themselves; I am game for anything. Given my IT and education background I remain very interested in legal education and the application of IT thereto and remain abreast of developments, waiting to spot an opportunity. I am particularly interested in applying so-called 'AI/machine-learning technologies' to reasoning about legal cases – we are still far from this holy grail."
- Lance Stringer
"Eager to embark on my legal career, I aim to leverage my diverse interests and skills to contribute meaningfully to the legal profession and make a positive impact in my community."
Luyanda is a recent graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand, holding a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Laws. With a strong academic foundation and a keen interest in various fields of law, she is particularly drawn to commercial and business law, labour law and dispute resolution, family law, cyber law, and intellectual property. She is committed to advocating for equitable solutions in family and labour matters, ensuring that clients' rights are upheld.
- Luyanda Maema
"I believe in justice and when challenges come my way, I face it head on."
"I graduated from Stellenbosch University where I studied BCom (Law) and thereafter completed my post LLB degree. I am a dedicated, hardworking down-to-earth person. I am very passionate about the law, where I try to seize every opportunity I am presented with, and I am filled with excitement for the experiences and life lessons yet to come."
- Lynn-Mari Schoonwinkel
"Next year, I aim to pass all four board examinations with the support of GLR’s prep classes after which I will complete my articles."
"I currently reside in the small town of Prince Albert in the Karoo where I work as an Administrator at a frail care facility. Due to the absence of law firms in my area I am currently unable to complete my articles. Instead I am proactively working on strengthening my financial position in order to relocate and pursue my Master's degree next year. In the meantime, I am gaining valuable experience interning with a local attorney and actively contributing to community development. Apart from my full-time job, I also serve as a facilitator and administrator for Slimlappies, a non-profit organisation focused on teaching children in my town to read, write, and empower themselves. As I could not do my articles directly after graduation, I chose to take an unconventional route; completing the 400-hour PVT programme with Gawie le Roux was the first step."
- Monique Klue
"Starting my legal studies later in life was a unique experience, especially with many of my study peers being the same age as my children."
"However, I quickly realised that age doesn’t matter when studying - we all face the same challenges. I am currently an HR Manager at a privately owned timber company in a small rural community where everyone knows and cares for one another. My passion is ensuring fairness in every situation, whether at work, in my community, or in my studies. Standing up for those facing unfairness is something I believe in, even when it’s difficult. Balancing my family responsibilities with my studies has been challenging, and while I haven’t yet secured articles, I remain committed to pursuing them."
- Sonnett Scholtz