What is PVT?
Practical Vocational Training (PVT) prepares law graduates for the workplace. PVT consists of two parts, namely:
- the contract concluded with a law firm (PVT contract / articles of clerkship); and
- the structured coursework programme (PVT school).
While working under a PVT contract, you will obtain practical skills and experience “on the job”. The PVT school, on the other hand, supplements the clerkship experience with practical training and knowledge.
The programme of structured coursework has been standardised. The programme is typically offered in two formats, namely:
Why should you do PVT?
Practical Vocational Training (PVT) is one of the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in South Africa. PVT includes serving under a PVT contract (articles of clerkship) and completing a programme of structured coursework (PVT School).
The GLR PVT School will help you to gain a broad view of the legal profession. During your PVT contract, you might be asked to work in a specific area of the law, but the programme of structured coursework will cover a broad spectrum of skills.
If you successfully complete the 400-notional hour programme, you may apply to reduce your PVT contract period by 12 months. (Regulation 6(1) of the Legal Practice Act.)
What is the difference between the 400-notional hour programme and the 150-notional hour programme?
The 400-notional hour programme is a more thorough programme than the shorter 150-hour one. The main advantage of the 400-notional hour programme is that you may reduce your compulsory two-year practical vocational training contract (articles) to just one year. In other words, you can save one year of articles. Please note that larger law firms often insist on a two-year contract in any case.
A 150-notional hour programme is acceptable as the training component of your PVT, but then you must do two years of your PVT contract.
What is the benefit of doing a 400-hour programme?
A 400-hour PVT programme is more thorough than a 150-hour one. The main advantage of this programme is that you can shorten your articles.
Can you do the 400-hour PVT School when you are already in the second year of your PVT contract?
Yes. You may still do the 400-notional hour programme in your second year. Remember that it is recommended to complete your PVT contract.
How can you comfortably complete the 400-hour programme when you’re working full-time?
You can do the entire GLR PVT School online from your home. You can watch recordings outside working hours – at your place and in your own time. This is possible because all, except for two Trial Advocacy subjects, will be recorded. These two subjects require real-time interaction. You can still do these online, or you can come to the venue in Pretoria where it will be presented in person. Please take note that if you are under a PVT contract you will have to get permission from your principal to attend these two subjects, whether online or in person.
Assessments and reading work can also be done in your own time.
Is a PVT certificate necessary to write the LPC’s attorneys’ admission exams?
You may write the board exams:
- if you have completed your PVT contract; or
- if you are currently busy with your PVT contract and have done at least six months of the contract; or
- if you have completed the programme of structured course work (400 notional hours).
Note: You can write the attorneys’ admission exams even if you have not completed your articles yet but have complied with the requirements of an LPC-accredited 400-hour PVT programme.
Is the GLR PVT School sufficient to prepare for the attorneys’ admission exam?
These PVT programmes help you bridge the gap between the theoretical legal knowledge you have obtained at university and the applied practical skills needed in a law practice. Prior theoretical knowledge (obtained in the LLB degree) is therefore assumed and will not be repeated. The focus here is on practical training. This programme will to some extent help you to prepare for the admission exams, but it will not be sufficient. The main purpose of this programme is to prepare you for practice, and not for the exam. Gawie le Roux Institute of Law offers short online courses to prepare for each of the board exam papers. Visit the website for more info.
Meet the PVT team at Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
Dr Liezl Ball, PVT School Principal
Dr Liezl Ball was a lecturer in the Department of Information Science at the University of Pretoria from 2011 to 2023. She earned her PhD in 2021 and has published several articles. She enjoyed lecturing and teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Liezl joined the Gawie le Roux team in 2024 to help with the new PVT School.
René Booysen, PVT School Registrar
René Booysen obtained her B.IS (Publishing) degree from the University of Pretoria. She joined the Gawie le Roux team in 2023 and is responsible for the PVT programme. Before joining our team, René worked in the publishing industry in South Africa and New Zealand.
Learn more about our GLR PVT School lecturers here.
Last updated on 10 February 2025.