Being the first lawyer in my family, I really had no idea what to expect from this career choice. I had no one in my immediate circle to advise me. Initially, it was really a stab in the dark.
During the course of my studies, I was offered a winter student vacation programme at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, and soon after that came the offer to do my articles at CDH.
Straight out of university, standing in this dazzling, big law firm that looked like one from the movies, I felt truly inspired. It seemed that everything was working out really well...
…until it wasn’t.
One May morning in the first year of my articles, I woke up as I usually did for a 05:30 gym session. I had a dull headache that was progressively growing worse, but I pushed it to the back of my mind and carried on with my workout. After my workout, I was dressed, suited and booted, and headed off to the office to prepare for a 10:00 a.m. meeting.
During my preparation, I managed to jam my printer and once I was back at my desk, I was struggling to read what was written on my screen. Realising that I was having difficulty and probably not going to make it to our client meeting, I stepped into my director’s office to tell him as much. His eyes were as wide as saucers. I later learnt that I wasn’t actually speaking the words that were processing in my head, but rather complete gibberish.
I’m so thankful that he realised the signs were alarming. I was assisted to the sick bay, where I had a seizure. I was then transported by an ambulance to the hospital, of which I have no recollection. Only later that evening, when I came around again, was I informed that I’d suffered a stroke. My left temporal lobe had been affected by a clot the size of a golf ball. This put me on the path of an 18-month recovery process.
Having just started at a top-tier firm, you can imagine that was an unexpected setback. Despite this, I had sheer determination to defy all odds. The board exams were coming up in August, and I was almost delusional about the idea that I was going to write them as scheduled, given that immediately after the stroke, I could not read. I was struggling to talk in full sentences. I would repeat myself. I often describe myself as Dory from the Disney movie “Finding Nemo” at that time. I would tell the same joke every single day, and luckily, the people I surrounded myself with would laugh every single time and brush it off.
I did, however, write my board exams the following year. I also went on to write the Notary Public exam. When I was admitted as an Attorney and Notary Public, I sat back and thought about how full circle I’d come from the person who could not read, to all these wonderful achievements.
Life is not neat. You can be flying high one day, and you could be lying flat on your back the next. Setbacks will crop up in different shapes and forms. What you need to do in this career is be resilient. You need to be able to bounce back quickly, get back on your feet and keep going.
Start with love and passion. Safeguard your resilience. Work it like a muscle because this is a demanding profession. This is also an ever-evolving field. Commit to being an eternal student. You can’t afford to dull your senses and stagnate. Your critical thinking abilities are your most valuable asset. Don’t outsource this skill to generative artificial intelligence. Ask yourself, “what is the quest for the day?” Every day you can travel further than you did the previous day. Push your boundaries, and you will inevitably push the entire legal sphere forward as well.
About the author
Leanne Maroun is the Director of LC Maroun Attorneys Inc., where she specialises in technology and media law. She is passionate about artificial intelligence, legal technology, and tools that can enhance the skills and performance of attorneys.
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Last updated on 22 June 2026.