Carel Terblanche successfully completed the coursework for the LPC-accredited 400-hour GLR PVT School.
His ambition and growth mindset earned him recognition as a top achiever at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law's PVT Awards Ceremony in June 2025.
About
"Recently, I embarked on a new professional journey to realise a lifelong ambition to qualify as a patent attorney. Wishing to apply my experience, technical expertise, and legal knowledge, I am uniquely positioned to navigate the complex intersection of technology and intellectual property law, aiming to assist innovators in protecting their creations and advancing technological progress."
Background
"I hold an array of academic qualifications, including a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Quantitative Management and various short courses."
Motivation for enrolling at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
"What first attracted me to GLR was the fact that the 400-hour PVT School offered a lot of flexibility, you can attend the classes live or catch up on the recordings in your own time. The fact that these classes are presented during the day was a big plus for me.
I did find that attending the classes in real time was a big benefit, as you could interact with the lecturers as well as fellow students. You can ask questions and get answers immediately, and having access to the recording afterwards is also a great way to review topics.
I would strongly advise that you attend these classes in real time if at all possible, to get the maximum benefit out of them, but you can also be safe in the knowledge that by 'participating' in the recordings, you will still benefit."
On facing challenges
"My biggest challenge was that I obtained my LLB more than 20 years ago, and I have not been active in the law per se. This meant that much of the coursework was 'new'. Many of the lecturers mentioned at the start of the course that a lot of basic/academic knowledge is presumed, as everyone recently obtained their LLB.
This statement was a bit of a stretch in my case, and it made me a bit nervous. However, the way the programme is structured, the knowledge and skill of the lecturers and the course material made it possible for me to 'recover' that old knowledge and apply it in a practical way."
Pursuing patent law
"I started my career many years ago as an engineer by first obtaining my B.Eng in Electrical and Electronics. At the time, my wife-to-be was studying law. In 'self-defence', I decided to also do so. It was also in this time frame that a friend and I developed an invention that we then patented. This sparked an interest in patent law, as it combines engineering and law.
This started me on the road, and I first enrolled for the Patent Examination Board (PEB) exams in 2004, which went well, but unfortunately was not able to complete the second year at the time due to family commitments."
"Fast-forward 20 years, and the opportunity presented itself where I’m now in a position to pursue my ambition of qualifying as a patent attorney and launch a second career in this profession."
Carel's tips for those pursuing law later in life
"It is never too late to start! As most people progress in their careers, you naturally start to get more specialised, and as the saying goes, 'as you specialise, you are learning more and more about less and less until you know everything about nothing'. In my case, I like to be a jack of all trades, preferring to know a bit about everything.
At some point during my career, and as I moved into more managerial positions, I started to miss the fundamentals which drew me onto a specific career path. I specifically realised that I missed maths, so I enrolled for a BCom in Quantitative Management to keep my technical skills honed while still being an effective manager. At the back of my mind was always the dream to launch a second career as a patent attorney.
Becoming a patent attorney requires several steps:
- get a technical qualification ✓
- get an LLB ✓
- pass the PEB exams (hopefully done in the next couple of months)
- complete a PVT programme ✓ (Thanks, GLR)
- write and pass the LPC's attorneys' admission exams (the next step for me)
- and finally, in my case, secure articles (this is my next big challenge)"
A final word
"The toughest part of 'starting over' is getting out of your comfort zone and deciding how you want to do it. But have a plan and take it step by step."