Igama lamakhosikazi malibongwe.
SABWiL Alumni Insight Series : This blog series delights us with pearls that perchance may adorn our journey in law. Alumna Lerato Mudau studies the judgment rendered in our inaugural court and pens the insight. Wathint’abafazi wathint’imbokodo.
The inaugural SABWiL Human Rights Court #s16 SHRC was held in December 2016. This training court commemorates the signing of the Constitution by Tata Madiba on 10 December 1996 in Sharpeville, Soweto. SHRC Justice Advocate Cornwell Dauds and SHRC Justice Attorney Sankari Reddy preside over the case with SHRC Chief Justice Advocate Lindi Nkosi-Thomas SC at the helm.
Some lessons gleaned from the judgment of the inaugural SHRC are that as legal practitioners we must be forthright and honest about the facts, the law, the requirements, and the relief we seek from the court. I also learnt that heads of arguments should be organized logically in order for the judges to quickly comprehend what the case is about, which laws apply, and which facts we should rely on as counsel. The decision encourages us to conduct rigorous and thorough investigation into the suit that has been brought before the court.
The judgment rendered emphasizes the importance of conducting a prepared execution in court. This teaches me that as a legal practitioner, I must set myself apart from other legal practitioners, make myself stand out in the legal profession by selling my time and presence. Another lesson gleaned is that we should not read our arguments in court because we are expected to know everything there is to know about the issue we are presenting. A thorough examination of the reading material is required, implying that the subject must be understood from beginning to end in order to allow for on-the-spot submissions.
The value of words in a courtroom is another point that the judges emphasize. We must be careful not to say anything offensive or irritating during the proceedings. This essentially means that legal practitioners must act competently, diligently and with complete candour when dealing with the court.
In conclusion, I realize the importance of presenting the court with sensible, well-researched heads of arguments, as well as knowing your case like the back of your hand. The decision emphasizes a number of key points that will influence future legal counsel in the coming years.
We invite our readers to enjoy the judgment streaming on our SABWiL YouTube Channel to discover the lessons pertinent to passage in law. Certainly, golden nuggets abound in the #s16 SHRC Judgment, accessible on our channels or now at #s16 SHRC Judgment – SABWiL YouTube
Alumna Lerato L.B. Mudau
SABWiL ALUMNI
18 November 2021
Vuk’uzenzele.
Ubuntu.