In August 2017 I took part in SABWiL Shadowing #SS8. At that time I was a third year LLB student at the University of South Africa, Pretoria. When I saw the opportunity to shadow an advocate I was eager to get the opportunity because, I wanted to learn and experience firsthand the difference between an advocate and an attorney. At the time of the shadowing I had a bit of experience and exposure to the Attorneys’ profession as I had taken part in vacation work and shadowing during the school holidays.
I had the opportunity to shadow Advocate Luyanda Nyangiwe, who holds chambers at Thulamela Chambers in Sandton. The shadowing took place over a period of four days. During the four days I had the opportunity to sit down and engage with both advocates and attorneys who gave me thorough advice on the different routes one could possibly take in order to be a successful advocate or attorney. I also had the opportunity to sit in the high court and watched the proceedings. The shadowing experience was eye opening because I saw the hard work that goes into preparing for a case, from the consultation with the attorney when getting a brief, to the final stage of appearing before the court. I learnt that in order to succeed in this profession you need to work extra hard by making sacrifices, putting in extra hours at the office and remaining disciplined. After the shadowing experience I was more certain on which route I wanted to take as I was always confused. As a result I aspire to be a corporate attorney. The experience motivated me to work even harder in my studies and today I can proudly say I completed my LLB Degree and graduated on 13/06/2019 and currently working as a claims consultant at Alexander Forbes.
So often we just focus only on our studies without engaging with legal professionals and not doing enough research to prepare ourselves properly for when we enter the work environment. This results in one being overwhelmed because there is no prior exposure to the environment. The legal profession is broad and there are so many opportunities for us, we just need to expose ourselves to them. I find is very important for aspiring legal practitioners to expose themselves to such opportunities which SABWiL provides, so that they can be aware of what the field holds and so that they can understand entirely what is expected of them.
Advocate Tiry has contributed to my development as a young professional and has instilled a fighting spirit against all odds. SABWiL has played a major role in setting a firm foundation in the careers of aspiring legal practitioners. It has given us platforms to expand our knowledge and challenge what we already know. The programs held by SABWiL are very informative and relevant to young people. The discussions are always thought provoking and enlightening. The programs don’t only focus on the law and the legal profession, but also on other important aspects of a young professional such as financial literacy. SABWiL has motivated me to work even harder in order for me to reach my goals. SABWiL has allowed me to meet young legal practitioners who are living their dreams and succeeding despite their past circumstances and tough upbringings. Some of the most important lessons I have learnt from the engagement sessions are that, no one owes you your success but yourself, you have to work hard and stay resilient because you will face challenges but always remain focused on your goal.
As a SABWiL Alumni I can without a doubt proudly say that confidence has been instilled in the black child. My dreams are valid. Dreams delayed are not dreams denied.
Igama Lamakhosikazi Malibongwe!!! Womandla!!
Lehlogonolo Lesenya