Law cum laude graduates.Future Looks Rosy for Law Cum Laude Graduates
The future looks bright for Law cum laude graduates Ms Nabeela Edris, Mr Ntokozo Mbeje, Ms Arlia Alli, Ms Kerushnie Govender, Ms Ajekai Adjei, Ms Nomfundo Mashinge and Ms Jolene Thompson, who are looking forward to exploring opportunities open to them in the legal sector.
At only 22, Edris already has a lot going for her as she is currently serving her articles at law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in Johannesburg and is an entrepreneur and founder of the sleepwear brand, Majesty.
‘I pursued an LLB degree because I have always enjoyed searching for solutions by thinking out of the box and mastering effective communication,’ said Edris. ‘These are the skills required to enjoy this degree and to move forward in the legal profession and my business. My most memorable experience during my degree was participating in the Moot Court during which I researched particular areas of the law and got a taste of litigating in a mock trial,’ she said.
Edris is working toward getting admitted as an attorney and climb her way up the ladder to directorship of a big corporate as well as expanding her business to create jobs, thus contribute more substantially to the South African economy.
Mbeje, whose areas of interest are in litigation and intellectual property, says even though his first career option was to become an astronaut he doesn’t regret choosing Law.
‘Growing up, there were really three options my friends and I had - becoming a doctor, a lawyer or an astronaut!
‘Watching a lot of movies and series assisted in my overall decision-making. Lawyers were always portrayed as calm and collected. They always had a way out and that was the kind of person I wanted to be,’ said Mbeje.
Mbeje who is currently serving his articles at Adams & Adams says re-activating the students’ branch of the Black Lawyer’s Association on the Pietermaritzburg campus was his biggest achievement after graduating cum laude. Now he is looking forward to even bigger and better things.
‘In 2015, my friends and I decided to reactivate the Association as the branch was last active five years prior and law students on the campus could really benefit from this platform. That was a watershed moment for us because we had moved from the ongoing concerns of varsity life and assessment pressure to focusing on change outside our immediate circle and revived something bigger than us which would continue long after we had left the Law School,’ he said.