UFH and Black Lawyers Association formalize relations

Submitted by Tim Wilson on Wed, 08/12/2021 - 08:59
Read time: 2 mins

On 17 November, the University of Fort Hare’s Faculty of Law and the Black Lawyers Association – Legal Education Centre (BLA- LEC) solidified their long-standing relationship with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The MOU entails the provisioning of training to final-year LLB students in trial advocacy, case analysis and how to lead evidence in the simplest manner. The training will be provided by BLA- LEC facilitators which comprise of Judges, Advocates and Attorneys.

The signing ceremony held on the Alice Campus reaffirms the Faculty’s and BLA’s commitment to continue working together to skill and produce all-rounded Law graduates.

In attendance were representatives from the Faculty led by Dr Nombulelo Lubisi (former Dean), the Vice-Chancellor Prof Sakhela Buhlungu, Senior Counsel and Chairperson of the BLA-LEC board of trustees, Advocate McCaps Motimele SC and retired Judge Willie Seriti.

Moving from W.E.B. Du Bois’ quote: “The first duty of a free slave is to free another slave”, Advocate Motimele said this means that the little the BLA- LEC has, has to be shared with others. “This becomes the basis for the signing of this understanding. The rich that the association has throughout the country will be made available to the university’s Nelson R Mandela School of Law.”

According to Advocate Motimele, the training programme is accredited by the Legal Counsel of South Africa and it will give the final years an edge in the employment cue.

He further acknowledged the hard work put in by Dr Lubisi. “I hope to continue working with her.”

The VC appreciated the support and the commitment from the BLA. “This commitment and partnership will have a great impact on our students. It will not only shape their future but shape a future that is different. This is a major contribution and it is not going into a bottomless bucket, it is filling something that has already been filling. The Faculty is willing to grab every opportunity with both hands.” he said.