On 22 April 2026, the Unisa Midlands Region hosted a student engagement session titled Dialogue with Student Lawyers at the Bloemfontein Regional Service Centre. The event brought together staff, law students and stakeholders in the legal fraternity. The aim was to establish sustainable partnerships with legal professionals to help design and deliver co-curricular practical legal skills programmes to improve student preparedness for the world of work.

Mbodi Khorombi, Acting Deputy Director: Academic and Technology Support (ATS), stated that the country is simultaneously experiencing an unemployment crisis and a shortage of required skills and competence. Graduates seek opportunities to access the job market, whereas sectors and organisations seek talent and, frequently, neither group is satisfied. The legal profession, in both the public and private sectors, struggles to find graduates who are not only academically sound but also job-ready. Khorombi stated that students complete rigorous educational programmes, yet once they graduate and are ready to enter the job market, they are unsure how to do so.

Khorombi said that for educational programmes to be relevant and meaningful, they must be continually adapted and updated to meet societal needs. "We cannot do this alone; we need to work together to serve the students and respond to societal challenges," he said.

He further noted that they must be deliberate in developing and formalising student placement opportunities, as access to education without experience limits student development. "There should be an open and ongoing discussion between the institution and professionals who are devoted to sharing knowledge and experience," he added.

Khorombi remarked that mentorship programmes and student opportunities are required to provide meaningful exposure to legal practice, as well as to leverage collective resources and networks to unlock opportunities within the legal fraternity. He emphasised the importance of formalising partnerships with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound commitments and objectives. "Let us move together with purpose; partnership should not only be valuable but indispensable," he said.

Sipho Matshie, a candidate legal practitioner, emphasised the need for ethical behaviour during a student's academic journey and in the workplace. He urged students to be disciplined and operate with integrity, as unethical activity could jeopardise their professional prospects. He noted that the Unisa Law Clinic integrates theory and practice, while also providing a space for students to learn, gain experience and give back to their community. "Being a good lawyer depends on the ethical conduct, effort and the standard you set for yourselves," he stated.

Machini Motloung, President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers

Machini Motloung, a practising attorney and President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL), noted that to thrive in the legal field, students must enter with a defined purpose and ambitions. He advised students to join structured organisations and participate in legislative processes. He also highlighted that mentoring is required to lay the groundwork for entry into the profession. "Legal professionals are urged to integrate students into their workplaces to provide them with experience in the law industry," he said.

Thabo Siyo, Head of Legal Aid SA, believes that we must work to overcome the difficulties that students and society face. There is a need to develop graduates with the essential skills who can make a difference and address societal challenges. He said, "We need to bridge the theory-practice gap for law students by providing them with tangible exposure to the legal profession".

Students had the opportunity to discuss various challenges, including access to the job market, and to propose possible solutions. Institutions and law firms must collaborate to develop opportunities for work-integrated learning to prepare students for the workforce.   

* By Thotogelo Masenya, Communication and Marketing Officer, Midlands Region