The Unisa Law Clinic recently hosted a highly successful benchmarking breakfast under the theme "Strengthening Access to Justice Through Collaboration, Innovation and Shared Practice". The event marked a significant milestone in advancing clinical legal education and promoting meaningful access to justice within South Africa’s evolving legal landscape.

The breakfast brought together distinguished legal practitioners, academics, institutional stakeholders and leaders within the legal fraternity for robust, impactful discussions centred on strengthening partnerships, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches in the legal aid and clinical legal education spaces.

The event was attended by the Head of the Unisa Law Clinic, Adv Kgagudi Morota, alongside dedicated staff of the Law Clinic, whose ongoing commitment to legal empowerment and community service continues to contribute significantly to the constitutional mandate of facilitating access to justice.

A highlight of the event was the keynote address delivered by the Director of the Legal Practice Council, Ignatius Briel, on "The Future of Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice". His thought-provoking address emphasised the evolving role of university law clinics in shaping socially conscious legal practitioners, while simultaneously ensuring that vulnerable and marginalised communities continue to receive quality legal assistance and support.

Insightful presentations from the heads and representatives of various university law clinics further enriched the benchmarking session. These included Eddie Hanekom, Head of the University of Pretoria Law Clinic, and Prof Stephen Tuson from the University of the Witwatersrand Law Clinic. Their contributions highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional collaboration, enhancing practical legal training for students, and ensuring the sustainability of access-to-justice initiatives across universities and legal institutions.

Esteemed stakeholders also contributed meaningfully to the dialogue, reaffirming the importance of collaborative engagement in advancing the legal profession and community development. Contributors included Lily Malatsi-Teffo (representing the South African Women Lawyers Association, SAWLA), Flavia Isola (from Legal Aid South Africa in Pretoria) and representatives from the Black Lawyers Association (BLA).

The engagement created a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, institutional reflection and strategic collaboration aimed at improving the effectiveness and reach of clinical legal education in South Africa. Discussions throughout the morning underscored the need for innovative legal service delivery models, stronger partnerships between institutions, and a continued commitment to social justice and transformation in the legal sector.

As an entity committed to both academic excellence and social justice, the Unisa Law Clinic remains steadfast in its mission to bridge the gap between legal education and community service. The Clinic continues to play a pivotal role in equipping future legal practitioners with practical legal skills, while providing essential legal services to indigent and vulnerable communities.

The success of the benchmarking breakfast serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation and shared practice in building a more inclusive and accessible justice system. Through initiatives such as these, law clinics and legal institutions continue to contribute meaningfully towards ensuring that access to justice is not merely a constitutional ideal, but a lived reality for all South Africans.

The Unisa Law Clinic extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, stakeholders, delegates and attendees for their invaluable contributions, which made the event a resounding success. Together, through collective effort and shared commitment, the legal fraternity will continue to work towards establishing a more transformative, equitable and accessible justice system for all. 

* By Kgopotjo Lebepe, Communication and Marketing Officer, Unisa Law Clinic