Varsity College celebrates 100th anniversary of women in the legal profession
A local college based in Sandton gathered and reflected on the journey of women in the legal profession from the past century.
In 1923, the Women’s Legal Practice Act opened the doors for women to enter the legal profession in the country, and Irene Geffen became the first woman to be admitted as an advocate.
The IIE’s Varsity College Sandton celebrated how far women have come in the legal profession by speaking with the young women pursuing their law degrees.
When asked what the 100 More Women in Law Campaign meant to her, Botshelo Matlwe, a second-year Bachelor of Arts in Law student, said, “It is so important to celebrate how far women have come in the legal profession since their admission to it 100 years ago.”
She added that lawyers pave the way, among other things, for ordinary people to understand their constitutional rights and cannot wait to take her rightful place in the profession once she graduates.
Matlwe is the first woman in her family to pursue a career in law. Her family expected her to take after her mother or grandmother and become a nurse, yet, as much as they are her role models, she always dreamt of becoming a successful lawyer.
Leaving her parents behind in Mafikeng while she pursues her degree has been one of her biggest challenges, and she cannot wait to drive back to Mafikeng in her graduation regalia with her degree in hand.
“One day I would love to venture into criminal law, and after watching many seasons of How to Get Away with Murder and being able to relate to one of the junior clerk attorneys, I was inspired to keep persisting in my degree as she inspires to me to become a judge.”
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/331140/students-enjoy-first-career-expo/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/331633/varsity-college-open-day-2/
