11/05/2026
The UNISA Law Clinic Benchmarking Breakfast, held under the theme “Strengthening Access to Justice Through Collaboration, Innovation and Shared Practice,” was an outstanding success and a meaningful step towards advancing clinical legal education and expanding access to justice in South Africa.
The breakfast brought together distinguished legal practitioners, academics, stakeholders and leaders in the legal fraternity to engage in impactful discussions aimed at strengthening partnerships, sharing best practices and exploring innovative approaches within the legal aid and clinical legal education space.
The event was attended by the Head of the UNISA Law Clinic, Adv. Kgagudi Morota, together with the dedicated staff members of the Law Clinic, whose commitment to community service and legal empowerment continues to make a significant contribution towards the constitutional mandate of access to justice.
We were honoured to host the Director of the Legal Practice Council, Mr. Ignatius Briel, who delivered a thought-provoking keynote address on “The Future of Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice.” His address highlighted the evolving role of law clinics in shaping socially conscious legal practitioners while ensuring that vulnerable communities continue to receive quality legal assistance.
The benchmarking session was further enriched by valuable presentations from heads of the law clinics, including:
• Head of the University of Pretoria Law Clinic, Mr. Eddie Hanekom
• Representative from the University of the Witwatersrand Law Clinic, Prof. Stephen Tuson
Their presentations provided insightful perspectives on strengthening institutional collaboration, enhancing practical legal training and ensuring sustainable access to justice initiatives across universities and legal institutions.
Our esteemed stakeholders also made meaningful contributions to the dialogue, including:
• SAWLA Representative, Ms. Lily Malatsi Teffo
• Legal Aid Pretoria Representative, Ms. Flavia Isola
• Representatives from the Black Lawyers Association (BLA)
The UNISA Law Clinic extends its sincere appreciation to all speakers, stakeholders, delegates and attendees for their invaluable contributions towards the success of this important engagement. Through collaboration, innovation and shared practice, we continue to move closer towards a more accessible, inclusive and transformative justice system for all.