About this Short Course
The Short Course in Academic and Career Success for LLB Students is designed to support law students in managing the academic, personal and professional demands of their legal studies. Whether you're in your first year or preparing for final exams, this course provides practical tools to enhance your academic performance from mastering exam techniques like IRAC and building strong study habits, to managing stress and maintaining well-being during high-pressure periods.
Beyond the classroom, the course helps students gain clarity on the practical steps needed to launch a successful legal career. You will explore how to find and make the most of opportunities such as internships, clerkships, moot court, legal clinics and volunteering. Sessions also cover how to craft effective CVs and cover letters, build professional relationships with academics and practitioners, and grow your confidence as a future legal professional.
Throughout the course, you will be guided by an experienced legal professional who understands the realities of law school and the profession. Her insights will help you develop the mindset, resilience and career readiness needed to stand out in a competitive field. By the end of the course, you’ll be better equipped not only to succeed in your LLB but to take meaningful steps toward a fulfilling career in law.
Competencies Developed in this Short Course
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Legal Exam Proficiency: Acquire the ability to apply structured response techniques, such as the IRAC method, to effectively tackle legal assessments.
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Study and Memory Techniques: Gain knowledge of how to memorise legal theory and case law efficiently and implement recall strategies under pressure.
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Time and Stress Management: Possess skills to manage workload, deadlines, and exam pressure while maintaining mental and physical well-being.
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Self-Awareness and Emotional Resilience: Recognise and manage burnout, impostor syndrome and low motivation during demanding periods.
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Work-Life Balance: Understand how to maintain a sustainable balance between academic responsibilities and social/personal life.
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Career Exploration and Engagement: Be capable of identifying, applying for, and engaging in practical legal experiences such as vacation work, internships, clerkships, moot court and legal clinics.
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Professional Networking: Learn skills to build and nurture relationships with lecturers, mentors and professionals in the legal field.
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Community and Volunteering Participation: Gain an awareness of the personal and professional benefits of volunteering within and beyond the university environment.
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Career Communication Tools: Become competent in developing clear, tailored and persuasive CVs and cover letters for legal roles.
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Preparation for Legal Practice Pathways: Know the structure and expectations of professional practice exams and be ready for the transition into pupillage or Practical Vocational Training.
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Personal Branding and Online Presence: Build a professional personal brand and leverage online platforms to support career opportunities and visibility in the legal field.
Course Delivery, Duration, and Effort
This short course is delivered through the SA Legal Academy online learning campus. The course is divided into 8 modules. In this way, you can maintain a work-life balance while studying a just-in-time course to upskill yourself. The required effort is 4 to 8 hours per week.
Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for LLB students at any stage who want to enhance their academic performance, manage stress and prepare for a successful legal career. It’s especially valuable for those seeking practical legal experience, planning for pupillage or vocational training and looking to build a strong professional network and personal brand while still at university.
About the Presenter
Adv Lisa Thomas
A former criminal defence advocate and in-house counsel in Durban, Adv Lisa Thomas has seen the law practice from both sides. She graduated with her LLB, completed her pupillage and was admitted as an advocate in 2008. Her current area of interest is in alternative dispute resolution, specifically mediation. She is a maverick for humanity and ethics within the legal profession in South Africa with a focus on candidate attorneys.
Admission Requirements
There are no prerequisites to attend this course.
Assessments
All formative assessments are conducted online. Candidates must achieve all competencies of the course. To achieve the course, learners must be declared competent in all assessments.
Certification
Successful completion (i.e. competence in all modules) of this course will lead learners to be awarded a Certificate of completion.
Curriculum
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Module |
Availability |
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Module 1: Getting Started – Your First Year at University |
15 August 2025 |
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Module 2: Study Smarter – Academic Skills for Law Success |
26 September 2025 |
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Module 3: Exam Strategy – How to Prep Like a Top Student |
30 September 2025 |
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Module 4: Surviving (and Thriving) Beyond the Books |
30 October 2025 |
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Module 5: Real-World Readiness – Practical Legal Experience |
27 November 2025 |
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Module 6: What Comes Next – Career Paths in Law |
3 December 2025 |
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Module 7: Final Year Focus – From Law Student to Legal Professional |
10 December 2025 |
Module 1: Getting Started – Your First Year at University
Overview:
This module introduces first-year law students to the structure and purpose of the LLB degree while preparing them for the transition from high school to university. It covers key success factors such as managing heavy reading loads, understanding legal jargon, building productive relationships with lecturers, establishing effective study routines, and mastering essential legal resources
Learning Objectives:
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Gain insight into the structure and purpose of the LLB degree.
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Explore the mindset shift required when transitioning from high school to university.
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Learn what to expect in terms of reading load and how to manage legal jargon effectively.
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Understand the dynamics of the student–lecturer relationship in a legal education context.
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Discover how to develop and adapt a study routine suited to the demands of a law degree.
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Become familiar with essential legal resources and how to apply them throughout the course.
Module 2: Study Smarter – Academic Skills for Law Success
Overview:
This module equips law students with the skills to read, interpret and summarise case law and legislation while mastering clear, logical exam answer structures. It also covers effective use of legal research databases, time management strategies and proper referencing to avoid plagiarism in academic writing.
Learning Objectives:
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Learn how to effectively read, interpret and summarise case law and legislation.
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Develop the ability to structure examination answers clearly and logically for maximum marks.
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Gain familiarity with key legal research databases and how to use them efficiently.
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Discover time management strategies to meet demanding academic deadlines.
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Understand how to avoid plagiarism and apply correct referencing in legal writing.
Module 3: Exam Strategy – How to Prep Like a Top Student
Overview:
This module guides law students in mastering the purpose and structure of legal exams while applying the IRAC method to craft efficient, well-organised answers. It emphasises the role of practice exams, effective memory techniques for legal content and practical strategies to maintain mental and physical well-being during exam periods.
Learning Objectives:
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Understand the purpose and structure of legal exams.
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Apply the IRAC method to plan and present efficient, well-structured answers.
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Recognise the value of practice exams in developing exam readiness.
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Use effective techniques to memorise legal theory and case law for optimal recall.
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Implement practical strategies to maintain mental and physical well-being during exam periods.
Module 4: Surviving (and Thriving) Beyond the Books
Overview:
This module empowers law students to recognise and address burnout, manage academic pressure, and overcome impostor syndrome in the university environment. It also focuses on maintaining a healthy academic–social balance, staying motivated during challenging periods and building strong support systems both on and off campus.
Learning Objectives
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Recognise the signs of burnout and manage academic pressure effectively.
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Understand and mitigate feelings of impostor syndrome in a university setting.
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Maintain a healthy balance between academic responsibilities and social life.
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Stay motivated during challenging periods in their law studies.
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Appreciate the value of support systems on and beyond campus and learn how to access or cultivate them.
Module 5: Real-World Readiness – Practical Legal Experience
Overview:
This module helps law students explore pathways to practical legal experience through vacation work, internships, clerkships, moot court, legal clinics, and student law societies. It also covers building professional relationships, leveraging volunteering for skill development, and creating tailored CVs and cover letters for the legal profession
Learning Objectives:
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Explore the versatility of the LLB degree within the South African legal landscape.
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Understand the steps and requirements for becoming an attorney or advocate.
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Gain insight into LLM studies and LLB conversion options for international legal practice.
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Learn what legal recruiters and law firms look for in strong candidates.
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Discover alternative career paths outside of traditional legal practice.
Module 6: What Comes Next – Career Paths in Law
Overview:
This module highlights the diverse opportunities available with an LLB degree in South Africa, from qualifying as an attorney or advocate to pursuing LLM studies or international conversion pathways. It also examines what legal recruiters seek and explores alternative career options beyond traditional legal practice.
Learning Objectives:
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Identify and pursue opportunities for vacation work, internships and clerkships.
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Understand how moot court, legal clinics and student law societies contribute to practical legal experience.
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Recognise the value of building professional relationships with lecturers and legal professionals beyond campus.
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Appreciate the benefits of volunteering as a means of gaining experience and developing transferable skills.
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Implement the fundamentals of crafting an effective CV and cover letter tailored to the legal field.
Module 7: Final Year Focus – From Law Student to Legal Professional
Overview:
This module prepares law students for professional practice exams and guides them through the application processes for pupillage and Practical Vocational Training. It also emphasises networking, professional etiquette, and building a strong personal brand—both in person and online—to enhance career prospects in the legal field.
Learning Objectives:
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Navigate and prepare effectively for professional practice exams.
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Understand the application processes for pupillage and Practical Vocational Training, and how to position themselves for success.
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Recognise the importance of networking and professional etiquette during their university years.
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Appreciate the value of cultivating a strong personal brand, especially online, to support their legal career development.
About SA Legal Academy
Welcome to SA Legal Academy (SALA), a provider of courses to help you succeed in your chosen career. We are committed to providing our students with the highest quality training and support, to ensure that your skills and knowledge are up to date and ready to face the challenges of the modern workplace. Our courses are designed to ensure that you reach your professional goals and enhance your career prospects. With our experienced training staff and comprehensive resources, you can be confident that you will receive the highest quality of training from SA Legal Academy.
SALA is a Level 2 B-BBEE contributor, with 125% procurement recognition. Training spend on certain solutions can be allocated against the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE Scorecard through accredited and nonaccredited training or claimed through SETA grants. In addition, 25% of your Skills Expenditure can be claimed on non-accredited training or courses.
Short Course Fees
The course fee is R 1 750.00 and consists of:
Educational Resources
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Online Materials: Access a wealth of online resources, from e-books to webinars, enhancing your learning experience.
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Practical Case Studies
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Live Sessions: Interact in real-time with experts, gaining insights and clarifications on complex topics. Missed a live session? No worries. Access recorded webinars anytime, anywhere.
Learning Support
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Facilitation: Benefit from expert-led facilitation sessions that offer personalized guidance, addressing individual queries and ensuring a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
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Formative Assessments: Reinforce your understanding with assessments on different topics.
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Learner Forum: Engage in meaningful peer-to-peer interactions through our dedicated learner forum. Share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on projects to enhance your learning experience.
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Continuous Support: Our dedicated team is always on standby to assist with any academic or administrative queries, ensuring a smooth learning process.
Flexibility and Convenience
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Study Online: Complete your course and take your assessments online, giving you the freedom to learn from the comfort of your home.
Payment Methods
Debit / Credit Card or Instant EFT
You can pay directly on our website for an easy, secure, and instant transaction. During promotional periods, customers can take advantage of additional savings. This is the fastest and most efficient option, saving both time and money.
EFT / Bank Deposit
You can make a payment directly into our bank account using your Online Banking App, Online Banking services, or by visiting your local bank branch.
Your Company / Employer
It may be beneficial for your company to invest in training for its staff members. As there are financial and tax advantages for doing so, please speak with your employer or Training / HR manager about the possibility of paying for this training.
Third Party
If you have someone who is willing to pay for your studies, such as a parent or relative, they can either log in and pay on our website or they can pay via any of the payment options above on your behalf.
Payment Options
Option 1: Once off payment
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R 1 750.00
Corporate Training Solutions
At the Legal Academy, we recognize the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in legal and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritize hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios.
Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call 012 941 0448. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organizational goals.
Contact Us For More Information
Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!
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Online chat through our website www.legalacademy.co.za
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Call: +27 (0)12 941 0448
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Email: [email protected]
To register for this course, click here.