About Luke
Luke Magerman passed all four of his competency-based exams in one go. Here's how he did it.
Background
"I attended Milnerton High School, where I excelled in my commerce subjects, however, I also had an interest in law, which is why I decided to do a Bcom (law) at the University of Stellenbosch from 2017 to 2019. During this degree, my interest in law peaked resulting in me enrolling for the postgraduate LLB program at the University of Stellenbosch from 2020 to 2021, which I graduated from cum laude."
Motivation for enrolling for Gawie le Roux's Attorneys' Admission Exam Courses
"My motivation for enrolling for the Gawie le Roux course stemmed from word-of-mouth referrals. I was advised that the course was very practical and contained everything you would need to successfully prepare and pass the board exams. I can now confirm that this is indeed correct, the study material is structured in such a manner that all the information you will need is easily accessible and digestible - followed by practical questions relating to that section of the work taken from past papers.
As most students, myself included, are working full time whilst preparing for the board exams, it is both convenient and efficient to have access to everything that could prepare you to pass the exams in one place. As I attempted (and succeeded) to write all four papers in one go, I also wanted to ensure that I had the most detailed, yet easily digestible, study material available (which the Gawie le Roux study material is)."
Luke's study tips
- "My best tip, which applies to any theory examination, is to plan well and be proactive with your studies. By creating a plan and organising your time and study material, you can ensure that: firstly, you get through all the study material; and secondly, that you make notes of the parts of the work that you struggle with or do not completely comprehend yet.
- Effective planning also provides you with a chance to structure your studying in such a way that you have time to be proactive during your studies, this includes doing past papers, and (what I like to do) creating your own questions based on the theory and then to quiz yourself and do active recall based on the questions that you have formulated.
- Lastly, try not to cram and ensure you get enough sleep leading up to your board exams, as a lack of sleep will negatively affect your overall preparation and retention more than you think, and ultimately the trade-off is not worth it."
On securing articles as a candidate attorney
"When it comes to articles, I would suggest doing sufficient research on a firm, what the firm's culture is like, and how best to prepare for the application process (inclusive of tailoring your CV for that specific firm and the interview process). Although the CA market is highly competitive, (if possible) I would suggest finding a firm that aligns with your values, to ensure that over the two years, you can gain as many skills and knowledge as possible. But most importantly, be yourself and remember if it is meant for you, it will not pass you by!"
What's next
"I am currently a Candidate Attorney at Werksmans Attorneys, in the Tax department so I intend to pursue the following upskilling opportunities over the next 6 months to 3 years: a Masters in Commerce, specialising in taxation, as well as the Gawie le Roux webinars relating to Tax Advice and Trusts. This degree and the two webinars should be instrumental in increasing my overall legal knowledge regarding Tax Law and how trusts can be used as an effective estate planning tool.
I hope to continue as a Tax lawyer and become a specialist in the field of tax and exchange control law."