Desanne Porter obtained the highest mark (65.5%) for the notarial exam in Gauteng, and ranked sixth in South Africa during the second sitting this year.
About Desanne
“I matriculated in 2000, after which I did my N6 Legal Secretary. I commenced employment as a legal secretary and later as a paralegal.
I commenced my LLB in 2013 through Unisa and was admitted as an attorney in December 2021. I was admitted as a conveyancer in August 2026 and have received a date for my application to be admitted as notary in November 2026.”
On enrolling at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
“I was advised that you need four to six months’ preparation for the notarial examination; however, my preparation was approximately two months.
I did the online sessions. It is crucial to work through the notes before the classes to have an understanding or idea of what this course entails, even though the notes are very comprehensive. It truly helps to have the opportunity to discuss questions that did not make sense when working through the study material on my own during the online classes. Erinda is amazing at presenting the course in a way that the content sticks.
I also opted for the recordings of the notarial workshop. As it was so close to the exams, I received the previous workshop recordings to work through while the latest workshop was in session. Johan has a unique way of making the content fall into place in an ‘obvious’ way.”
Desanne’s notarial exam tips
“Work through the material and make sure that you understand the content and why it is being done in a certain way.
Do not just scan or read through the material to say that you have worked through it. Really work through it. I approached our director to explain every time something did not make sense, as I had to understand the reasoning behind it.
Some of the work you just need to accept that it is what it is. Study it as is, for example, the property descriptions (Section, EUA and Real Right to Extend), and especially party descriptions.
I agree with all of the platforms where people have indicated that the biggest reason for the low pass rate is the property descriptions and the party descriptions. It seems easy and straightforward. This is the reason that it is not studied and exercised enough. Practice writing it out."
On facing challenges
“The biggest challenge was to isolate myself from the rest of the world and sit and study. This year I had to teach myself to study again. Work, study, sleep, repeat.”
A final word
“I would advise doing conveyancing first. This way you have studied all the strictly prescribed forms. Notary gives you more freedom to draft in your own words, combining your knowledge of the drafting in conveyancing with the freedom to use your own wording and writing style in the notary exam.”
Last updated on 28 October 2026.