Practical Vocational Training (PVT) prepares law graduates for the workplace. PVT consists of two parts, namely:
- the contract concluded with a law firm (PVT contract / articles of clerkship); and
- the structured coursework programme (PVT school).
While working under a PVT contract, you will obtain practical skills and experience “on the job”. The PVT School or "law school", on the other hand, supplements the clerkship experience with practical training and knowledge.
The programme of structured coursework has been standardised. The programme is typically offered in two formats, namely:
The two programmes cover the same material, however, the 400-hour programme has longer lectures, more homework and more assessments than the 150-hour programme.
If you do the 400-hour programme, you only have to serve one year under a PVT contract. The 400-hour programme also makes you eligible to write the attorneys’ admission exam, without having a contract.
If you do the 150-hour programme, you must serve two years under a PVT contract. This programme is suitable for candidates who are committed to a two-year period of articles and do not have the time for a programme of 400 hours.
The 400-hour programme is ideal if you:
- want to do a one-year PVT contract;
- want to write the attorneys’ admission exam, without having a contract; and
- is interested in a comprehensive programme that will better equip you for the workplace. (Reg 6(1)(b))
The 150-hour programme is ideal if you:
- do not have time for the comprehensive 400-notional hours programme;
- are committed to a two-year PVT contract;
- may benefit from a programme that is not as expensive. (Reg 6(1)(a))
In summary:
| 150-notional hours | 400-notional hours | |
| PVT contract | If you intend to or are serving under a two-year PVT contract. | If you are not serving under a PVT contract, or if you want to conclude a one-year contract. |
| Exam | You may only write the attorneys’ admission exams after having served six months under a PVT contract. |
You may write the attorneys’ admission exams immediately after completion of this programme. |
| Duration | Four months (with fewer lectures and prescribed study hours). | Four months (with more lectures and prescribed study hours). |
| Investment | Smaller | Bigger |
| Training | Less comprehensive. Candidates will be required to do more on their own and rely more on training at the workplace – hence the requirement of a 24-month contract (articles). | A comprehensive programme that will better equip candidates for the workplace – hence the allowance of a reduced contract period of just one year (12 months). |
It is compulsory if you want to become an attorney. To be admitted as an attorney, you must:
- complete a PVT contract of either 12 or 24 months; and
- successfully complete a programme of structured course work (PVT School) of either 400- or 150-notional hours.
Students who successfully complete the GLR PVT School will receive a certificate of competence from the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law. This certificate must be lodged as part of your application for admission as an attorney.
The PVT School will help you to gain a broad view of the legal profession. During your PVT contract you might be asked to work in a specific area of the law, but the programme of structured coursework will cover a broad spectrum of skills.
If you successfully complete the 400-hour programme, you may apply to reduce your PVT contract period by 12 months. (Regulation 6(1) of the Legal Practice Act.)
Yes. Contact pvt
gawieleroux.co.za for a list of LPC-accredited service providers.
Four months.
150-hour programme:
There are two intakes per year which run over the following periods:
- March to June
- July to October
400-hour programme:
There are three intakes per year which run over the following periods:
- February to May
- May to August
- August to November
Yes.
150-hour programme:
- 2026 Intake 1 closing date: 12 February
- 2026 Intake 2 closing date: 11 June
400-hour programme:
- 2026 Intake 1 closing date: 15 January
- 2026 Intake 2 closing date: 16 April
- 2026 Intake 3 closing date: 16 July
There are 14 prescribed subjects which must be completed. The norms and standards (syllabus) for each has been prescribed by the LPC. Subjects for the 150-hour and 400-hour programmes are the same but the prescribed notional hours spent on lectures and assignments differ.
The programmes are presented on a learning management system (LMS), which is like a website. You will get access to this system before the classes start. This system will contain all the necessary study notes, assessments, and online-class or recording links needed to complete your PVT programme.
There are two options available for lectures:
- online attendance of lectures; or
- by watching recordings of these lectures.
You will have access to both options.
Online lectures will be scheduled on weekdays during working hours starting at 08:00. There are no evening or weekend online lectures.
Recordings can be watched in your own time. The recordings are only restricted by the length of time that they will be accessible. Recordings are available from 24 hours after the online lecture ends, for the duration of the online lecture period; and for a week after the online lectures are finished.
The assessments that are based on the recordings can also be completed in your own time, however deadlines for submissions will apply.
Yes. You can watch the recordings outside working hours – at your place and in your own time. This is possible because all, except for two Trial Advocacy subjects, will be recorded. These two subjects require real-time interaction. You can still do these online, or you can come to the venue in Pretoria where it will be presented in person. Please take note that if you are under a PVT contract you will have to get permission from your principal to attend these two subjects, whether online or in person.
Assessments and reading work can also be done in your own time.
Yes, you may still do the 400-notional-hour programme in your second year. Remember that it is recommended to complete your PVT contract.
There are three requirements:
- Certified ID
- Certified proof of your LLB degree; and
- Academic record.
If you do not have a copy of your LLB degree, you must prove in another way that you have completed your LLB degree. Often your academic record states that you have completed the degree and that it will be conferred upon you on a certain date, or you could get a letter from your university or dean confirming that you have met all the requirements necessary to receive an LLB degree.
Yes. A postgraduate LLB is acceptable, however, you must also submit the academic record and certificate for the undergraduate degree as well.
If you only have one or two modules remaining to complete an LLB degree you may still apply, however, you must provide an official letter from your dean confirming that you are registered for the outstanding modules and the details of these modules.
If you have a foreign qualification, you will need to apply to SAQA for this qualification to be verified and accredited as equivalent to a South-African SAQA-accredited LLB.
- It covers the same course content as the 400-hour programme, but with fewer lectures and fewer prescribed study hours.
- It complements your two-year PVT contract.
- It is more cost-effective than the 400-hour programme.
- Students who completed the 150-hour programme are eligible for a 10% discount when registering for the Attorneys’ admission exam courses to prepare for the competency-based examinations (board exams).
- It cannot give you a reduction of one year on your PVT contract.
- You cannot upgrade to the 400-hour programme later as they are two separate programmes.
- You may only write the admission examinations after having served six months under a PVT contract.
- This is a comprehensive programme that will better equip you for the workplace.
- You can do the entire programme online from your home.
- You may conclude a one-year contract (instead of a two-year contract), or a two-year contract if required.
- You may write the competency-based examinations after completion of this programme.
- Students who completed the 400-hour programme are eligible for a 15% discount when registering for the Attorneys’ admission exam courses to prepare for the competency-based examinations.
- You may reduce your two-year contract to one year.
The purpose of the 150- and 400-hour PVT programmes is to help you bridge the gap between the theoretical legal knowledge you have obtained at university and the applied practical skills needed in a law practice. Prior theoretical knowledge (obtained in the LLB degree) is therefore assumed and will not be repeated. The focus here is on practical training. This programme will to some extent help you to prepare for the admission exam, but it will not be sufficient. The main purpose of this programme is to prepare you for practice, and not for the exam.
English.
Yes. To ensure that you have attended all online lectures or have watched the recordings of these lectures (whichever is applicable), there will be assessments on each subject. Another reason for these assessments is to test whether you understand the content.
50%, but you are encouraged to try and achieve the highest possible mark since this will reflect well on your certificate of competence.
Online assessments will consist of either multichoice questions, assignments, or drafting questions. Students will be tested on their knowledge of the content discussed in class, as well as the self-study material they are required to study in their own time. Assessments can take place during lectures, or after lectures. Please take note: deadlines will apply.
Our lecturers are authoritative in their respective fields of law and draw from a vast pool of personal experience to offer a high-quality and compact learning experience.
You are always welcome to send us questions or concerns via nataliegawieleroux.co.za (email). We strive to resolve all issues promptly.
We will also manage Telegram support groups for the students of each intake.
These programmes follow the same curriculum. You can therefore rest assured that you will cover all the material that is required by the LPC.
One of the benefits of the GLR PVT School is that it can be done completely online from your home, whether you choose the 150- or 400-hour programme. We also have comprehensive notes for each subject in the programme written by experts in each field.
We offer four additional short courses (one for each paper) to prepare you for the exam. These are “finishing” or exam “preparation” courses. See Attorneys' exam training on our website. These are additional courses that do not form part of the PVT School. Once you have completed your PVT programme successfully, you will receive a discount voucher to use when registering for any of our board exam preparation courses.
You may write the board exams (competency-based exams):
- if you have completed your PVT contract; or
- if you are currently busy with your PVT contract and have done at least six months of the contract; or
- if you have completed the programme of structured course work (400 notional hours).
Yes.
- Only students who successfully completed the 150- or 400-hour GLR PVT School are eligible for the discount for the Attorneys’ admission exam courses.
- Students who completed the 150-hour programme are eligible for a 10% discount when registering for the Attorneys’ admission exam courses to prepare for the competency-based examinations.
- Students who completed the 400-hour programme are eligible for a 15% discount when registering for the Attorneys’ admission exam courses.
- The discount code is valid for two years from the date the certificate is issued.
- The discount applies to each paper or when registering for all four papers at once.
- The discount code is not refundable or redeemable for cash.
- The discount must be used upon checkout on the course registration page. The discount will not be refunded later if it is not used.
- The discount code may only be used by the recipient.
Yes, you may transfer your application or registration from a 150-hour programme to a 400-hour programme in the following instance:
- you have requested to be moved via email to pvtgawieleroux.co.za,
- before the first lecture of the intake to which you want to be transferred, and
- when you have paid the deposit or full fees for the 400-hour programme you have selected to move to (i.e. the difference between what you have already paid for the 150-hour programme and the applicable 400-hour programme fees).
Yes, you may transfer your application or registration from a 400-hour programme to a 150-hour programme, in the following instance:
- you have requested to be moved via email to pvtgawieleroux.co.za,
- before the first lecture of the intake to which you want to be transferred, and
- when you have paid the deposit or full fees for the 150-hour programme you have selected to move to (if you have paid the 400-hour programme in full, we will refund the difference between what you have already paid for the 400-hour programme and the full 150-hour programme fees).
No. You must satisfactorily complete all the subjects of our PVT programme to receive your competency certificate.
Yes, our study material for the GLR PVT School (150-hour and 400-hour programmes) has been updated and is aligned with the LPC’s new five-paper competency-based examination syllabus for candidate attorneys. All our intakes for 2026 will already receive training material aligned to the new syllabus.
Yes, candidates who register a Practical Vocational Training Contract in 2026, and who comply with the requirements of Rule 21.11 of the Legal Practice Council Rules, remain eligible to sit for the competency-based examinations in August 2026.
Please note, however, that the LPC discourages new entrants from writing for the first time in August. As the syllabus will change in 2027, candidates who do not pass all papers in August will be required to repeat all papers. (Candidates with one or two outstanding papers will be granted a final opportunity to complete them in November or December.)
All enquiries related to the admission requirements for the competency-based exams should be directed to the LPC.