Practical vocational training for candidate attorneys – accredited by the LPC
The Gawie le Roux Institute of Law offers a 400-hour practical vocational training (PVT) programme (previously known as practical legal training (PLT)), for prospective candidate attorneys and candidate attorneys under contract (articles).
Why should you attend a PVT School?
It is compulsory to complete a programme of structured coursework (law school) if you want to be admitted as an attorney.
When should you choose to do the 400-hour programme?
If one of the following two scenarios apply to you:
- Scenario 1: If you don’t have a PVT contract, or find it difficult to secure a contract, the 400-hour programme offers the following benefits:
- After completion of the 400-hour programme, you may conclude a one-year PVT contract instead of a two-year contract – (Reg 6(1)(b)). (The only requirement is that you lodge your 400 hours certificate of competence with your one-year contract at the LPC for registration.)
- You may write your competency-based examinations (“board examinations”) immediately after completion of this programme. - Scenario 2: If you have served for more than one year (12 months) under a two-year contract (24 months) and completed the 400-hour programme during those 12 months “outside your normal working hours”, then you may apply for admission and enrolment as an attorney – (Reg 6(2)). The practical benefit is that you may reduce your compulsory two-year practical vocational training contract (articles) to just one year.
What are the benefits of the 400-hour programme?
- 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 (see scenario 2 above).
After successful completion of this programme:
You will receive a certificate of competence, which forms part of your application for admission and enrolment as an attorney.
Hear what GLR alumni have to say about their experience with our Institute.
Click here for course subjects
Subjects for the 150-hour and 400-hour PVT programmes are the same but the prescribed notional hours spent on lectures and assignments differ.
- Constitutional law
- Ethics for legal practitioners
- Delictual & personal injury claims
- Civil procedure & trial advocacy
- Criminal court practice & trial advocacy
- Labour dispute resolution
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Legal practice accounts management
- Wills & estates
- Matrimonial matters & divorce
- Legal costs
- Drafting of contracts
- Introduction to cyber law
- Introduction to practice management
The timetables for 2025 are now available.
Programme admission requirements
- An LLB degree from a South African university; or
- A law degree in another country, which is equivalent to the South African LLB degree, and which is recognised by SAQA as equivalent. (Please note that confirmation of foreign accreditation by SAQA is the sole responsibility of the applicant); and
- An average of 55% or more in your degree (this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the School’s Principal).
The logistics
- The 400 notional hours prescribed by the LPC for this accredited programme consist both of lectures and homework. (‘Homework’ is time allocated for preparation, assignments, further reading, and assessments.)
- There are two options available for lectures -
- online attendance of lectures; and
- by watching recordings of these lectures.
- All subjects will be presented online and will be available via recordings, except the following two, which will be presented either in person or online, namely: Civil procedure and trial advocacy (4½ weekdays); and Criminal court practice and trial advocacy (3 weekdays).
- The lectures for these two subjects will be offered in Pretoria (Lynnwood) in person and simultaneously online. The duration will be the same whether you attend in person or online. Recordings will not be available for these two subjects.
- Assessment for each subject will be online.
- The fee includes all study material (PDF format), lectures, and access to the online portal, where applicable.
- Timetables for 2025 are now available. View the timetable for the first intake of 2025 here. The School reserves to right to amend the timetable. You will be notified as soon as possible, should it be necessary to make any changes.
Our promise
- The aim of this programme is to help you to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and the applied understanding required for legal practise.
- We strive to equip you with the practical skills you will need to successfully immerse in the legal profession.
- 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.
What are you waiting for?