About Mecia
"My path to law has not been the most traditional.
I began my tertiary education at the University of Cape Town, where I studied towards a BMus in Opera. At first glance, opera and law may seem worlds apart, but they are more connected than people might think.
Opera school challenged me in ways that were very different from law school, and in some respects, even more intensely. It required discipline, resilience, preparation, emotional intelligence, and the ability to perform under pressure. You cannot rely on talent alone. You have to practise consistently, take correction, respect the craft, and learn how to be vulnerable while remaining technically precise.
With singing, I loved the feeling of becoming a vessel for something greater through my voice. With law, I feel something similar, but through my intellect, discipline, and the ability to bring clarity where there is complexity.
Over time, I realised that I wanted more than a purely creative path. I discovered how much I enjoyed business, strategy, structure, and practical decision-making.
What started as a way to support myself grew into a business, and I eventually made the difficult decision to complete my LLB independently while running that business. Completing my LLB with an 81% average while working, building a business, and often without the support structure I needed, remains one of my proudest achievements.
That season taught me that success is not always neat or linear. Sometimes the long way around gives you the exact foundation you need."
On enrolling at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
"After completing my LLB through a largely independent route, I knew that academic success alone was not enough. I wanted direct exposure to legal practice: how practitioners think, how matters move, how documents are drafted, how deadlines are managed, and how theory becomes useful to a client.
GLR appealed to me because it offered a practical bridge between academic law and the profession. I wanted to be in a high-standard environment where I could observe, participate, and be challenged. I also wanted to be part of a learning community again, and I saw GLR as an opportunity to network and meet like-minded people in the legal field."
400-hour vs 150-hour PVT programme of structured course work
"I chose the 400-hour PVT programme because I wanted the most comprehensive experience I could reasonably pursue at this stage of my legal journey.
It is important to me to feel competent in every stage of my career. Competence expands with experience, but I wanted to make sure that I was doing as much as I could to become the best legal practitioner I can possibly be.
The programme was challenging to juggle with work and life commitments, but it was worth it. I believe the 400-hour programme gives you a more well-rounded experience, more time to engage with the work, and more opportunity to build confidence before entering practice.
It is a greater time and financial commitment, so each student must consider what is important to them and what is possible within their own capacity."
The mock trial
"The mock trial was an opportunity to perform again, not with my voice this time, but with my intellect, preparation, and ability to think under pressure.
My background in opera probably made me appreciate that aspect even more. The courtroom and the stage are obviously very different spaces, but both require respect for the craft. You need to know your material, read the room, manage your nerves, and deliver with intention.
The exercise also made me realise how stressful litigation can be, and how steadfast you need to be within yourself to remain calm, confident, and focused on the work. Confidence is not something you magically have on the day. It is built in the preparation beforehand."
Mecia's tips for PVT students
- "My first practical tip is to remember that discipline is one of the highest forms of self-respect. Motivation will not be there every day. That is why you need to remember your 'why' and follow the plan, not the mood. Make a realistic plan, commit to it, and keep showing up, even if you show up imperfectly.
- My second tip is to concern yourself with the law itself, not only with the study guide. Study guides and textbooks are useful tools, but they are not the ultimate authority. The law is. Become comfortable reading Acts, Rules, regulations, and cases for yourself. Learn how to find the latest version of legislation, locate the relevant provisions, interpret them, and apply them. You are not just trying to pass. You are training yourself to think and work like a legal practitioner.
- Thirdly, take care of your health and well-being. Legal training requires discipline, but it also requires steadiness. Work on your physical health, emotional regulation, communication, and self-awareness. Personal development is professional development.
- Finally, do not take yourself or life too seriously. Work hard, but take moments to breathe and celebrate the small milestones too. Achievement is meaningful, but the person doing the achieving also needs care."
On facing challenges
"One of the things I have worked very hard at over the last few years is creating a life with as little unnecessary drama and disruption as possible. That may not sound like an academic strategy, but for me it has been essential.
During my studies, I handled pressure by protecting my capacity as far as possible. I tried to keep my life structured, peaceful, and focused. That meant being disciplined not only with my study schedule, but also with my energy.
I had to be honest with myself about what helped me grow and what distracted, drained, or unsettled me. I also tried to surround myself with people and environments that encouraged me to become better.
So yes, there were pressures and challenges, but I handled them by being intentional about my environment, my discipline, my peace, and the people I allowed to influence me. That gave me more capacity to focus on the work in front of me and keep moving towards the life I am trying to build."
Life is like a song
"If my life had a soundtrack, it would be Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin, performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir.
People often expect a classically trained musician to choose a complicated opera aria or an obscure classical work, and I understand why. When you study music formally, you listen differently. But my taste has simplified in a way I really appreciate. I have come to value music that is beautifully composed, deeply felt, and powerfully executed without needing to be complicated for the sake of being impressive.
If my life had to sound like something, I would want it to sound like that: prayerful, resilient, joyful, and full of becoming."
What's next?
"I have not yet decided exactly which area of law I want to specialise in. At this stage, I do not feel that I have had enough practical exposure to make that decision responsibly. I believe the area in which I am naturally most aligned, and where I can become the best legal practitioner I am capable of becoming, will reveal itself at the right time.
At this point in my life, upskilling may mean building more horizontally rather than vertically.
I spent my entire twenties pursuing higher education, and I think there is value in pausing to appreciate the work I have done, reflect on how far I have come, and consider where I should set my sights next.
Further study may still form part of my journey, but qualifications alone are not enough. I want to build real-world competence, learn through practice, mentorship, observation, and experience, and make sure my next step is aligned rather than driven by pressure or prestige.
I have found technology, contract, commercial law, and certain aspects of criminal law interesting up to this point. I am also passionate about business and the role lawyers can play in helping businesses become more efficient, structured, and resilient."
Last updated on 26 June 2026.