About Nerene
"I am a double law graduate from the University of South Africa, where I obtained my BCom Law degree in 2022 and my LLB in 2025. I have been working as a Legal Assistant at Greyvenstein & Spence Attorneys in Barkly East since August 2022, and started my articles in 2026. I have a passion for conveyancing and will be attempting my conveyancing and notary exams in 2027."
On enrolling at the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law
"I chose GLR because the Institute is highly reputable and the medium of education is of a high standard. As I studied through the post all my life, it seemed fitting to study through GLR. However, I was quite surprised at how much assistance we got from the lecturers and staff at Gawie le Roux."
"I really appreciated all the lecturers; they put effort in and showed a passion for teaching. Mr Johan van Stade stood out for me. I also purchased the GLR Accounting recordings to prep for the attorneys' admission exams. His day-to-day, simple examples were so interesting and simplified the learning materials."
The mock trial
"The mock trial was really impressive. It took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to interact with my team. I am not actually much of a team player and prefer to do things all by myself. But I really enjoyed it."
Practical examples and explanations
"The 400-hour PVT programme was well-compiled with updated legal principles/case law. The lecturers explained the content well.
I was familiar with many of the concepts presented in the programme, but did not always understand much of what was going on. In practice, I had lists when a matter came in. I would work through my list from 1 to 2, etc. and see which one of the list items it matched, and then I would do what was written on my list. For example, when drafting a deed of sale, I would go through my list stating:
1. Who is the purchaser/seller... (add the names of parties)
2. price... (add price, check VAT, etc.)
3. suspensive conditions (financing, give 60 days)...
Now that I'm equipped with practical examples and explanations on how things actually work in practice, I don't need to use the generic robot-like examples and lists, which I started with in 2022. I can draft a purchase price clause knowing how to determine VAT and a suspensive condition to match. This is just one general example. I was also able to assist in two divorce proceedings because I was made aware of new case law which none of my older peers knew about."
Nerene's tips for PVT students
"My practical tip would be to never skip a day. Always do some of the work allocated for that week. You will thank yourself later."
"After the programme, go straight into the admission exams and write them while the content is still fresh in your head."
On facing challenges
"I faced both personal and professional challenges during my studies with GLR. On the days when I had to attend Zoom sessions for the mock trial, I often had medium-heavy workload, with work coming in and clients expecting feedback. This sometimes made it difficult to balance my professional responsibilities with my studies.
I also experienced some frustration when preparing for the mock trial, as I felt that some of my fellow team members were not as prepared or organised as I expected them to be. While I preferred completing tasks earlier in the day, some of my team members worked on them later in the evening, which was different from my own approach.
I managed these challenges by using my break times and lunch periods to attend to work-related tasks and ensure that I remained on top of my professional responsibilities. I also had to remind myself that everyone works differently. We are all individuals with different working styles, strengths, and approaches, and each person brings something unique to a team. Learning to be more understanding and adaptable helped me manage my frustrations and work more effectively with my fellow students."
Nerene's recommended reading for legal practitioners
"I would suggest The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It is a brilliant book based on military strategy; however, it teaches you to be prepared for anything you can encounter by thinking strategically and knowing what you are dealing with."
What's next?
"Other than the conveyancing and notary public exams next year, I have a newfound interest in AI as well as space law, which I am hoping to explore in a more detailed manner."
Last updated on 21 September 2026.