Message from the Acting Head of School

W elcome to the Wits School of Law! I am delighted to introduce you to our School and our community. I hope to show you that this is the ideal place to study law and launch a satisfying professional career.  

Currently celebrating 90 years of excellence, the Wits Law School is rich in people as well as in history. Few law schools can match the diversity of our student and staff body, our reputation for critical scholarship and the sustained contribution we have made to legal education and practice. The Wits School of Law is an exceptional environment in which to study law, and it also happens to be situated in one of Africa’s most exciting cities. 

The Wits School of Law will challenge and shape your intellect while giving you the skills necessary to succeed in a demanding profession. Our members of staff are prominent scholars who pursue cutting-edge research and organise major conferences in addition to preparing students for a career in law.

In response to the changing demands of the legal profession, we have recently revitalised our Bachelor of Laws curriculum and introduced several skills development courses. Importantly, too, our tradition of teaching students to think critically and analytically is appreciated by prospective employers. Wits Law graduates are always in demand.

Our students come from all over Africa and the rest of the world, bringing wide-ranging experiences and viewpoints that enrich classroom discussions. This diversity not only enhances the university experience but lays the foundation for a powerful professional network.

Wits Law students are enthusiastic about what they do, and many of them are committed to public service. For example, LLB student Dorothy Mokale recently spoke at the Paralympic Conference in South Korea. In 2012, our law students launched no fewer than two law journals, the Wits Students' Law Journal for Southern Africa and Inkundla. The Black Lawyers' Association student chapter was also launched in 2012, and since then it has embarked on a number of admirable community programmes. Our graduates serve with distinction as members of the profession and provide support, mentorship and resources to current students.

I urge you to visit us and see for yourself the exceptional legal education, culture and inspiration that mark the Wits experience. And while you are here you should spend some time enjoying the vibrancy of Johannesburg itself: visit the Wits Origins Centre, the Constitutional Court and the Apartheid Museum, explore world-class shopping malls from Soweto to Sandton, and feel the buzz of Johannesburg's night life.

Whether you are a prospective student, an interested visitor or an alumnus, I hope to see you on campus soon.