- Most law learned at university only helps pass exams, real practice requires procedural and emotional skills.
- Winning cases depends on confidence, strategy, and client trust rather than just knowing the law.
- Relationships, character, and courtroom presence are essential for surviving and succeeding as a legal practitioner.
It took me a while to accept that 80% of what we learn in law lecture rooms only works to impress lecturers and pass exams. An LLB is a licence to enter doors and rooms that non-holders cannot access, but it is not a blueprint for practice.
If you want to succeed as a legal practitioner, you must put aside what you heard at university and learn how reality works. In courts, you will deal with registrars, clerks, administrators, and even judges’ secretaries who expect things their way. Your textbooks will not be enough; you must adapt to the orders and procedures of the court you are in.
Procedures, civil and criminal, are the most critical lessons a law student can learn. In court, knowing the correct sequence can make the difference between your papers being accepted or struck off. University teaches law in theory, but courts operate in practice, and the two often clash. A case strong on merit can fail if procedures are not followed. Urgency in a lecture room is not the same as urgency in a courtroom.
Character and confidence are as important as law
Winning cases requires more than legal knowledge. You must analyse the case, spot loopholes, and strategically use the law to justify your argument. Confidence, verbal command, and presence often matter more than academic excellence. Sometimes being an effective lawyer is about boldly stating your case with conviction, even when it is weak, a skill we call fighting well.
Forget about pursuing an LLM if your goal is practice. LLB graduates dominate courts. Specialisations and advanced degrees hold weight in academic spaces, not in courtrooms. Success comes from practice, not titles.
A good principal or mentor is invaluable. They will shape your approach and influence your habits, for better or worse. Each time you enter court, especially high courts, judges will challenge and disrupt you. You will barely finish a sentence before being interrupted. Courtroom experience requires strength of character and emotional control.
Facing senior counsel brings its own challenges. They often ask relentless questions that test your every word. Relationships with judges’ secretaries, prosecutors, clerks, police, and interpreters are critical. Being arrogant or dismissive can make survival impossible.
Clients, presentation, and professional responsibility matter most
Lawyers must also take files seriously. What seems like a document to you is someone’s life to a client. Providing confidence, hope, and honest guidance is central. If you are inexperienced, admit it and fight diligently. First-time struggles can still earn trust and respect, as I learned in a mining case that I eventually handled successfully.
Shyness and quietness have no place in this field. Effective lawyers speak clearly, persuasively, and confidently. Presentation matters. Dressing neatly, looking presentable, and maintaining dignity are essential. A lawyer’s appearance reflects respect for the court and clients. Arrogance, poor hygiene, or careless attire undermines credibility and trust.
There is much more to being a legal practitioner than what can be taught at university. Procedures, courtroom awareness, confidence, relationships, and character define success. The lessons I have shared may guide those beginning the journey.
I remain, The Lion of Azania
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