By Gofaone Motsamai

Stepping out of the classroom and into the courtroom, final-year law students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus gained first-hand experience of the South African justice system at work. This is one of the ways the university is exploring to integrate practical training into the curriculum.

After their two-week vocational training programme, 13 students were the guests of honour at a ceremony held at the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 29 July 2025. Judicial officers and university representatives praised the students for their dedication and emphasised the importance of integrating practical training into legal education.

Rethinking legal education and assessment

Addressing the broader implications for legal education, NWU Law professor Boitumelo Mmusinyane said the programme revealed the need to rethink how legal competency is assessed.

“This is an opportunity for us to ensure that we become proactive in integrating practical training into our curriculum,” he said, noting that the NWU’s Faculty of Law is still in the process of aligning with systems that assess students through both theoretical and experiential learning.

Prof Mmusinyane argued that students' hands-on experience in court should be recognised as part of their academic progress. “Instead of us having to subject them again to formal examinations, we need to find ways in which we can use whatever they gained as contributions towards them being assessed.”

He added that this collaboration between the judiciary and academia demonstrates the need for formal partnerships that prioritise experiential learning. “We were not given this opportunity as students, but the embracing of change and the evolution of legal education means we must now formalise such collaborations,” he said.

A real taste of how the system works

Senior magistrate at the Mahikeng Magisterial Court, Cindy Jacobs, congratulated the students for their active participation: “Congratulations. I want you to know that your hard work truly stood out.”

She emphasised that the students’ experience was not only limited to observing legal proceedings, but also gave them a “real taste of how the justice system works”. They were placed across various courts including the small claims court, family court and criminal courts.

“I hope your practical exercises helped you think where your interests lie and the role you want to play in the future. Speaking on behalf of all the magistrates, I can honestly say we look forward to seeing you, not as students, but as prosecutors or attorneys ready to make your mark,” said Cindy.

The event concluded with the handover of certificates to the students who participated in the programme. It was not just a recognition of training completed, but a step closer to joining the legal profession equipped with real-world insights.

Prof Boitumelo Mmusinyane (far right) with the final-year law students after completing their two-week vocational training programme.