For law students, the new dedicated Law Clinic building on the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) will turn legal theory into real-world practice. For members of the public, private consultation rooms ensure privacy and dignity.
These are some of the benefits that students and the public will experience when the Faculty of Law officially opens its new Mahikeng Law Clinic building on 30 July 2026.
The opening of the new facility marks a milestone in the university's efforts to strengthen legal education and improve access to justice for communities across the North West Province.
The building will provide an expanded space where law students receive practical training while members of the public who qualify for assistance can access free legal services in a professional environment.
Proud history of serving communities
The NWU Law Clinic has operated since 1983, evolving from a service that focused on providing legal assistance to disadvantaged communities into a centre that combines legal education with community service.
According to Simon Rasikhalela, director of the Law Clinic, the clinic fulfils two responsibilities: preparing future legal practitioners and providing legal representation to people who cannot afford private legal services.
"The NWU Law Clinic operates at the intersection of legal education and social justice. It serves as both a professional practice supporting community development and a live-client teaching laboratory for the Faculty of Law," he says.
Under the supervision of admitted attorneys, final-year law students interview clients, prepare legal documents, manage case files and observe court proceedings, enabling them to apply classroom learning to real cases before entering the legal profession.
Promoting access to justice
The clinic also supports the Faculty of Law's vision of promoting access to justice by offering pro bono legal services and conducting community outreach programmes that educate residents about their legal rights.
The Mahikeng Law Clinic serves indigent and marginalised communities in rural and semi-urban areas across the province. It assists with family law matters, labour disputes, housing and eviction cases, consumer matters and civil claims.
Clients qualify for assistance through a means test aligned with Legal Aid South Africa guidelines.
Simon says the new building will improve both the student learning experience and the quality of services provided to the public.
"For our students, a dedicated building turns legal theory into real-world practice. For members of the public, private consultation rooms ensure that clients can discuss sensitive personal or human rights issues with privacy and dignity," he says.
40 hours of work-integrated learning every semester
Practical legal training remains central to the clinic's work. Final-year LLB students complete compulsory practical training through the legal practice module, while students enrolled in the Law Clinic elective complete at least 40 hours of work-integrated learning each semester.
The clinic also exposes students to practising magistrates, judges, prosecutors, advocates and attorneys.
Beyond legal representation, the clinic has built a record of community outreach through workshops on domestic violence, gender-based violence and maintenance, while producing graduates who continue to serve in the legal profession.
Looking ahead, Simon says the clinic intends to expand its focus to impact litigation by working with the North West Bar Association, advocates and other partners to address systemic legal challenges.
"In South Africa, where socio-economic inequalities persist, university law clinics are vital to keeping the constitutional promise of access to justice alive," he says.
The official opening of the new Law Clinic building signals the next chapter in the Faculty of Law's commitment to producing practice-ready graduates while extending legal services to communities that need them most.
Simon Rasikhalela, director of the Law Clinic
