The Post

Knowlege is power

NONHLANHLA MBONAMBI nonhlanhla.mbonambi@inl.co.za

STRIVING for equality and being a wellrounded human being who cares about socio-economic justice is important to Layla Shah.

Shah, 23, of Westbrook on Durban's north coast, graduated summa cum laude in law. She said after matriculating from Crawford College North Coast, she had a gut instinct to follow law.

“I started studying towards my Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 2018. The first two years were great. I had a normal university experience. There was a lot of fun and a lot of stress. The latter two years were however unusual.

“We were deprived of our campus experience due to the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, and studying from home had its challenges. But throughout my studies, my love for the law grew. I realised that the instinct that drove me to choose law could not have been more correct."

Shah said she believed knowledge was power.

“What could empower you more than having knowledge of the law and everything that governs society? My favourite aspect of the law is how it aligns with my passion for helping others. Everything in the law relates to real issues in the world. There is always a real person on the other end who needs help.”

During her four years of studies, Shah received 13 certificates of merit and six dean’s commendations. She became a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and received several awards.

This included the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship and the Malegapuru William Makgoba Scholarship for the top five undergraduates in the College of Law and Management Studies. She also received the James Scott Wylie Trust Bursary for the top-performing thirdyear law student and the Juta Prize for the best third-year law student.

“Studying law can be extremely difficult at times. There will be many moments where you break down and feel like you are drowning in deadlines, but what matters is how you handle it. Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. I believe that you should do everything with intention. Set your goals from the first year and don’t let anything derail you.”

Shah said at the moment she did not have plans to study further. She is, however, not opposed to pursuing her Master's degree at some stage.

“I am currently serving my articles at Bowmans in Sandton. At the moment, my goals are just to make the most of my experience as a candidate attorney, pass my board exams, and be admitted as an attorney."

Graduation

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2022-05-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepostza.pressreader.com/article/281775632762315

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