Judge Albie Sachs lauds CPUT’s new Bachelor of Paralegal Studies Degree 2024
PIONEERS: Judge Albie Sachs with course curator Advocate Noleen Leach
The Bachelor of Paralegal Studies, which is the first degree of its kind on the continent, was launched to an audience of some of the countries brightest legal minds last week.
The three-year degree is part of the Unit of Applied Law in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences and can accommodate only 100 registered students in its inaugural class of 2024.
The three-year degree is part of the Unit of Applied Law in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences and can accommodate only 100 registered students in its inaugural class of 2024.
In his opening remarks, former Constitutional Court Judge Albie Sachs reflected on the importance of paralegals in the South African context and remarked that the degree was being launched at a pivotal point in South African history.
“These past few years we have seen the Constitutional Court working and we are at a point of renewal in the country. There couldn’t have been a more precipitous moment for this unit to be launched. What this degree does is dignify the paralegal professional which has always been part of the fabric of society,” he says.
Sachs concluded by predicting that degreed paralegals of the sort that CPUT is producing will one day infiltrate all levels of society like trade unions, big institutions, and universities where access to justice is sorely needed.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffrey called the Paralegal Studies Degree a legal pioneer that follows in the footsteps of icons like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.
“Being a legal pioneer is important because the legal professional can be slow to change and adapt. You are here to take justice to the people,” he says.
“A recent survey by the Justice Department showed that 76% of respondents found it difficult to challenge a violation of their rights through a legal process. What this shows is that people feel that enforcing their rights is difficult. This unique degree will fill a significant gap.”
The Paralegal Studies Degree was curated over a number of years by Advocate Noleen Leach who benchmarked the course material in Canada and consulted stalwart community advice centres like Black Sash and members of paralegal organisations in the UK and US. The programme is designed to consolidate the fragmented approach to paralegal education in SA and bring comprehensive paralegal education. Students will work in a simulated environment with work-integrated components that will see them collaborate with community advice offices, justice centres, and government departments.
Applications for the 2024 intake of students will open in in May.
Visit for more course information.
“These past few years we have seen the Constitutional Court working and we are at a point of renewal in the country. There couldn’t have been a more precipitous moment for this unit to be launched. What this degree does is dignify the paralegal professional which has always been part of the fabric of society,” he says.
Sachs concluded by predicting that degreed paralegals of the sort that CPUT is producing will one day infiltrate all levels of society like trade unions, big institutions, and universities where access to justice is sorely needed.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffrey called the Paralegal Studies Degree a legal pioneer that follows in the footsteps of icons like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.
“Being a legal pioneer is important because the legal professional can be slow to change and adapt. You are here to take justice to the people,” he says.
“A recent survey by the Justice Department showed that 76% of respondents found it difficult to challenge a violation of their rights through a legal process. What this shows is that people feel that enforcing their rights is difficult. This unique degree will fill a significant gap.”
The Paralegal Studies Degree was curated over a number of years by Advocate Noleen Leach who benchmarked the course material in Canada and consulted stalwart community advice centres like Black Sash and members of paralegal organisations in the UK and US. The programme is designed to consolidate the fragmented approach to paralegal education in SA and bring comprehensive paralegal education. Students will work in a simulated environment with work-integrated components that will see them collaborate with community advice offices, justice centres, and government departments.
Applications for the 2024 intake of students will open in in May.
Visit for more course information.