As a Law student at UCT, you have a Law Students’ Council elected to represent you and your interests. If you have concerns you feel are not being addressed, speak to your representatives.
There is help and support available to you – just ask! If you have questions, and you aren’t sure who to ask, you could ask the Law Students’ Council, or your first-year mentor, or the Faculty Office (4th Floor, Kramer Building) – that’s just for starters!
UCT students are assigned an official UCT student email address. You must ensure that you keep checking for communications, to ensure you don’t miss vital information.
There are numerous skills-development opportunities through workshops which provide both academic and non-academic support, covering topics like writing skills, stress and financial management, and exam preparation. Once registered, students will be able to refer to the online learning system, Vula, for more information about these workshops, and to access further electronic resources.
Asking questions, and making the most of the opportunities and resources available to you as a UCT student, are habits that will stand you in good stead throughout your student years. Find out what resources are available – and USE them! And if you don’t know, ASK SOMEONE! You won’t be the only one who needs answers!
UCT has a range of emergency hotlines including the following:
As a first-year student doing your LLB, you will be in class with a range of students at different levels of study. Some of your courses will be with students who have already completed their undergraduate degree in Humanities or Commerce, and will be Graduate LLB students doing their law courses. Make the most of having older, more experienced students in your class – ask them questions, get their advice!
There are two law clinics associated with the UCT Law Faculty, where Law students are able to do their community service. There is the UCT Law Clinic and the Refugee Rights Clinic, situated on 3rd Floor, Kramer Law Building. These clinics, both registered law practices, provide an invaluable service to people needing legal advice.
UCT’s Law students run their own magazine, Altum Sonatur. In 2016 and 2017, the Altum Sonatur committee was awarded UCT’s Student Leadership award for best student media. The magazine is published a few times a year. Keep your eyes open through the year – you will see issues available around the Kramer Building.