The Director of the University of Pretoria (UP) Law Clinic, Eddie Hanekom, re-elected President of the South African University Law Clinics Association (SAULCA). 

SAULCA is the national umbrella body representing University Law Clinics in South Africa, (formerly known as “AULAI” the Association for University Legal Aid institutions).

The election for a new Executive Committee took place at SAULCA's annual general meeting on 9 November 2021. This was the first ever virtual annual meeting held by SAULCA.

Hanekom previously served a number of terms on the executive committee as an additional member, then two terms as Deputy President of the organisation and was first elected as President in November 2019.

“As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, SAULCA’s Executive Committee faced huge challenges during 2020 and 2021. Despite the adverse conditions, we achieved some remarkable successes, co-operating with the Legal Practice Council, SASSETA, USAF, Legal Aid South Africa and various other partners. What we achieved during this time is the result of immense effort by every member of the Executive Committee.

It is again a big honour for me to be re-elected to the position as President of SAULCA, but I also realise that with it comes a far greater responsibility than before to further the interests of University Law Clinics in South Africa during these uncertain and rapidly changing times.” Hanekom said.

SAULCA has been instrumental in the advancement of Clinical Legal Education as a teaching methodology in South Africa. In 2018, the book “Law Clinics and the Clinical Law Movement in South Africa” with Prof Jobst Bodenstein as Editor, was published by JUTA. All the contributors were attached to University Law Clinics in South Africa and Hanekom (then from UJ) and a number of UP Law Clinic attorneys contributed.  This is regarded as a huge milestone for SAULCA and University Law Clinics in South Africa in general.

Delegates at the recent SAULCA workshop held on 8 November 2021 (the first ever workshop to be held on a virtual platform by SAULCA), explored the theme: “What lessons have been learned by law clinics in the COVID-19 era, and how can these be usefully applied to the ‘new normal’ in the post-COVID-19 era?”

The keynote speaker at the workshop was the President of the Law Deans Association of South Africa (SALDA) Prof Wesahl Domingo on: “What is the role of Law Clinics in the era of COVID19 within the context of Law Faculties blended teaching and learning?”

Delegates exchanged invaluable information on their law clinics’ response to the Covid Lockdowns and expanded upon IT solutions that were implemented to achieve successful business continuity.

Hanekom, who was previously also employed at the UP Faculty of Law for a period of more than 6 years to 2007, re-joined the UP Faculty of Law on 1 May 2019.

“I was appointed as Director of the UP Law Clinic after 12 years as the Director of the UJ Law Clinic. The opportunity to bring new and refreshing ideas to one of the biggest University Law Clinics in South Africa appealed to me. With the main clinic situated in Hatfield in South street and the second clinic in Hammanskraal, the challenge was never going to be an easy one.

The unexpected advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant Lockdowns had a huge impact on the operations of not only our own UP Law Clinic, but also on law clinics throughout the country. It also interfered with any plans that I had for 2020, and as it turned out also influenced 2021, with the ebbs and flows of the commands of the National Coronavirus Command Council forcing me to focus more on short term solutions than long term change. The biggest challenge to me was learning how to continue with business while staff members were either sick or in isolation and could not work for long periods of time.

Furthermore, the tragic loss of family and friends as well as the constant stress of working under conditions where contracting COVID-19 could never be ruled out, left a mental mark on not only society as a whole but also on law clinic staff members. We all had to learn how to deal with loss and uncertainty while remaining as productive as possible under the prevailing circumstances. “Work from home” is a curious but necessary tool and has clearly become embedded as an indelible solution in the “new real”.  Virtual meetings has become the order of the day. Remote Teaching and Learning methods are being adapted by law clinics to facilitate live client interactions by students on real cases.

“In the midst of chaos there is also opportunity” – Sun-Tsu.

I wish to commend all University Law Clinic students, candidate attorneys, attorneys and support staff for their brave efforts and unwaivering resolve to provide quality pro bono legal services to the poor and indigent during these very uncertain times.”