The Office of the Dean hosted a lunch for the top six achieving matriculants joining the Faculty of Law (UP Law) for the 2023 academic year. Deputy Dean Professor Charles Maimela represented the Dean, Professor Elsabe Schoeman, who was unavailable to attend the event due to other obligations. In his welcome address, the Deputy Dean, Professor Charles Maimela expressed gratitude that the top six students selected the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Law as their academic destination. The Deputy Dean congratulated the students for their achievements and hard work, and assured them that they made the right choice and that the faculty of law will continue being committed to excellence and producing quality graduates.

From left to right: Karla Ferreira, Rachel Munnelly-Lubbe, Dasarya Kistnan, Vikayla Naidoo, Rayna Ramrabbie, Clement Cameron

The top six students joining UP Law in the 2023 academic year all achieved an average above 85% with the highest average being 89%. As part of its mission for excellence, UP Law encourages its students to achieve excellence both in academics and in other extracurricular activities. Likewise, the Dean's Office places a high value on celebrating hard work. Therefore, due to their evident hard work and accomplishment, the Dean and Deputy saw that it was imperative for the Office of the Dean to host this gathering to commemorate their achievement. The averages and distinctions achieved by these top six students clearly show that their hard work paid off and they can now reap the benefits of their hard work.

Additionally, the top achieving students met and engaged with the HODs of the various departments, Centre for Human Rights Director, Faculty Manager, Faculty Student Advisor, Student Administration staff, Law House representatives, and other important members/lecturers of the Faculty of Law. The students received advice and study tips from the HOD’s and lecturers of the various departments who made them feel at home.

The Law House representatives, Jeandre Otto (Chairperson) and Gracie Sargood (Head of Academics), gave an explanation to the top six students on what to expect from their university experience. They also provided advice on how to cope with some of the first-year modules and how to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle while at University. According to the Office of the Dean, it was imperative that Law House representatives attend this luncheon because they believe that it is important to have students who are familiar with student life and culture to provide relevant advice and survival tips to the incoming students. The Office of the Dean believes it is important to have someone who can guide and help you avoid replicating the same mistakes made by those who already came before you in terms of student life and culture. In the words of J Loren Norris:

"If you cannot see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before."

UP Law has been ranked as the top law faculty in South Africa and the entire African continent for six consecutive years now. As a result of the Faculty's reputation and prestige, learners from around the country and abroad aspire of enrolling and completing their studies at the University of Pretoria Faculty of Law. This was more evident last year when the applications for the 2023 LLB Programme were full within the first week. The applications opened on the 1^st of April 2022 and the faculty reached its maximum capacity of applicants on the 4^th April 2022. This shows that there is a high demand to study at the Faculty of Law, thus it is no surprise when top achieving students choose to study at the University of Pretoria Faculty of Law. When asked why they chose UP Law as their study destination, there was a common thread in the answer given by the top six students: they wanted to be a part of the best Law Faculty in Africa.

UP Law has admitted 474 new first-year LLB students for the 2023 academic year. The Faculty looks forward to the next four years with the new students and we wish them the best.

Read more here about how the 2023 cohort group were welcomed during orientation week.