The welcome event is a flagship engagement in the faculty’s calendar, as it is a social event to promote collegiality and cohesion that fosters professional and personal connections across departments amongst colleagues. It also creates an environment that fosters inter-departmental engagements and strengthens the social bonds within the faculty.

This year’s Law Faculty Welcome as per custom celebrated various achievements by staff ranging from long service, to promotions, nominations to serve on advisory committees locally, regionally and internationally. Departmental and Unit HODs also used this gathering to introduce new recruits to the wider faculty community. The Dean of the Faculty, Prof Elsabe Schoeman thanked all staff for the valuable contribution in the faculty and expressed her immense appreciation. Se delivered opening remarks and wished all staff members the best for the 2024 academic year.

The South African Tourism National Convention Bureau Services, led by Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer, Mr Bjorn Hufkie, and his team joined this year’s faculty welcome. They presented collaboration and funding opportunities available for Higher Education Institutions when hosting international and domestic conferences. He shared how all the support provided is part of a broader strategy financed by National Treasury to promote tourism using the potential emerging from the Knowledge Economy, while showcasing the academic as well as the research prowess of South Africa.

Some noteworthy mentions included Prof Anton Kok's remarkable 25-year tenure within the Department of Jurisprudence, the appointment of Dr Keneilwe Radebe as a as a member of the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) by the Minister of Justice for a five-year term and Prof Joel Modiri appointment to the Group of Independent Eminent Experts on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. These achievements underscored the faculty's commitment to advancing legal scholarship and societal impact. The faculty is endowed with shapers of society, whose contribution is acknowledged beyond the shores of the University of Pretoria.

The Deputy Dean, Prof Charles Maimela marvelled at faculty's collective achievements, aspirations, and potential. He impressed upon all to continue the pursuit of excellence in legal education and research through collaborative scholarship. Also, reminding staff members off their contribution to advancing the faculty's mission of creating legal scholars who will effect justice for social impact.