Isaac Marara, a full-time doctoral student in international trade finance in UP’s Faculty of Law, talks about his experience with community initiatives and his academic career. “Career education involves a full range of educational and non-academic experiences that assist people in acquiring and using the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to make employment meaningful, fruitful and gratifying,” he says.
 

Give us a summary of your academic career.

From 2015 to 2018, I was enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme; I graduated in April 2019. In 2019, I pursued my postgraduate studies in Master of Laws (LLM) with a focus on international trade and investment law, after completing law school and passing the bar exam. I started my doctoral studies in May 2023, with a focus on international trade finance.

What sort of work did you do after graduation?

I worked as an international trade advisor for Zurcom International, a trade facilitation and trade investment company with offices in Pretoria and Durban, from October to December 2019. I was responsible for organising trade facilitation exhibitions, counselling international investors on African trade and investment, and giving advice on customs and excise regulations.

After that, I worked as a candidate legal practitioner at Strydom & Bredenkamp Attorneys, a corporate and commercial law practice with offices in Pretoria, from January 2020 to December 2021. Up to the end of 2022, I worked as an attorney at Strydom & Bredenkamp Attorneys. Among other things, my responsibilities included client consultations, court appearances, and legal drafting and advice.

What inspired you to pursue a profession in law?

Law is a noble profession where lawyers should contribute significantly to society through academic writing, legal research and court cases. I chose to focus on international commerce and investment because I understand how important they are to the economic development of African nations, and I want to help my continent's economy grow.

How have UP’s community engagement initiatives helped you advance professionally?

Taking part in community engagement projects has made a substantial contribution to my professional development. These projects gave me invaluable chances to interact with many community members, which improved my interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. This edge helped me when I moved from college life to the business world, where I had to connect with clients, speak in court and plan projects for trade shows.

As part of UP’s mentorship programme, I am mentoring two final-year LLB students. I've been able to grow in my leadership abilities, communicate better and expand my network of professional contacts because of this experience.

What tips would you give to incoming law students who want to get involved in community engagement initiatives?

Participating in community involvement initiatives can strengthen the community and raise awareness of the problems that impact people from different backgrounds, so I strongly advise every student to do so. I had the honour of volunteering at the Kungwini Welfare Organisation – a home for the disabled – fundraising events over the course of my four years of community participation.