For Women in Law

This month we chat to admitted attorney, Marlene Brits, who is also director at Marlene Brits Attorneys. Marlene holds an LLB degree from the University of South Africa. I first connected with Marlene on linkedIn after I read about the less traveled road she took on her journey to become an attorney. While studying towards her LLB degree, Marlene also served her Articles of Clerckship for a period of 5 years. The position has changed, but in the past, the Legal Practice Act made provision for those students who were still completing their LLB studies to either enter into a five-year contract of articles or three year contract of articles (if they had obtained a three-year undergraduate degree). Marlene's story stood out to me because I had never actually met anybody who had taken that route. I instantly connected with her and a few months later, while working at the deeds office, we met formally and she has been one of the women who have helped me (directly and indirectly) na

This month we chat to stunning Romanian lawyer, Silvia Uscov, who is a business attorney and managing partner at USCOV | Attorneys at Law. Silvia oversees the Bankruptcy and Restructuring workgroup. She is also a human rights lawyer and safeguards human rights & civil liberties through civil and criminal proceedings, in front of both local as well international courts such as ECHR. I came across Silvia’s page a few weeks ago, I was naturally draw to her profile and apparent confidence. A quick DM resulted in a very pleasant conversation about women in law, mentorship etc.  This platform really allows me to meet and interact with some amazing and phenomenal women in law and Silvia is exactly that! Below is the interview between For Women in Law (FWIL) and (SU) Silvia Uscov verbatim FWIL: What inspired you to study law? SU: I consider Law a combination of mystery, puzzle, research, logic, sales and a vision of a saving hero. Because I did not have a grea

This month we speak to lawyer and author, Star Koketso Lediga, who holds a bachelor of laws from the University of Pretoria, and is an admitted attorney of the high court of South Africa. I came across Koketso's Instagram account a few weeks ago and immediately recognized her as somebody I went to high school with. If my memory serves me right, I think she was in matric when I was in grade 8.  I remember her because she was hard not to notice. Tall, beautiful and vocal!  Koketso specializes in  construction, engineering law and energy law and she   is also a managing director at Infra-Afrika, an advisory firm that offers legal, engineering and financing-related advisory services. This phenomenal woman in law recently became an independent published author. In this interview she tells us more about her book - Kole Meets Mama Winnie's Southern African Friends. FWIL:      What inspired you to study law? KL: I wish I had some profound and inspiring respon