Ft Hare graduate wins justice award
UNIVERSITY of Fort Hare law graduate Lutho Klaas, 24, has won a South Africa Pro Bono Law Student Award for his commitment to enabling access to justice for some of the most vulnerable members of society.
The annual award ceremony was held in Johannesburg and recognised the dedication of law schools and the contribution of student pro bono (for free) work in enabling access to legal advice and representation.
Klaas, who graduated from the university earlier this year, was crowned for the practical legal work he undertook in 2016 during his final year.
He told the Daily Dispatch of his shock when his name was announced as a winner during a black-tie event attended by members of law societies, judges and advocates.
Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan was the keynote speaker.
The youth, who is now a candidate attorney working for IC Clark Inc in Vincent, said he was “humbled and honoured to win such an award”.
“The Pro Bono Board looks at different law clinics at South African universities where students partake in an internship in their final year to gain practical experience in the field and actually help people in need of legal service,” Klaas said yesterday.
“We act as the bridge between Legal Aid and the average person who cannot afford legal advice or help.”
Klaas said he was nominated for the awards by his lecturer and director of the University of Fort Hare Law Clinic, Nasholan Chetty, who had to put in a motivation of his work to the board.
The board then short-listed the best three law students from 18 different law clinics.
“Part of the motivation that Mr Chetty submitted included a case that we solved. It was a matter of reckless lending by [a bank].
“The client had been lent money and it was not discussed properly as to how he would pay back the money. He was not given full information and he was being litigated against.
“We helped him to get out of that situation in that we explained that he did not understand the terms and conditions and therefore could not be held fully liable for the claim.
“This award means a lot. It means my name is now out there in the legal fraternity and the work I have done is recognised.
“This basically opens up more opportunities for me,” Klaas said.
Chetty said: “It is a very big award for the university. Our clinic has been dormant. Now all of a sudden we are making a change and getting ourselves out there.”
Speaking about Klaas, he said: “As soon as he walked off with that award, he was already getting job offers from law firms in Johannesburg.”