Adv Tembeka Ngcukaitobi earns senior counsel status

Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi has been recommended to be made a senior counsel.

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With a 12 year period set out before one can be considered for silk, the 39-year-old did it just eight years after becoming an advocate.

On Friday, Ngcukaitobi explained to TimesLIVE that the decision to recommend him for the silk status was taken last Saturday “after an extensive and gruelling process, which included an application process by me, comments by all counsel at the Johannesburg Bar, comments from judges that I have appeared before and an interview by the silks committee of the Bar Council”. 

According to Ngcukaitobi, he was one of 14 advocates to be recommended.

Once President Cyril Ramaphosa ratifies the Bar Council’s decision, Ngcukaitobi will use the status of senior counsel (SC).

Ngcukaitobi expressed both the pros and cons that this achievement comes with.

“For me personally, it is a satisfying but daunting moment. But I think it also sends a message that it is possible to overcome structural barriers in a profession which is traditionally dominated by white men and persons with access to privilege.

“But there is a lot still to be done, a lot of challenges lie ahead, and it is somewhat daunting to think that clients will come to me to obtain services of senior counsel,” he said.

He also dropped some two cents for aspiring lawyers.

“Hard work, perseverance, humility, self-starting and self-challenging. Do not be satisfied with your performance, work harder than you did yesterday, but respect your work and your clients.”

Nelson Mandela Foundation passed its congratulatory messages.

One thought on “Adv Tembeka Ngcukaitobi earns senior counsel status

  1. Well done Ngcukaitobi for your achievement. This proves that hard work pays off at the end of the day.
    Well done and congratulations

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