Have you ever wondered what an agricultural lawyer gets up to in their profession? Agricultural lawyers serve as invaluable legal advisors and advocates for the agricultural sector, contributing to its legal compliance, sustainability, and prosperity.
Just like Katlego Ngwane, legal expert and founder of Katika Consulting in Southern Paarl, Western Cape.
Pursuing law was her mother’s idea. Growing up in Rustenburg, with a family background in mining, law was not necessarily her first choice.
“I went to law school because my mother said I had to. I was that daughter who listens to her mother,” she admits with a laugh.
Instead of studying criminal law, she opted for environmental and mining law. It is a good thing she did because farmers would soon need her expertise. “Don’t do something common, my mum advised. She worried I might struggle to find work if I chose a traditional specialisation,” she recalls.
From law school to agricultural expertise
Ngwane studied for an LLB degree at the University of South Africa (Unisa). She opted for electives such as mining law, sustainable development, environmental law, and even forensic medicine.
This unique combination of legal knowledge would later prove invaluable. However, after graduating, Ngwane realised the courtroom was not a place where she wanted to spend her time.
“The traditional litigation route wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy it,” she says.
Then, an unexpected opportunity arose. A solicitor in Paarl in the Cape Winelands, who was aware of Ngwane’s knowledge of water rights during a drought period at the time, reached out for her expertise.
“I flew down, assisted some of his farmer clients facing water issues, and flew back to Johannesburg,” she says. More farmers started seeking her legal counsel, prompting Katlego to make a bold decision and relocate to the Western Cape.
“The business just evolved. I specialise in agriculture, assisting farmers with everything from compliance to water rights,” she explains.
Ready to uphold the law
Studying law, she says, is about protecting people’s rights as well as understanding and practising your constitutional rights.
“The challenges – sleepless nights, mountains of reading – were worth it,” she says. Looking back, Ngwane emphasises the importance of language skills for aspiring lawyers.
“Reading and writing are daily practices. Choose strong languages – Afrikaans and English are crucial – and consider history for critical thinking and understanding the past,” she advises.
Agricultural law is a great choice, Ngwane says, if you love agriculture. “It’s sustainable – we’ll always need food, farmers, and agricultural solicitors.”
Her daily routine is a mix of client meetings, travel, and tackling emails, applications, and legal documents. Ngwane’s story is an inspiring testament to following your instincts, embracing opportunities, and carving your path to success.
Tips from a business owner and agricultural solicitor:
- Don’t study law if you think you are going to make money.
- Be open-minded, and teach yourself not to have biases or to discriminate.
- It’s not good enough to know the legislation; you need to be able to think critically.
- Read a lot of books, outside of your interest in agriculture, it opens your mind.
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