The 17th Anniversary of the Judge JPK Trust and the 10th Annual Judge JPK Trust Legal Excellence Awards took place on Friday, 25 November 2016 at Hotel Thule, prior to the AGM of the LSN.
Since the awards are centred around legal practitioners and law students the LSN created an opportunity for its members to be present when future legal practitioners and their peers are awarded for their achievements. It was the fourth time that the Judge JPK Trust Legal Excellence Awards ceremony took place on the same day and prior to the LSN AGM.
The LSN congratulates the Judge JPK Trust with its 17th Anniversary and wishes it much success with future endeavours.
The LSN trusts that their commitment to providing bursaries to deserving candidates to study law and honouring achievements will go from strength to strength.
The History
The Law Society’s involvement with the Judge JPK Trust started during 2006 when the trustees of the Judge JPK Trust approached the LSN to assist them in identifying and selecting deserving winners for the ‘legal excellence awards’ thereby acknowledging the dedication, efforts and commitment of legal practitioners who are enhancing and protecting the Rule of Law in Namibia and honouring their social responsibilities.
Retha Steinmann (LSN Director) – accepted the award on behalf of Dieter Maree, winner of the Legal Excellence Award for Social Responsibility.
Phillip Balhao (University of Namibia) – accepted all the awards on behalf the best JTC and LLB 2015 students.
Smart Elago – accepted the Legal Excellence Award for Human Rights on behalf of the law firm Tjombe-Elago Inc.
Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo – represented the Judge JPK Trust.
Wouter Rossouw – LSN Chairperson (until 25 November 2016).
Ngamane Karuaihe-Upi – represented the Judge JPK Trust.
Legal Excellence Awards
The LSN received the names of the best students from the Justice Training Centre and the University of Namibia, respectively.
Many of the LSN members contribute to society but they do not always ‘advertise’ their good deeds. The LSN thanks them for their contributions to society and trust that the good deeds will continue in future.
The LSN invited nominations for the awards from its members. The Access to Law and Social Responsibility Committee considered:
- Nominations received;
- LSN members who appeared pro bono;
- Members who presented training and who assisted the presenters with training; and
- Members who assisted the LSN with the free legal advice days.
The Committee made recommendations to the Council with regard to the Legal Excellence Awards for Social Responsibility and Human Rights.
We thank the JPK Trust for joining hands with the LSN to honour these achievements.
Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo, on behalf of the Judge JPK Trust, accepted the sponsor cheque, in the amount of N$40,000.00, from Poenie van den Berg (Director at Dr Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc).
Best Student Excellence Awards
Best JTC Student for 2015
Natasha de Beer achieved a 69% average respectively in all 11 subjects.
Phillip Balhao, on behalf of Natasha de Beer, accepted the award from Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo and a cheque, in the amount of N $3,500.00, from Wouter Rossouw.
Best LLB Final Year Student for 2015
Two awards were handed out in the category: one for the old LLB Programme and one for the new LLB Programme.
Irene Shebo achieved 65% average in the old LLB programme (2015).
Johannes P. Uusiku achieved 69% average in the new LLB programme (2015).
Phillip Balhao, on behalf of Irene Shebo and Johannes Uusiku, accepted the awards from Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo and cheques, in the amount of N$2,000.00 each, from Wouter Rossouw.
Legal Excellence Award for Social Responsibility
Retha Steinmann (LSN Director), on behalf of the winner Dieter Maree, accepted the award from Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo.
Legal Excellence Award for Human Rights
Smart Elago, on behalf of Tjombe-Elago Inc, received the award from Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo.
Kind regards
M Steinmann
Director: LSN
