This year we shine the spotlight on law firms that have been in existence for over 15 years. This month we speak to the founder and managing director of PC Mogale & Co Inc, Mr PC Mogale.
This year in De Rebus we shine the spotlight on law firms that have been in existence for over 15 years. To start our monthly feature, we speak to the founder and managing director, PC Mogale of PC Mogale & Co Inc in Polokwane.
Mr Mogale studied law at the University of the North, where he graduated with a BProc degree from 1990 to 1993. He continued to enrol for the post graduate LLB degree as it then was, which was a two-year degree from 1994 to 1995.
Mr Mogale is the first-born child in his family of three children, and he has a younger sister and brother. He was born in the rural village of Ga-Mathabatha in the municipality of Lepelle-Nkumpi, near Lebowakgomo, Polokwane in Limpopo Province.
‘I was raised by my mother who was not employed, there was no father figure in the family, so I stayed with my aunt whose husband was employed for about ten years, then I went to stay with my maternal grandparents and my uncle for another ten years. I made it through university with the assistance of my late uncle, who was a teacher, together with both my maternal grandparents with their savings from social grant. I am not really sure when I got inspired to study law, but all I know is that I just wanted to talk for a living!’ Mr Mogale said.
Mr Mogale pointed out that his first love was radio, however, at that time there was no formal qualification for it. His second love was law. ‘My uncle also encouraged me saying that I have what it takes despite what people were saying about law (that it is difficult). My only challenge was funds … bank loans and student funding helped a lot; at that time we were relying on TEFSA [Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa] now called NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme]. I started articles in 1997 at TP Moloto and Co Inc in Lebowakgomo, I was eventually admitted on the 11 June 1998 and stayed with them until the end of the year as their Professional Assistant. In January 1999, I joined Mkhwanazi Tsheoga and Partners, however, it did not last as again in June 1999, PC Mogale Attorneys was born and as they say, the rest is history,’ Mr Mogale added.
Kgomotso Ramotsho (KR): When was PC Mogale & Co Inc established?
PC Mogale (PC): It was established in 1999, in Lebowakgomo, a township outside Polokwane in Limpopo, about 45km from Polokwane.
KR: Has it always been a goal of yours to start your own law firm and why?
PC: When I was serving ‘articles’ at that time, like any other young graduate, I also aspired to work with my principal as a partner or an associate, however, I was open to other options like partner with any newly admitted qualified attorney if I did not get any offer from the firm I articled with.
Looking at the community I grew up in and where I did my articles, I realised that there is a need for an alternative law firm and since I was self-driven with energy, I was optimistic that I will succeed.
KR: As you have said PC Mogale & Co Inc was established in 1999. Considering the historical context of the legal profession, as a black legal practitioner starting and owning your own law firm at that time, what was the experience like? What are some of the bigger challenges the firm has overcome?
PC: Well, you are first excited that you will now be your own boss but then the reality dawns when you have to pay overheads and two to three months pass without a salary since you could not get help from the bank with a loan, you do not have a car, you do not qualify to buy a car on credit and the society sees you as a lawyer and lawyers are known to have money! The society on the other hand still believed that whites are better than black lawyers, our own people still overlooked us and gave instructions to white lawyers and big shot law firms in big cities. Practising law in a township came with its own limitations as most of our clients were indigent! We relied on Legal Aid Board instructions as it then was, but still the prominent lawyers from Polokwane will come and tout work from the township leaving us with crumbs. It became worse when Legal Aid transformed to Legal Aid South Africa, having its own lawyers. We had to think out of the box and look for alternative work hence we became a civil practice law firm.
KR: As PC Mogale & Co Inc celebrates 26 years this year, to what do you attribute the firm’s longevity and success?
PM: Our professional convictions, adherence to ethics and always striving for perfection carried us throughout the turbulences for the past 26 years.
KR: What are some principles or strategies for running a successful law firm?
PM: I will say as the Managing Director I always lead by example. When you say people must come to work on time, be the first one to be on time, I am always the first one at work and the last one to leave, unless I have an engagement. Always prioritise the team, your staff, and no matter what, make sure they are the first ones to be rewarded. Involving the staff in the running of the administrative affairs of the firm by allocating responsibilities to each one of them, they mature and feel they are part of the establishment. Having an organisation system in the office wherein records are kept properly, accounting to clients properly and most importantly adhering to the legislative requirements as a legal practitioner. Empower the staff by allowing them to attend informative courses is another way of investing in them. Legal compliance like contributions to UIF and a provident fund helps the staff to commit to the company and this helps with consistence. There must also be systems in place to manage risk!
KR: How important is the development of young legal practitioners to you? How does PC Mogale & Co Inc support the growth of young legal practitioners and candidate legal practitioners?
PM: In the past 25 years we have trained 18 young legal practitioners some of whom are now running their own law firms whereas others have joined the National Prosecuting Authority and other institutions including bar councils, we have two more who are due for admission in March and June this year (2025). We have trained both women and male young legal practitioners alike.
KR: What advice would you give to young and emerging legal practitioners who may want to start their own law firms?
PM: The law has evolved; it is no longer the same as it was 25 years ago. There are alternative disciplines into which one can diversify their practices, it is no longer about appearing in court for criminal matters or Road Accident Fund claims. It is important to decide as early as possible as to which area of law you will be concentrating on, then set up your office in the location where you know you will have a clientele. It is not easy to pick where you want to serve your articles but at least as a graduate you can do research depending on your interest as to where to do your vocational training.
One other thing that throws many young qualified legal practitioners off the rails is peer group pressure. You cannot open an office today and expect to drive a German car the following month! Greed and peer group pressure tempt the young ones to put their hands in the cookie jar and their careers come to a halt before they can get off the ground.
KR: In your view, what qualities are essential for achieving longevity in the legal profession?
PM: It takes patience, discipline, business acumen, leadership, respect and focus. You must understand that a law firm, like any other business is a business, and it must be run just like that.
Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2025 (March) DR 31.
