Mmakgoši Mohlala’s journey through the world of law is a testament to bold ambition, disciplined perseverance, and graceful gratitude. From attending the first undergraduate extractive industries law class in Africa to practicing in private firms, real estate, and corporate investment banking―her multidisciplinary expertise bridges corporate law, compliance, and financial regulation. Today, as a Legal Advisor at a large investment bank, Mmakgoši stands as a professional who not only masters legal complexity but also constantly masters herself.
The Roots of a Calling
Mmakgoši’s calling to law was born out of courage and conviction. In 2014, during her matric year at an Afrikaans-medium high school, she delivered a speech challenging racial discrimination. “I vividly recall speaking out about the unfair treatment of Black students,” she shares. That moment sparked a lifelong commitment to justice.
Personal experiences made the cause even more urgent. Hours before a critical exam, she was instructed to alter her natural Afro—an ultimatum highlighting deeper issues of identity and conformity. “It was either tie it down or chemically straighten it,” she recalls. Rather than suppress her identity, these experiences fueled her determination to understand and use the law to advocate for fairness and to have a voice unapologetically.
Simultaneously, her entrepreneurial spirit emerged. On Entrepreneur’s Day, alongside her business studies team, she launched a student café and photo booth, discovering the power of business to uplift and build community.
These passions—justice and entrepreneurship—set the foundation for her career and future. “Because why only focus on one thing when there is so much to do?” she says.
Growth Through Pressure
With the help of a bursary, Mmakgoši pursued her BA Law in Criminology and LLB degrees at the University of Pretoria. Her academic years were marked by challenges: long daily commutes, chronic fatigue, and the broader upheavals of the Fees Must Fall movement and a global pandemic. Still, she embraced leadership roles, serving in organizations like ENACTUS and UP Law House. “Those opportunities sharpened my communication skills and taught me the power of strategic thinking,” she says.
Through every obstacle, she chose gratitude. “The hardships shaped my work ethic and resilience. For that, I am thankful.”
A Legal Career Takes Shape
In 2022, Mmakgoši began her articles at a property specialist law firm in Rosebank which moved to Melrose, rotating through several departments including schemes and sectional titles, commercial property law, family law, and property litigation. Contract drafting, due diligence work, and client advisory became part of her daily experience. Balancing full-time work with evening law school classes required deep sacrifice and discipline. “The demands were immense, but I’m grateful for the season because it taught me to persevere when it mattered most,” she reflects.
After completing her board exams, she was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2024.
Her promotion to associate came with new responsibilities in the bonds department, where she assisted clients with property transfers, retail banking matters, and ensured compliance with KYC and FICA requirements.
But her most transformative move came in November 2024, when she transitioned into corporate investment banking as a legal advisor. “It marked a significant shift into the banking and financial services sector,” she explains, now specializing in financial crime regulatory advice and compliance.
A Legal Mind Still Exploring
Though admitted and accomplished, Mmakgoši doesn’t consider herself boxed into a specialty. “I don’t consider myself a legal specialist just yet, as I’m not ready to limit my potential,” she asserts. She calls herself a “legal chameleon”—curious and courageous enough to explore.
Her interests span Corporate and Commercial Law, Banking and Finance, Intellectual Property, Mining and Extractives Law, Competition Law, and Legal Tech. “My goal is to gain broad exposure while honing expertise in these dynamic and evolving sectors.”
The Unseen Weight of the Profession
Her path hasn’t been without hardship. “One of the most significant hurdles I faced was the shift from graduating university—celebrating a major milestone—to working at a law firm where I felt undervalued and mistreated. But that experience built my character and gave me tough skin. I rose above it.”
Relocating to Johannesburg while her family remained in North West, she found steep rent costs consuming nearly two-thirds of her salary. “It’s easy to feel exploited,” she admits, especially when assigned repetitive tasks or placed in teams offering little mentorship. “The profession can be deeply dehumanizing,” she notes, especially when speaking up leads to being sidelined or overlooked.
Still, she’s grateful that her firm supported her law school journey—an uncommon privilege—by covering tuition, study materials, and board exam costs.
Boardrooms, Bureaucracy, and Breakdowns
Forget the glitz of Suits. “Being in a board meeting with directors is far from the glamorous portrayal,” she laughs. Yet, it’s here she learned to chair meetings, take minutes, and navigate high-pressure environments. “You will make costly mistakes… but these setbacks are part of refining your skills.” She describes the humbling bureaucracy of working with government departments. “You may wait for hours at the Master’s Office, only to be told to return the next day. Sometimes you fear a file may be lost forever.”
Her advice? “Ask as many questions as you can, even if it feels unnecessary or uncomfortable. No one was born an expert. Law requires humility and patience—with yourself and with people.”
A Creative Soul, Rediscovered
Outside of her professional identity, Mmakgoši is reconnecting with a neglected part of herself—her art. “I am also a multidisciplinary artist,” she shares. Her passions include visual arts, poetry, monologue writing, singing, and dancing. “It’s a part of myself that I have been neglecting but am working to restore.”
This blend of analytical law and expressive art defines her unique approach to life: structured yet spontaneous, disciplined yet deeply creative.
About the Lawyer
Mmakgoši Mohlala is an Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (BA Law Criminology (UP) | LLB (UP)), currently serving as a Legal Advisor in corporate investment banking. She is passionate about the intersection of business, law, and human rights. Beyond her corporate role, Mmakgoši is a multidisciplinary artist and creative thinker who brings a rich blend of leadership, advocacy, and authenticity to every space she occupies.
