The Cape Town ProBono.Org Office with the support of the National Bar Council of South Africa and the Cape Town Attorneys Association collected textbooks from members of the legal profession which were donated to law students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
The textbook drive, which is a Mandela Month initiative, was prompted by the continued financial barriers many students face in accessing prescribed textbooks to further their education. UWC Lecturer and Law Faculty Community Engagement Coordinator, Cherith Sanger, said that although she has noted an increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by law students, at this stage it cannot replace the value of engaging with legal texts in depth using textbooks.
Photo: University of the Western Cape
While AI can make information more accessible, over-reliance on AI could stunt the reading, writing, research and critical thinking skills of law students. The textbook drive encouraged legal practitioners to foster a culture of giving back and their efforts were received with gratitude by the students. It is hoped that the annual initiative can grow from strength to strength with greater participation from the legal sector at large.
