Skills Transfer and Career Development
Youth Employment Service (YES programme) - Empowering black youth through work
Adams & Adams is committed to upholding our country’s transformation principles and legislation in the workplace. We recognise the importance of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) in redressing the legacy of inequality in South Africa and advancing diversity and inclusion in society.
To this end, we invest in nurturing young black talent through numerous initiatives. One such initiative is the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme, designed to advance the goals of both the Skills Development Act and the Employment Equity Act. This government-supported project provides a 12-month placement in an office environment for eligible black South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35. Our firm has actively participated in the YES programme for several years, with increasing intake numbers each year. Participants are placed in positions across various departments within the firm or at external companies, with all costs covered by Adams & Adams. We provide these candidates with a monthly stipend, as well as the necessary tools to succeed in their roles and complete the programme’s modules. Each learner is also assigned a supervisor to offer guidance and support throughout their placement.
Through meaningful skills development and access to mentorship, and real-life work experience, these learners complete the programme with the confidence and ability to make valuable contributions not only to the profession but also to our country’s future.
Hear more from 2 of our YES candidates:
University of Pretoria – IP Centre
We have been involved since 2008 in the IP Centre of the Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria when we established the Centre for Intellectual Property Law (UPIP) with the express purpose of creating a synergy between the academic resources and expertise in the Faculty of Law and the practical legal experience and strength of Adams & Adams. The UPIP centre serves as a platform for the promotion and development of IP Law, as well as new technology, innovation and the law , in Africa by advancing and disseminating knowledge in respect of intellectual property. To this end, the Centre is still engaged in research, presentation of the LLM degree in Intellectual Property Law, supervision of research students at both LLM and LLD level and the development and presentation of short courses on IP law and new technology, innovation and the law. Although our sponsorship of the centre has come to an end, many of the partners in the trade mark department still regularly lecture to law students in the LLM programme at the university.
At Adams & Adams, we are deeply committed to advancing the protection of intellectual property across the African continent. Our dedicated team of IP attorneys actively participates in numerous global initiatives aimed at enhancing IP rights and support.
We offer pro bono IP services to assist young inventors and small businesses who lack the financial means to protect their inventions. Through these efforts, we strive to empower innovators and foster a culture of creativity and innovation on the African continent.
At Adams & Adams our goal is to enhance the productivity, performance and capability of those we train. Established in 2000, the Adams & Adams Secretarial Training Centre aims to equip men and women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds with essential secretarial skills and knowledge. Each year, 8 to 12 students are selected to participate in a comprehensive 12-month training program. Throughout this period, they receive hands-on training and practical experience, ensuring they are well-prepared for the professional world. We strive to employ all participants at the end of their training, subject to the availability of positions, enabling them to immediately apply their newly acquired skills in a real-world setting.
E.V. Adams and Nondumiso Msimang Bursaries
Named after one of our founders, Eustace Adams, the E.V. Adams Scholarship is awarded annually to one exceptional student who demonstrates outstanding legal aptitude, academic excellence, and financial need. This scholarship is specifically open to law students from previously disadvantaged communities and persons of colour.
In addition to the E.V. Adams Scholarship, we have introduced a second bursary as part of our career and development programme. Named in honour of our beloved partner Nondumiso Msimang, who sadly passed away from COVID-19, this bursary aims to support an underprivileged student in a similar manner. Both scholarships are intended to provide recipients with the opportunity for employment as candidate attorneys at Adams & Adams.
Recipients of the E.V. Adams and Nondumiso Msimang Scholarships are invited to participate in our vacation programme and act as campus-based brand ambassadors for the firm from time to time. This initiative has been enormously successful, with several former scholarship students now serving as partners at Adams & Adams.
Through these scholarships, we are committed to fostering the next generation of legal professionals and supporting diversity and inclusion within the legal field.