Erina Pretorius : Director

Erina brings to Pretorius Attorneys Inc. more than two decades of experience, having plied her trade at various top law firms. Studying and graduating with a LLB degree whilst working full time and being the mother of two young children, Erina was admitted as an attorney in 2014. At the time she decided to take a leap of faith and start her own practice in November 2016, she had been working as a director at a firm specialising in personal injury law.

Erina’s reputation in the field of personal injury law precedes her and is testament to her capabilities and the passion she has for her calling.

Being acutely aware of the hard work reaching the top requires, Erina firmly believes in the importance of respect and that one treats the janitor no differently than the chief executive officer of a company. She is furthermore an exceptional negotiator, skilled at resolving disputes and advising clients on how best to avoid costly and protracted litigation.

She rises above the rest when it comes to commitment, perseverance, and determination, as is evident from the fact that she passed all her Bar exams in a single sitting, something that is incredibly difficult to achieve, and this serves to illustrate her work ethic, as well as personal and professional ethics and persistence.

Erina leads by example and works hard to establish personal relationships with all her clients, refusing to sacrifice quality for quantity. She is passionate about people, always considers the human element, and goes above and beyond for her clients. She lives by the motto, “Helping those in need is an absolute privilege,” and her everyday life is witness to this, as she loves the outdoors, traveling, and being devoted to her family and practice.

Erina’s mission and vision envisage that the practice remains small to ensure minute attention to detail and allow for a personal touch when it comes to the services it renders to its clients.

Rosemary Smit : Director

After humble beginnings as a bookkeeper at well-known Paarl law firm Basson Blackburn in 2002, Rosemary would later complete her articles of clerkship at the company in 2014.

Her inherent love and passion for the law spurred her into accepting the difficult challenge of studying part time, whilst working full time and raising a young family.

After obtaining her LLB degree in 2015, she was admitted as an attorney in December 2015. Rosemary’s ambitious nature and special interest in labour law led her to enroll for a master’s degree at the University of Cape Town. She graduated with a master’s degree in labour law in 2018, the same year she completed a Commercial and Court Annexed Mediation Training course through the university, and is also a qualified mediator.

Rosemary’s life story and career path is one of perseverance through adversity, of steadfast determination, and of an obdurate refusal to surrender her dream of practicing law, no matter how difficult the road and complicated the circumstances. In practicing law, she hopes to advocate for the voiceless, to help those in need, and to make a positive contribution to people’s lives.

She is an avid animal lover and someone who loves the outdoors, competition shooting, and spending time with family and friends. Rosemary’s passion for poetry and music, every part as strong as that for the law, reflects vividly in every challenge she accepts.

Pretorius Attorneys Inc. is passionate about the people it serves, something that is amplified and complemented by Rosemary’s fervent love of life and inherent need to provide assistance to others, in whatever capacity.

“Per ardua ad astra.”