Dawie joined the Department of Justice on 13 December 1982 as a clerk of the court. He worked as a Prosecutor, Magistrate and State Advocate in the Department of Justice until 29 February 1992. He then joined the Johannesburg Society of Advocates on 1 March 1992 as a pupil advocate and after passing his Bar Exam he commenced to practice on 2 July 1992 at the Johannesburg Bar and practiced there ever since. Dawie has been involved in many high-profile cases and specialises in amongst other criminal, police delict (unlawful arrest and detention; assaults and shootings), contract, restraint of trade and medical negligence law. Dawie has at least 26 reported cases in the SA Law Reports. He was appointed as a Small Claims Court Commissioner in 2009. Dawie acted as a Judge in the High Court, Johannesburg during the end of 2014 for two weeks, and again for 3 weeks during June 2016 and a week during November 2023. Dawie took Silk on 1 December 2015. He also acted as arbitrator in various high-profile matters. Dawie qualified as a mediator after successfully completing the UCT Law@Work Mediation Course and duly obtained his DISAC (the Dispute Accreditation Council of South Africa Mediators) accredited qualification in June 2021. He is a member of Mediation in Motion and the Centre for Mediation in Sport. Dawie is also the Group Leader of the Protea Group of Advocates in Sandton which is affiliated to the Johannesburg Society of Advocates and the GCB.