Law Society clarifies confusion relating to its continuation under the Legal Practice Act
‘The LSSA is concerned at the confusion created by reports that the new Legal Practice Council has replaced the Law Society of South Africa. These reports are factually incorrect as the LSSA continues to exist as an independent body to represent, support, assist and train attorneys,’ say LSSA Co-Chairpersons Mvuzo Notyesi and Ettienne Barnard.
In the dispensation preceding 1 November 2018, the four provincial law societies – the Cape Law Society, KwaZulu-Natal Law Society, Law Society of the Free State and the Law Society of the Northern Provinces – were the only statutory regulatory bodies for attorneys in terms of the Attorneys Act, 1979. These four law societies, together with the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (Nadel) (the latter two being voluntary associations), were the six constituent members of the LSSA, a voluntary association of those six bodies. The LSSA was never a statutory body.
The Legal Practice Council is the new statutory regulatory body for legal practitioners (attorneys and advocates) in terms of the Legal Practice Act, 2014, which came into operation on 1 November 2018. The four statutory provincial law societies are now regional offices of the Legal Practice Council and are no longer constituent members of the LSSA.
The LSSA recently amended its constitution in terms of which BLA and Nadel remain its constituent members, and the provincial law societies have been replaced by voluntary provincial attorneys’ associations.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, ETTIENNE BARNARD AND MVUZO NOTYESI
LSSA Communications:
Barbara Whittle – barbara@LSSA.org.za Tel: (012) 366 8800 or 083 380 1307
Nomfundo Jele – nomfundom@LSSA.org.za Tel: (012) 366 8800 or 072 402 6344
Law Society clarifies confusion relating to its continuation under the Legal Practice Act.
Law Society clarifies confusion relating to its continuation under the Legal Practice Act
Legal Practice Council: Code of Conduct not in operation
Approved on 31 October 2018
Issued on behalf of:
Ms Kathleen Dlepu
Chairperson: Legal Practice Council
Queries:
Ms Charity Nzuza, Acting Executive Officer
cmhlungu@justice.gov.za
31 October 2018
Legal Practice Council Notice to all legal practitioners new rules regarding robing in court not yet effective
Approved on 31 October 2018
Issued on behalf of:
Ms Kathleen Dlepu
Chairperson: Legal Practice Council
Queries:
Ms Charity Nzuza, Acting Executive Officer
cmhlungu@justice.gov.za
31 October 2018
Download the LPC advisory here.
Legal Practice Council Notice: Operations of the Legal Practice Council
Implementation of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014
Statement of apology issued by the non-BLA, non-Nadel council members of the Council of the Law Society of South Africa
During the recent election process and leading up to the election of the council members of the Legal Practice Council, the constituent members of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) released lists of their preferred candidates for election.
We, the non-BLA, non-Nadel council members of the LSSA Council, included names of Black Lawyers Association (BLA) and National Association of Democratic Lawyers (Nadel) members on our preferred list. It has been brought to our attention that this may have been perceived to have been divisive. For this we offer an unconditional apology. Going forward into the new dispensation the constituent members of the LSSA commit to engaging with one another with mutual respect and in the true spirit of openness and inclusivity for the benefit of the legal profession.
Statement issued by the non-BLA, non-Nadel council members of the Council of the Law Society of South Africa.
