Code of Conduct for future legal profession published

The Code of Conduct for legal practitioners, candidate legal practitioners and juristic entities was gazetted on Friday, 10 February 2017.

The Code is not in force yet, but will apply to all legal practitioners (attorneys and advocates) as well as candidate legal practitioners and juristic entities when the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 comes into operation (envisaged to be in 2018).

The National Forum of the Legal Profession adopted the Code of Conduct, prepared by its Rules Subcommittee in terms of s 97 (1)(b) of the Legal Practice Act, at its meeting in November 2016.

The Code of Conduct will be taken up by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) when it comes into effect in 2018. In terms of s 36, the LPC must publish the draft of the Code of Conduct and call for comment in writing. The final code must then be gazetted. The Code of Conduct will serve as the prevailing standard of conduct for legal practitioners, candidate legal practitioners and juristic entities under the Legal Practice Act dispensation. Failure to adhere to the code will constitute misconduct.
Download the Code of Conduct.