Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha on Tuesday announced that nominations for attorneys and advocates to serve on the new South African Legal Practice Council (SALPC) will open on Tuesday at midnight.
Once the Council is established on 1 November, it will replace the four statutory provincial law societies, according to the legal Practice Act 28 of 2014.
The four law societies, however, can continue to exist as voluntary associations to advance the non-statutory interests of the profession.
The Council’s provincial structures will be established after the national body has been finalised.
The Legal Practice Council will regulate both attorneys and advocates and ensure racial and gender equality.
Masutha says the establishment of the Council is a milestone in transformation of the legal profession and has several benefits.
“The establishment of the community service through which aspirant and serving legal practitioners will be required to perform community service to increase access to justice. The enhancement of the accountability arrangement of the legal profession is through the establishment of the legal service ombud. Transform the dispensation for the conferral of senior council status or silk status through the creation of a transparent nomination process which is based on the expertise and experience of legal practitioners”.
