By Barbara Whittle

There is a growing need for attorneys to make valuable input to and address current issues in practice, and to contribute information to the public through the print media, thus promoting access to the law and justice.

In recognition of the above, the Law Society of South Africa’s Legal Education and Development (LEAD) division has launched a pilot writing course that will enable attorneys to publish articles, letters, case notes and other pieces in the print media (in De Rebus, other law journals and in newspapers). The course will be facilitated by tutors who specialise in media and law journal publication, and will be aimed at providing practitioners with the practical skills needed to get their names in print.

The course will focus on –

• choosing a topic;
• planning the layout (conveying the crux of the message in plain, practical language);
• choosing a title;
• choosing the correct medium for publication;
• publication requirements for De Rebus, mainstream media and journals; and
• plagiarism, copyright, referencing and fact-checking.

The course will be practically orientated and will allow participants to apply what they have learnt, with feedback from the facilitators. The first pilot courses will be offered in Johannesburg and Pretoria at the end of October 2014.

• For more information, e-mail jeanne-mari@LSSA.org.za to express your interest in attending the course or access the registration form on www.LSSALEAD.org.za

Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communication manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za

This article was first published in De Rebus in 2014 (Oct) DR 23.