Former Chairperson of the Attorneys Development Fund, Nomahlubi Khwinana, at the official launch of the organisations first law hub in Gauteng.
By Kgomotso Ramotsho
The Attorneys Development Fund (ADF), launched its first law hub on 26 February in Johannesburg. Former Chairperson of the ADF, Nomahlubi Khwinana, said the ADF’s plans to start a law hub was initiated two years ago. The purpose of the law hub is that it can add value to the lives of legal practitioners who want to start their own practices. She pointed out that there are many challenges that legal practitioners face when they decide to start their own firm, but with the ADF’s Law Hub available to them, it will make things easier for legal practitioners to run their new practices.
The ADF’s first law hub, based in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, grants access to a rent-free office space from where legal practitioners can operate, for a period of 12 months. The law hub offers computers pre-loaded with Microsoft Office; accounting software; online legal research tools; library; WiFi; telephone lines; and printers, copiers and scanners.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Attorneys Development Fund, Dr Jeanne-Mari Retief, giving guests a tour at the organisations law hub on the night of the launch on 26 February.
Beneficiaries may also use appointed meeting rooms for client consultations. Tea and coffee is served for guests at the law hub. Acting Chief Executive Officer of the ADF, Dr Jeanne-Mari Retief said there is an interactive online calendar for beneficiaries to have access to the meeting spaces when needed. Beneficiaries will have access to high-level training opportunities that cover a host of topics relevant to legal practitioners and new business owners. Training sessions will be presented by experts in the field and carry no cost. In-house mentorship and business guidance will also be offered at the law hub. Ms Khwinana said there are plans to launch another law hub in KwaZulu-Natal during the year and throughout the country by 2020. The ADF Law Hub was sponsored by LexisNexis and AJS Legal Accounting Systems.
For more information on the ADF Law Hub visit www.lpdf.org.za/law-hubs/
Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.
