By Nomfundo Jele
The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) would like to remind practitioners that the latest Conveyancing Fees Guidelines in respect of conventional deeds and sectional titles are available on the LSSA website. These include guidelines for the interprovincial apportionment of fees, wasted costs and transactions in terms of the Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981. The guidelines are applicable to instructions received on or after 1 May 2021.
Click here to view the guidelines.
The incidence of cybercrime has escalated with law firms continuously being targeted and the LSSA would like to draw your attention to a letter from the United States White House to business leaders. The letter outlines what businesses can do on a high-level to protect themselves against the threat of ransomware. Firms are advised that the compromising of business e-mail continues unabated, and firms must advise their clients to verify communications and bank account details via telephone communication and not only rely on e-mail communications. The latest Risk Alert Bulletin in the June edition of De Rebus contains practical suggestions.
Click here to read the letter.
The LSSA has developed a guide on opening an attorneys practice, which aims to explain the key requirements pursuant to the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014, which an attorney must comply with when opening and operating a law practise for his or her account.
The registration portal for the second session for the 2021 admission examinations is now open. The Legal Practice Council (LPC) will be administering the advocates’ admission examinations for the first time this year. Registration will close on 9 July 2021.
The LSSA has made its submissions on Discussion Paper 150 Regarding the Investigation into Legal Fees (Project 142) by the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC).
In its submissions, the LSSA stated that while there are some recommendations that it supports, there are others that are of concern, notably those regarding a tariff with limited targeting. The LSSA stated that while it is not in favour of fixed tariffs for attorney-and-client fees, it supports an attorney-and-client fee guideline for litigious and non-litigious matters issued by the LPC, which is also consistent with best international practice and other professions.
Click here to view the LSSA submissions.
The LSSA, the LPC Library, Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund, the Legal Practitioners’ Indemnity Insurance Fund NPC and the Legal Practitioners Development Fund held an information session in mid-May.
The purpose of the session was to introduce the services being rendered by the abovementioned stakeholders particularly to legal practitioners who have recently joined the profession. During the session, each stakeholder conducted a presentation on services it renders to legal practitioners and responded to questions and input from practitioners.
Click here to download the presentations.
The draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill, 2021 was published for comment. Practitioners can send comments directly to the Secretariat for Police Service or to kris@lssa.org.za by 28 June 2021. Refer to GN437 GG44593/21-5-2021.
Click here to view the Government Gazette.
There is also a call for public comment on the Land Court Bill B11 of 2021. Legal practitioners can submit comment to the LSSA at kris@lssa.org.za by 16 July 2021, or to Mr V Ramaano at Landcourt@parliament.gov.za by 23 July 2021.
Click here to view the Land Court Bill.
The Rules Board for Courts of Law is inviting comment on the issue of practice directives of the various divisions of the High Court overlapping with the rules making functions of the Rules Board. Legal practitioners are welcome to furnish Kris Devan at kris@lssa.org.za with their comments by 23 July 2021 to incorporate into the LSSA’s submission, or to the Rules Board directly by 30 July 2021.
Click here to view the Rules Board’s letter.
The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998, has been amended to further regulate the proprietary consequences of customary marriages. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Amendment Act 1 of 2021, is published in GN319 GG44646/1-6-2021 and came into operation on 1 June 2021.
Click here to read the Goverment Gazette.
Legal practitioners who would like to receive copies of the South African Reserve Bank’s Exchange Control Circulars can contact kris@lssa.org.za.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has a new litigation e-mail address for all matters in the Free State province. RAF has requested that the e-mail address: FSLitigation@raf.co.za be used.
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to get the latest information. We endeavour to keep you abreast at all times via our social media platforms.
Nomfundo Jele, Acting Communications Manager, Law Society of South Africa, nomfundom@lssa.org.za
