By Barbara Whittle
Pietermaritzburg firm Tomlinson Mnguni James (TMJ) has gone the extra mile and taken on three growing firms to mentor under the auspices of the Law Society of South Africa’s Synergy Link empowerment initiative.
In linking with Trishal Sharma Attorneys and T Sibiya & Associates, both of Durban, as well as SM Zwezwe Attorneys of Umzinkulu, TMJ director Daan Steenkamp says: ‘Sole practitioners and those in rural areas, like Seraphicus Zwezwe, have difficulty in breaking into commercial and conveyancing work particularly.’ He explained: ‘Much of the estates conveyancing is handed out by trust companies and TMJ is exploring an initiative with Absa Bank with an understanding that it hands s 18(3) estate transfers to practitioners who are newly qualified as conveyancers to prepare the necessary documents under supervision of an experienced mentor. This will enable the learner conveyancers to gain experience on relatively modest matters while protecting the interests of the trust company. The experienced conveyancer acts as guarantor for the quality outcome.’
All three of the growing firms linked to TMJ are keen to expand their practices in the conveyancing, estates and commercial fields.
The Synergy Link between TMJ and SM Zwezwe Attorneys concentrates on empowerment in the fields of estates law, commercial and conveyancing work; that with T Sibiya & Associates will focus on trusts law, estates and commercial work. Both synergies will run from March 2013 until March 2014. With Trishal Sharma, the link runs from December 2012 until April 2014 and will cover conveyancing, wills, trusts and deceased estates, as well as the management aspects of the firm.
The LSSA Synergy Link empowerment initiative was launched last year by former LSSA co-chairpersons Nano Matlala and Praveen Sham. Currently there are 15 large and medium-sized firms that are offering their services to assist and mentor growing firms in new fields of practice.
For more information on the Synergy Link project and to view the transferring and growing firms, see www.LSSA.org.za
Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communications manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2013 (July) DR 15.
