Bill could transform legal sphere

The legal profession will see changes should the proposed Legal Practice Amendment Bill be passed by Parliament.

Yesterday, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development responded to the portfolio committee on justice and constitutional development on submissions made by various interested parties. The proposed bill aims to transform the legal profession. The department made it clear to the committee that the proposed bill will only apply to lawyers to the exclusion of state law advisers, paralegals, or people who work at banks and private companies.

The bill will among other things, prohibit anyone who is not a practising legal practitioner from offering services that are exclusive to legal practitioners.

The bill will also make it a requirement for lawyers who take work directly from the public for a fee or reward to possess a Fidelity Fund certificate. The department’s Lawrence Bassett said: “If a person who is not a legal practitioner, as according to the act, can do the reserved work for lawyers, appear in court, does not have a Fidelity Fund certificates, the public is at risk.”

The portfolio committee is set to meet the National Forum next month to determine whether it will be granted an extension to achieve their set goals on transforming the legal fraternity.