THE LAW SOCIETY
OF THE
NORTHERN PROVINCES
1. I was admitted as an attorney by the High Court. What does the Law Society require
from me?
► Submit a certified copy of the High Court’s Admission Order to the Admissions-department at office
C10 on the first floor, 123 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria for the Law Society’s records to be updated;
► After or simultaneously with submission of the Court Order, confirm in writing whether you have
commenced practising at a law firm to the Records-department at [email protected], your complete
contact details, address and e-mail address. If you are practising, confirm at which law firm and whether
you are practicing as a partner, director, professional assistant, associate or consultant;
► If you are not practising as an attorney, advise the Law Society accordingly in writing to e-mail address
[email protected] and furnish the Law Society with your contact details as is required by Rule 2.
2. How do I open a new practice?
► Request a letter from the Law Society to confirm that you are registered as an attorney;
► Submit a letter from the Bank or Bank statement to serve as confirmation of the opening of a trust
account;
► Complete the application forms for the opening of a new practice;
► Complete the application form for the issuing of a Fidelity Fund Certificate online at
https://ffc.fidfund.co.za
► Pay a contribution of R1 000 to the Attorneys Fidelity Fund;
► Pay subscription fees of R3 021 per annum.
3. Do I have to register with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)?
► Yes. In terms of the FIC Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 11 of 2008), all attorneys’ firms must register with
the Centre. Applications for registration must be submitted to the Centre electronically by means of an
internet-based portal at the Centre’s internet address: http://www.fic.gov.za.
4. How do I register with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)?
► You must register electronically on the FIC-website. Visit the FIC-website at http://www.fic.gov.za for a
comprehensive guide on how to register on the website.
5. When and whereto must proof of FIC-registration be sent to the Law Society?
► Immediately upon receipt of written confirmation of your successful registration from the Centre. Such
proof of registration may be hand-delivered to the Law Society’s offices, or sent via e-mail to
[email protected] or via facsimile to 086 641 9106.
6. What kind of proof will be acceptable to the Law Society that I am registered with the
FIC?
► The written confirmation or e-mail received from the FIC confirming successful registration.
7. I am on the non-practising roll, how do I become a practising attorney again?
Send a written request and notification to the Records section together with the following:
► details of the practice where you will be practising;
► your status (partner/director/professional assistant/consultant);
► complete the application for the issuing of a Fidelity Fund Certificate online at https://ffc.fidfund.co.za.
Kindly note that only sole practitioners and partners/directors have to apply for a Fidelity Fund Certificate.
You do not have to apply for a Fidelity Fund Certificate if you will be practising as a professional assistant
or consultant;
► payment of R1 000 as a contribution to the Attorneys Fidelity Fund;
► payment of subscription fees of R3 021 per annum.
8. What to do to close a practice/the continuation of a practice by another member?
► Comply with the provisions of Rule 26 and Rule 35 of the Rules;
► Notify the Records section of the LSNP in writing and furnish the closing date;
► Submit a letter from the bank confirming that the trust account has been closed;
► Confirm who will take over the files of the firm;
► Indicate whether the member will still be practising at another firm and provide details;
► Submit a closing auditors report for the closed practice in terms of the LSNP rules;
► Only a partner or director or former partner or director can take over an existing firm. A member can
therefore not sell the practice to another member who was not a partner/director or former partner/director
of the firm.
9. How do I open a branch office?
► Notify the Records section in writing;
► Note the contents of Rule 23 of the LSNP rules;
► It is compulsory to have a full time attorney (director/partner or professional assistant) at the branch
office;
► If the attorney in control of the branch office is a professional assistant, he/she must have at least 3
years’ experience in practice and it must be approved by the Council.
10. I am a consultant or a professional assistant, do I need to apply for a Fidelity Fund
Certificate?
► No, but you have to pay the annual subscription fees of R3 021.
11. I am a non-practising attorney, am I still a commissioner of oaths?
► Yes. You are a commissioner of oaths by virtue of your admission as an attorney.
12. I am an attorney admitted in a foreign country; can I be admitted as a South African
attorney?
The main requirements for admission as an attorney in South Africa are prescribed by Section 15 of the
Attorneys Act 53 of 1979 and inter alia include the following:
► an LLB degree obtained from a South African University;*
► two years of service under a contract of articles of clerkship with a South African firm of attorneys or
community service at an accredited law clinic or approved office of the Legal Aid Board or one year if the
person attended the full time practical law school;**
► the successful completion of the attorneys’ admission examinations;
►South African citizenship or a permit for permanent residency in South Africa;
►attendance and successful completion of a practical legal training course approved by the Law Society;
► satisfying the Court that the person applying for admission is a fit and proper person to be admitted
and to practise as an attorney.
* The only academic qualification that is recognised and accepted for admission of persons as attorneys
in South Africa is the LLB-degree or BProc-degree (obtained on or before 31 December 2004), obtained
from a South African University.
**The minimum statutory academic qualification required for the registration of a contract of articles of
clerkship or contract of service in South Africa is a matriculation certificate with full unconditional
University exemption (or a certificate issued by the Joint Matriculation Board to that effect).
Consequently a foreign lawyer will have to approach a South African University to ascertain the further
requirements to be complied with in relating to his/her law degree for his/her admission as an attorney in
South Africa. In this regard they can communicate with the University of South Africa, P O Box 392
PRETORIA, 0001. Their website address is www.unisa.ac.za.
13. How do I apply for a certificate of good standing for a firm?
► Send your written request via e-mail to [email protected] or via facsimile to 012 3213502
No payment is required for the issuing of a certificate of good standing for a firm.
14. How do I apply for a certificate of good standing for an attorney?
► Send a written request to [email protected] (or facsimile 0866419104) accompanied by
proof of payment of the prescribed fee of R171.00 that must be deposited into the Law Society of the
Northern Provinces’ bank account:
First National Bank – Church Square
Account number: 514 254 988 41
Branch code: 251 445
Reference: GS000001 & initials and surname
► Confirm the reason for requesting the certificate;
► Confirm whether the certificate will be collected from the Law Society’s offices or the postal address
whereto the certificate must be posted;
►To avoid unnecessary delays with the issuing of your certificate, please ensure that our records have
been updated with your current practice and contact details and that you complied with all the statutory
requirements and Rules, specifically if you practise for your own account, as a director or a partner of a
firm. To confirm, please contact the Records-department in this regard at 0123385800 before applying
for the certificate;
►The request will be processed promptly as we realise the importance and urgency thereof. Please be
assured of the Law Society’s best attentions at all times and in order to improve our efficiency, we kindly
request that you refrain from contacting us telephonically for updates since you will be informed via e-mail
at all times of any progress/requirements that must be attended to;
►The certificate will be issued within 5-10 working days from the date of receipt of your written request
and proof of payment;
►No requests will be accepted or attended to without proof of payment of the prescribed fee.
15. How do I apply for right of appearance in the High Court (Act 62 of 1995)?
You are required to submit the following to the Registrar of the Gauteng Division, Pretoria:
► Cover letter addressed to the Senior Registrar;
► Certificate of good standing that is not older than three months from the date of issue;
► Certified copy of your admission Court Order;
► Certified copy of your degree certificate.