RIGHT OF APPEARANCE IN COURTS

Issued by: Department of Justice

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN REGARD TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE RIGHT OF APPEARANCE IN COURTS

The Right of Appearance in Courts Act, 1995, will come into operation on 1 November 1995. This act provides for the right of advocates and attorneys to appear in any court in the Republic, and establishes a simple, umcomplicated mechanism to enable attorneys to appear on behalf of clients in the Supreme Court.

In terms of this Act, an Attorney who wishes to appear in the Supreme Court, must furnish the following proof:

• The he/she is in possession of a LLB degree at a South African University:
• If the degree was obtained abroad, it must have been obtained at a University designated by the Minister of Justice or it must be a degree in respect of which an exemption in terms of the Recognition of Foreign Legal Qualifications and Practice Act is applicable;
• If the attorney is not in possession of a LLB degree, the law society of which he/she is a member must certify that he/she has been in practice as an attorney, or has practised law at a law clinic for a continuous period of at least 3 year;
• The Secretary of the Law Society of which the applicant is a member, must also certify that no proceedings to have such an attorney suspended, or have his/her name struck from the role is pending.

This is a further step to make the legal profession more accessible, and to reduce the cost of litigation.

ISSUED BY THE CHIEF LIAISON OFFICER: DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

PRETORIA

27 OCTOBER 1995

Enquiries: Chales Rabe Tel : (012) 3239302 x 2108 Fax : (012) 218291