All lawyers arguably share one trait: they read a lot.

Of course, not all reading material must be work-related. Successful legal practitioners and candidate attorneys should always strive to improve all aspects of their lives, and reading diverse subject matter is one of the most effective ways to learn a little about a lot.

Every legal practitioner’s bookcase should ideally reflect foundational legal theory and stories about the realities of their local justice system.  However, non-academic books also come into play.

If you have ever watched American legal dramas, you might wonder why South African criminal trials do not end with “members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?”  The short answer is that South Africa used to have a jury system in certain criminal trials, but it was abolished decades ago and has never been reinstated.

This article explains what a jury system is, how South Africa’s legal system developed, why we do not use juries today, and what we use instead.

South Africa’s economy has long been shaped by mining, but the modern industry is governed by a tight legal framework that aims to balance investment, transformation, environmental protection, and community impact.  Mining law is the body of legislation, regulations, and court decisions that regulates how mineral resources are accessed, developed, operated, and closed.

When parents separate, the most important question is often the hardest to answer calmly: what arrangement is truly best for the child?  In South Africa, the Office of the Family Advocate exists to help courts and families answer that question in a structured, child-centred way.  It is not a private law firm, and it does not “take sides” in a divorce.  Instead, it plays a specialist, neutral role focused on the welfare and best interests of children.

Hiring an attorney is often a high-stakes decision.  You may be trusting someone with sensitive personal information, a life-changing dispute, or large sums of money held in trust.  That is why it is essential to verify an attorney before you sign a mandate or transfer funds.

In South Africa, the good news is that the legal profession is regulated, and the public has reliable ways to confirm whether a person is a practising attorney and whether they are properly authorised to handle trust money.

For decades, an advocate could walk into the High Court of South Africa the day after admission and address a judge.  A newly admitted attorney could not.  The Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA) preserved that divide by requiring attorneys to wait three years before applying for a Right of Appearance certificate in the Superior Courts or to complete an Advanced trial advocacy course at an LPC-accredited institution. 

Self-Driving Cars (SDCs) pose unique issues under South African law, specifically relating to liability for accidents caused by SDCs.  Liability under the common law for accidents caused by SDCs was discussed in a previous blog, specifically from a product liability perspective.