This booklet features a step-by-step practical explanation of the formalities pertaining to articles; Practical Legal Training (PLT); the attorneys' admission exams; cession of articles; the admission as an attorney procedure; the day to day tasks a candidate can expect to do during articles, and t...
EVERYTHING CANDIDATE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS MUST
KNOW ABOUT ARTICLES OF CLERKSHIP
Take note that nothing in this booklet constitutes legal advice or advice of any kind.
Readers must consult official and alternative sources before making any decisions based
on the information provided herein. Templates and examples provided by us are merely a
guideline and nothing more. We will not accept any liability whatsoever.
Take note further that this booklet is intended for personal use only and that the
unauthorized sharing hereof is prohibited.
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CONTENTS
1. Information and Formalities Pertaining to Articles of Clerkship 4-5
1.1. Introduction to articles
2. Practical Legal Training (PLT) 6 – 14
2.1. Introduction
2.2. What on earth is Practical Legal Training (PLT)?
2.3. The Compulsory Course
2.4. The School for Legal Practice
2.5. Conclusion
3. Attorneys’ Admission Exams 15 – 27
3.1. Introduction
3.2. FAQ
3.3. Paper 1
3.4. Paper 2
3.5. Paper 3
3.6. Paper 4
3.7. Conclusion
4. What Your Job as a Candidate Legal Practitioner Will Entail and the Salary
You Can Expect 28 – 37
4.1. What will my job, as a candidate legal practitioner, likely entail?
4.2. What advice would you give me as a candidate legal practitioner?
4.3. Your salary as a candidate legal practitioner
4.4. Conclusion
5. Your Admission as an Attorney 38 – 53
5.1. How do I get admitted as an attorney?
5.2. What must be included in my admission application?
5.3. Will my founding affidavit differ if I cede my articles?
5.4. Procedure after drafting the admission application
5.5. What to expect on the day of hearing of your application
5.6. The Court has granted my admission application, now what?
5.7. Conclusion
6. Cession of Your Articles of Clerkship Contract 54 – 57
6.1. What does it mean to cede articles?
6.2. When may articles be ceded?
6.3. What are the formalities pertaining to cession?
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6.4. The cession agreement
6.5. Payment of the registration fee
6.6. The request for a certificate of right of appearance
6.7. What happens once I have registered the cession agreement and lodged the
supporting documents with the LPC?
6.8. Cession in the event of your principal’s death, mental illness, insolvency,
conviction of a crime, suspension from practice, striking off the roll or
discontinuation of practice
6.9. Conclusion
7. Applying and Interviewing for Candidate Legal Practitioner Positions 58 - 65
7.1. Applying for candidate legal practitioner positions
7.2. Dress code for interviews
7.3. Preparing for interviews
7.4. Conduct during interviews
7.5. Questions you may be asked during interviews
7.6. How to answer interview questions
7.7. Questions you should ask
7.8. Questions you must not ask
7.9. Conclusion
8. Templates 66 - 96
8.1. Notice of Motion – Admission Application
8.2. Founding Affidavit – Admission Application
8.3. Principal’s Supporting Affidavit
8.4. Admission Application - Cession
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1.
INFORMATION AND FORMALITIES PERTAINING TO
ARTICLES OF CLERKSHIP
1.1. Introduction to articles
Articles are also known as Practical Vocational Training, which is essentially a
compulsory apprenticeship for LLB graduates looking to become attorneys. In terms
of the Legal Practice Act (LPA), candidate attorneys are now referred to as candidate
legal practitioners (CLP), although you may use the terms interchangeably.
Your contract of articles (or PVT contract) can be for a period of either one, two, three
or five years. In respect of a two-year contract, you will be a CLP for two years,
provided you meet all other articles’ requirements timeously.
You will be required to attend Practical Legal Training (PLT) and pass four admission
exams. Take note that passing a fit and proper test is no longer a requirement under
the LPA.
For candidates completing a one-year contract of articles, you will be required to
attend the School for Legal Practice offered by the LSSA, or the long-distance training
course offered by UNISA.
Upon completion of the above, the CLP will only be required to complete one year of
articles. You must also pass four admission exams. You can also enter into a three or
five-year contract of articles, but this process is slightly more complicated so contact
the LPC for info.
Your contract of articles will be entered into between yourself and your principal, who
is usually a partner or director of the firm, but not always.
Have a look at the Regulations under s109(1)(a) of the LPA, namely Regulation 5, 6
and 7, to make sure that your principal meets the requirements to have you as a
candidate under them, otherwise your articles’ contract may not be valid.
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