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South Africa
NATIONAL LEGISLATION OVERVIEWS
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Attorneys Act, No. 53 of 1979

Long title

To consolidate the laws relating to the admission and practice of attorneys, notaries and conveyancers; the Fidelity Guarantee Fund for Attorneys, Notaries and Conveyancers; and law societies established in respect of the profession of attorney, notary or conveyancer; and to provide for matters connected therewith

Table of contents

SECTION TITLE

CHAPTER I. PRACTITIONERS: QUALIFICATIONS, ADMISSION AND REMOVAL FROM ROLL
1. Definitions
2. Duration of service under articles
3. By whom articled clerks may be engaged.
4. Information to be submitted to society before articles are entered into.|
5. Lodging, examination and registration of articles
6. Supervision over articled clerk
7. Absence of articled clerk
8. Appearance of articled clerk in court and before other institutions
9. Restriction of the pecuniary interests of articled clerks
10. Cession of articles
11. Termination of articles
12. Articles not to be entered into by advocate
13. Exemption from service under articles and certain examinations, and powers of court i respect of irregular service and certain other service
14. Practical examinations
15. Admission of attorneys
16. Duty of applicant for admission or readmission and enrolment as attorney to society
17. Admission of attorneys practising in certain countries or territories
18. Admission of notaries and conveyancers
19. Applications for admission or readmission as practitioner to be submitted to secretary of society
20. Enrolment of practitioner admitted and enrolled by other court
21. Rolls of attorneys, of notaries and of conveyancers
22. Removal of attorneys from roll
23. Juristic person may conduct a practice
24. Applications in terms of this Chapter to be delivered to secretary of society concerned
CHAPTER II. FIDELITY GUARANTEE FUND
25. Continued existence of Fidelity Guarantee Fund
26. Purpose of fund
27. Fund to vest in and to be held in trust by board of control
28. Constitution of board of control
29. Period of office of members of board of control
30. Vacation of office by members of board of control
31. Chairman and vice-chairman of board of control
32. Meetings of board of control
33. Quorum
34. Decisions and chairman's casting vote
35. Validity of resolution signed by all members of board of control
36. Revenue of fund
37. Banking account
38. Investment of moneys of fund
39. Audit
40. Insurance contracts for purpose of indemnifying fund
41. Possession of fidelity fund certificates by practitioners practising on own account or in partnership
42. Application for and issue of fidelity fund certificate
43. Contributions to fund by practitioners
44. Board of control may refund contributions in certain cases
45. Payment from fund
46. Board of control may make grants from fund for education or research in law and for enhancement of the professional standards of practitioners
47. Limitation of liability of fund
48. Claims against fund: notice, proof and extension of period for claims
49. Actions against fund
50. Subrogation
51. Claims may be charged against future revenue of fund
52. Exemption of fund from certain provisions of certain laws
53. Imdemification in respect of certain acts in good faith
54. Preservation and disposal of records and documents in possession of board of control
55. Application of this Chapter in respect of certain persons exercising legal professions in Transkei
CHAPTER III. LAW SOCIETIES
56. Continued existence of law societies
57. Membership of society
58. Objects of society
59. Powers of society
60. Council to manage and control affairs of society
61. Constitution of council and election and period of office of members
62. Vacation of office, suspension from office and filling of vacancies
63. President and vice-president or vice-presidents
64. Meetings of council
65. Alternative members
66. Validity of decisions taken by, or acts performed under authority of, council
67. Committees of council
68. Duties of council
69. Powers of council
70. Council's power of inspection
71. Enquiry by council into alleged cases of unprofessional or dishonourable or unworthy conduct
72. Council's disciplinary powers
73. Appeal against finding of council
74. Council may make rules
75. Limitation of liability
76. Society may institute private prosecution
77. Particular provisions relating to persons exercising legal profession in Transkei.
CHAPTER IV. GENERAL
78. Trust account and investment of trust money.
79. Trust property not to form part of assets of practitioner
80. Minister may prescribe fees
81. Regulations
82. Rules of court
83. Offences
84. Law society of Cape Province may exercise certain powers in Transkei
85. Application of Act to Territory
86. Repeal of laws and savings
87. Short title
Sch. SCHEDULE. LAWS REPEALED [s86]
 
Legislation Text Access Point
Versions
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As unamended Act 1979_053_000_19790601 EXT.LINK REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1980_076_000_19800618 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1981_116_000_19811113 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1982_060_000_19820421 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1983_056_000_19830511 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1983_103_000_19830826 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1984_018_000_19840307 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1985_080_000_19850628 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1989_087_000_19890614 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1990_013_000_19900321 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1991_102_000_19910703 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1993_115_000_19930720 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1993_129_000_19930723 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1993_204_000_19940126 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1995_033_000_19950719 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1996_049_000_19961004 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1996_104_000_19961127 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1997_078_000_19971205 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1998_115_000_19981202 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 1998_122_000_19981211 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2000_062_000_20001213 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2002_055_000_20001201 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2003_055_000_20040331 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2008_031_000_20081105 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2008_066_000_20090217 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2013_042_000_20140122 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2014_014_000_20140519 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As repealed by Act 2014_028_000_20140922 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2014_039_000_20141209 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2014_040_000_20141209 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act 2017_008_000_20170802 .  N/A REQ.INFO LINK
As amended by Act ... N/A REQ.INFO LINK

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