Consumer services

Lawyers

Unhappy with your lawyer's service - failure to answer your letters, failure to account for money held on your behalf, overcharging? Here's where to go.

Law Society of South Africa
Umbrella body for the attorney's profession in South Africa. The Society recommends that you talk to your attorney first about any problem you have with his or her service. If you are still not satisfied, then you should complain to your provincial law society - see the list below.

You can complain to your provincial law society about the ethical behaviour of your attorney - failure to answer your letters, failure to account for money held on your behalf, overcharging.

However, the society will not handle complaints, eg alleging incompetence or negligence, which might give rise to claims for compensation, as the societies do not have the power to award compensation. Such compensation can only be pursued through further legal proceedings - ie, you'll have to contact another attorney.

Provincial law societies

  • Law Society of the Cape of Good Hope: Tel (021) 424 8060, Web site
  • Law Society of the Free State: Tel (051) 447 3237
  • Gauteng Law Council: Tel (012) 323 0400, Web site
  • KwaZulu-Natal Law Society: Tel (031) 451 304, Web site
  • Mpumalanga Attorneys Council: Tel (017) 647 298, Fax (017) 647 1260, Web site
  • North West Circle Council: Tel (014) 592 9315/6, Fax (014) 597 1591, Web site
  • Circle Council of the Northern Province: Tel (015) 295 6402, Fax (015) 295-8006, Web site
  • Law Society of the Northern Provinces: Tel (012) 323 0400, Web site
  • Also: Black Lawyers Association: Tel (011) 403 0802, Fax (011) 403 0814

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