By Elsabe Steenhuisen
1. Short dialogues
This year our children’s project is conducting a series of eight two-hour dialogues in four Gauteng regions (Alberton, Roodepoort, Boksburg and Johannesburg) spread over the year. Their aim is to create a platform for recently admitted and young legal practitioners to engage with each other and with more experienced colleagues on various topics.
The first two dialogues (held on 28 March and 4 April) served to improve the practical skills of dealing with professional/client relationships – the conflict, the emotions, the relentless contact and insistence on feedback, the overload of information, the lack of co-operation and clear instructions. The third and fourth dialogues (held on 24 and 30 May) dealt with the lessons of practice we only learn the hard way. Attendees compared and shared their experiences with that of the speaker and their colleagues.
The fifth dialogue was held on 11 July at Klopper Jonker Attorneys in Alberton and dealt with appropriate billing practices, the difference between fees and disbursements, managing clients’ perceptions in respect of fees and clear communication with clients about fees. The speaker touched on overreaching, underreaching, deposits and fee estimations. This dialogue will be repeated on 29 August at Coetzee Attorneys in Roodepoort.
The last two sessions will be held on 16 August at Hogan Lovells, Sandton and on 23 August at Alice Swanepoel Attorneys, Boksburg. The speaker will open the discussion with reference to best practice in respect of the charging of professional fees and the levying of disbursements. He will conclude with ethical ways of dealing with advocates and with the courts.
ProBono.Org is indebted to Ramsden Small Attorneys that made Suné Bosch and Jonathan Small available to lead the dialogues for 2019, and to the firms for hosting the dialogues.
If you would like to attend the remaining dialogues, you are welcome to book your place with Phumi at phumi@probono.org.za. Please note that space is limited.
2. Workshops in Children’s Court practice
The second of this series of workshops was held on 19 July hosted by our partners, Werksmans Attorneys.
Presenter and former magistrate Alice Swanepoel shared her years of experience in handling Children’s Court matters. The gathering was also an opportunity for the legal practitioners who had attended the first session to probe more deeply into the intricacies of representing children and their interests.
We were also honoured by a surprise guest speaker, Acting Judge Clute Swanepoel. His significant depth of knowledge and particular experience in the higher courts provided an additional layer of detail to the session.
These workshops highlighted the need for legal practitioners to discuss practical scenarios with each other and with experts on Children’s Court practice. Plans for 2020 workshops will focus on this aspect and we will call on legal practitioners to indicate which scenarios they would like to be discussed.
Our thanks for the contributions of the speakers and the host, and the participation of the attendees.
