Practice Management Training (2024 registration closed)





2024 Registration (Registration closed)

Is practice management training mandatory for legal practitioners?

Section 84(1) of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA) provides that every attorney or any advocate referred to in section 34(2)(b) – trust account advocate – who intends to practice for their own account, either alone or in partnership or as a director of a juristic entity, must be in possession of a Fidelity Fund certificate (FFC).

Section 85(1)(b) provides that every legal practitioner who, for the first-time practices as such, must within the period determined in the rules, complete a legal practice management course approved by the Legal Practice Council (LPC).

How do legal practitioners comply?

The practice management training (PMT) course offered by the Law Society of South Africa’s education division, Legal Education and Development (LEAD), has been approved by the LPC as determined in the LPA (s 85(1)(b) read with s 95(1)(zL)).

By when do legal practitioners have to comply?

Rule 27(1) provides that every legal practitioner who is obliged in terms of s 84(1) to be in possession of a Fidelity Fund certificate must, within a period of one year after the date on which the legal practitioner was required for the first time to be in possession of a Fidelity Fund certificate, or within such further period as the Council may approve in any specific case, complete to the satisfaction of the Council a legal practice management training course approved by the Council.

This Rule applies to legal practitioners who practise as attorneys.

What does the LEAD Practice Management Training offer?

The LEAD PMT course was developed to assist legal practitioners to manage their practice efficiently by combining their legal expertise with strategic business management.

The course focuses on the fundamentals of practice management relating to management, marketing, technology and finance. The ultimate aim is to provide legal practitioners with the tools to manage their practices more efficiently on a sustained basis, in order to improve standards of practice of the legal profession and service delivery to clients.

The course is designed to provide training and guidance to legal practitioners on:

  • effectively starting a practice;
  • combining legal expertise with strategic business management;
  • applying resources productively;
  • practising in a financially sound manner;
  • marketing for profitability;
  • ensuring risk management and control; and
  • prudently administering the affairs of clients and the business .

Course Content

  • Module 1 General Introduction to Management
  • Module 2 Risk Management and Insurance
  • Module 3 Law Business Finance
  • Module 4 Systems and Technology
  • Module 5 Practice Administration
  • Module 6 Marketing of Legal Services
  • Module 7 Human Resources Management
  • Module 8 Strategic Management

Training is offered by the Law Society of South Africa’s education division, Legal Education and Development. There are three intakes per year. The duration of each intake will be 4 months as per below

1st Intake: February – May 2024
2nd Intake: May – August 2024
3rd Intake: August – November 2024

Tuition fee
Full course: R2 840 (VAT inclusive)

Registration dates

First intake: Closing date for registration is 8 January 2024. The course will start in February.
Second intake: Closing date for registration is 15 April 2024. The course will start in May.
Third intake: Closing date for registration is 15 July 2024. The course will start in August..

Schedule 2024 – see above link

Enquiries
For more information please e-mail pmt@LSSALEAD.org.za

PMT staff

Euginia Sookane (Senior Training Co-ordinator): 012 441 4609 – euginia@LSSALEAD.org.za
Pelcrine Mathibi: 012 441 4614 – pelcrine@LSSALEAD.org.za
Amukelani Mdluli: 012 441 4690 – amu@LSSALEAD.org.za

Senior Manager LEAD
Ogilvie Ramoshaba: 012 441 4625 – ogilvie@LSSALEAD.org.za

Course Dates

2024 Registration closed 

First intake: Closing date for registration is 8 January 2024. The course will start in February. (Registration closed)
Second intake: Closing date for registration is 15 April 2024. The course will start in May.
Third intake: Closing date for registration is postponed to 30 July 2024 midnight. The course will start in August.