NADEL emerges from NEC meeting more adamant than ever to fight all forms of barriers of entry to the legal profession
20 November 2019
The National Association of Democratic Lawyer’s (NADEL) extended National Executive Council (NEC) met on Saturday the 16th of November at Kempton Park, Gauteng. The purpose of the meeting was to reflect on the state of the country, work done by the association to date and plan for its upcoming elective National Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The meeting reflected on a number of issues which included the desperate need for a society free from any form of oppression, inequality and injustice.
NADEL considered the net effect of the Legal Practice Act and its ability to advance transformation and unite the profession.
NADEL made the following resolutions: to
i. continue its partnerships with various like-minded institutions such as PABASA and the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) in transforming the legal profession, especially through legal education,
ii. support the continuation of the LSSA as an independent professional body which will advance the rule of law , constitutionalism, and perform trade union functions for legal practitioners while balancing same with public interest,
iii. oppose the proposed subscriptions/ membership fees by the Legal Practice Council (LPC). NADEL believes that these proposed subscriptions/ membership fees based on age differentiation of practitioners is irrational,
iv. oppose levying of any subscription fees to non-practicing legal professionals, including members of the National Prosecuting Authority,
v. engage with the Legal Practice Council in order to persuade them to consult with the profession for alternative options of membership,
vi. reject the proposal by the Legal Practitioners Insurance Indemnity Fund to levy legal practitioners for professional indemnity insurance. NADEL views this as a serious impediment to access to the profession.
NADEL will hold its elective National Conference and AGM on the 16th to the 19th of April 2020 at the Boardwalk Hotel in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The theme of the said Conference and AGM will be “More Vigour Needed to Create a Future very Different from Our Past”.
Issued by Mfana Gwala on behalf of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL), South Africa, 20 November 2019
