Advocates appear in most major cases in South African courts. These include the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, Provincial High Courts, the Labour and Labour Appeal Courts, Land Claims and Tax Courts and the Magistrates' Courts. Advocates appear in appeals in all superior courts in South Africa.
They also appear in trials and applications in the High Courts and other superior courts situated in the 9 provinces in South Africa.
In addition advocates appear in arbitrations which include commercial, building, engineering and employment arbitrations. Advocates are also instructed to provide written or oral opinions on matters involving Southern African Law. Where advocates are engaged in South African courts, they are instructed by attorneys.
The Value of Independence
Advocates are sole practitioners. Their prime resources are their knowledge, training, skills, experience and specialization. When you appoint an advocate you bring those resources into your team.
The independence of advocates is a source of professional pride to the Bar and a guarantee against conflicts of interest. Advocates' status as sole practitioners enable them to market their professional service without additional administration costs.
Specialisation and the Services Provided by Advocates
Members of the Bar's specialize inter alia in the following areas:
- Constitutional Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- General Civil Litigation
- Criminal Litigation
- Trial and Appeals
- Human Rights Law and Litigation
- Company and Tax Law
- Labour Law
- Competition Law
- Mining Law
- Insurance Law
- Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Law
- Media and Broadcasting Law
- Broadcasting Law
- Property Law
- Patents and Copyright Law
- Computer and Telecommunications Law
- Family law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Training
In addition to pupillage training, the GCB provides ongoing trial advocacy training of pupils and new members.
Trial advocacy training which incorporates training in all aspects of trial advocacy, including opening and closing addresses or speeches, direct and cross examination and the conduct and argument of applications and appeals, is conducted in conjunction with Inns of Court trial advocacy trainers of the Bar of England and Wales.
