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lSSA Attorney’s Admission Examination Syllabus 2018 : Law Society Of South Africa

Organization : Law Society Of South Africa
Examination : Attorney’s Admission Examination Syllabus
Announcement : Syllabus
Website : https://www.lssa.org.za/

lSSA Attorney’s Admission Examination Syllabus

The guidelines for the admission examination are set out in section 14 of the Attorneys Act. Candidates are allowed 15 minutes to peruse the paper before starting to answer the questions. No candidate may start writing in the answer book during this period.

Related : Law Society Of South Africa Conveyancing Examination Syllabus 2017 : www.southafricain.com/7121.html

Admission Examination Papers

First paper (section 14 (1) (a)) :
High court procedure; magistrates court procedure; road accident fund claims; and criminal procedure.
This paper is written on the first day of the examinations from 09:00 to 12:15.

Admission Exam Syllabus

Introduction :
In terms of s14 of the Attorneys Act 53 of 1979, examinations are conducted in respect of:
s 14 (1) (a) of the Act: High court, magistrates court, criminal procedure and motor vehicle accidents.
s 14 (1) (b) of the Act: Practical attorney’s bookkeeping.
s 14 (1) (c) of the Act: The practice, functions and duties of an attorney including administration of estates.

First paper :
** High court, Magistrates court, Motor vehicle accidents, and Criminal procedure.
** This paper is set as a three hour paper and counts 100 marks.

Second paper :
** Administration of estates. This paper is set as a one and a half hour paper but two hours are allowed for completing it to allow candidates to read the questions carefully before answering them.
** This paper counts 100 marks.

Third paper :
** General attorney’s practice. This paper is set as a one and a half hour paper but two hours are allowed for completing it to allow candidates to read the questions carefully before answering them.
** The paper counts 100 marks.

Fourth paper:
** Attorney’s bookkeeping. This paper is set as a one and a half hour paper but two hours are allowed for completing it.
** The paper counts 100 marks.

Nature Of The Examination

** The content of the syllabus (and the nature of the examination) aims at ensuring that candidates have certain skills and experience.

** Candidates must have a general understanding of the role of the attorney as a practitioner and an officer of court, of the role of the legal profession in society, of the ethics of the profession and an ability to recognise conflicts of interest and ethical difficulties. Candidates will be required to know the rules of the law society of the province in which they are being examined, in as far as they relate to professional conduct.

** Candidates must be competent and have adequate experience in the basic skills and techniques of attorneys and for that purpose
** be able to handle facts and apply legal principles to factual situations;
** be able to research legal problems and to use the sources of law;

Analysis Of Various Papers

The various papers test the following skills and knowledge
Paper 1 :

Court procedure

High court :
** The practical application of the High Court Act and rules.
** The ability to draft notices of motion, affidavits and causes of action for a summons, and other notices and documents in respect of which no prescribed forms exist; draft instructions to counsel on pleadings; conduct all types of proceedings in the high court and write letters and opinions.

Magistrates court :
** The practical application of the Magistrates Court Act and rules.
** The ability to draft applications, affidavits, summons, pleadings and other notices and documents except where prescribed forms exist; conduct all types of proceedings in the magistrates court and write letters and opinions.

Criminal procedure

** Aspects regarding the role of the prosecutor, investigation of crime and the various methods to secure the accused’s attendance in court.

** The procedure relating to a criminal trial, including applications for bail, the procuring of evidence and a general working knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Act with emphasis on ss 3, 6, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 49, 50, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 62, 65, 66, 73, 103, 112, 113, 114, 115, 123, 124, 150, 195, 196, 201, 217, 220 and 297.**

Paper 2 : Estates
** A general working knowledge of the Administration of Estates Act and its regulations including the drafting of estate accounts, drafting and execution of wills, including testamentary trusts, the application of the law of testate and intestate succession, a knowledge of the principles of estate duty and capital gains tax relating to deceased estates and a rudimentary knowledge of estate planning.

Paper 3: General attorney’s practice
** Professional ethics figure very prominently in this section. This term means all the rules of professional conduct appertaining to an attorney in his professional life – as an officer of court, in his relationship with his client, colleagues (including those at the Bar) and his staff – also extra-professionally while he remains in the profession.

Paper 4: Attorney’s bookkeeping
** This entails a test in respect of the practical skills necessary for the keeping of attorney’s books of account.

** Candidates must show a thorough knowledge of the concept of trust money and of the essential requirements of the modern double entry bookkeeping system as applied to attorney’s bookkeeping, the functions of the various books of account and must have sufficient practical knowledge of the supervision of bookkeeping to enable them to maintain the books of account required in an attorney’s office.

** They must be able to apply accepted measures, controls and ethical standards to bookkeeping and financial matters.
** Questions on VAT are included in this paper.

Please note :
** No bookkeeping paper will be provided in the answer books. Candidates must draw the necessary columns for the various books of account required.
** Pocket calculators may be brought along and utilised for this paper.

Author : Brightlin