20190603_145214

About Us

Having discovered a great need for professional advocacy and the interests of justice of the communities along the Garden Route a group of 16 advocates, under the leadership of Senior Counsel J.A. van der Westhuizen, established an association during 2004.  During November 2008 the association applied to the General Council of Bar for recognition of the association of advocates and on 21 November 2008 these advocates celebrated the successful establishment of the SCSA.  Despite remaining a very small group of advocates, our association is a legal fraternity like no other and our members part of a brotherhood of highly skilled, yet approachable individuals.

The objectives of the SCSA are:-

1)  The safeguarding and promotion of the interests of the SCSA and its members in their professional capacities;

2)  The supervision of the professional conduct of the members of the SCSA;

3)  The promotion of the public’s access to legal services and the legal system;

4)  To assist with, and contribute to, the proper and effective provision of legal services within the area of the Eastern Circuit Local Division of the Western Cape High Court; and

5)  To promote and safeguard the independence of the judiciary.

article original

Services Rendered By Our Advocates

Our members have successfully completed pupillage training and are held in the highest regard in the Garden Route’s legal community.

 

Services rendered by the members of the SCSA include litigation, mediation and arbitration, attending enquiries and commissions, and appearing in all forums generally permitted by the rules of conduct set by the GCB and LPC including acting as the presiding officials at hearings. As such, members have experience of, or appeared in, some or all of the following forums, as a single advocate or together with another advocate, and acted either for one of the parties to the litigation, or as a presiding officer, or an advocate amicus curiae:

 

1.    The Constitutional Court (Johannesburg);

2.    The Supreme Court of Appeal (Bloemfontein);

3.    The High Courts throughout South Africa;

4.    The Regional and District Magistrates Courts throughout South Africa;

5.    The Land Claims Court (Johannesburg);

6.    The Labour Court of South Africa, throughout South Africa;

7.    The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and bargaining councils throughout South Africa;

8.    Private arbitrations, locally and abroad;

9.    Military Tribunals and Disciplinary Actions throughout South Africa; and

10.  Specialized Courts throughout South Africa.

 

 

Our members are therefore trained in delivering service of a very high professional standard, while some members specialise in the following fields:

 

·   Criminal defence;

·   Drafting of pleadings;

·   Drafting of applications & urgent applications;

·   Drafting of legal contracts;

·   Drafting of review applications, appeals & attending to court appeals;

·   Providing accurate, timely and effective legal advice to clients;

·   Studying of police reports, interview transcripts, medical records and other facts to make out a case for the plaintiff or defence;

·   Presenting evidence in court to support clients in legal proceedings;

·   Giving/Presenting oral arguments in a court of law;

·   Shaping a client’s expectations on what can be realistically achieved;

·   Advising clients on their legal rights and obligations;

·   Researching precedents;

·   Drafting of wills and trust documents;

·   Acting on appointment by court as Curator ad Litem;

·   Involvement in out-of-court settlements;

·   Appearing before legislative and regulatory bodies or government agencies;

·   Negotiating with other advocates, attorneys, legal executives and their clients;

·   Advising businesses on the impact, interpretation and implementation of new policies and legislation.