Stiff fines mooted for lawyers

In the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill tabled in Parliament last month, the committee proposed that lawyers found guilty of dishonest conduct by the Law Society be fined R100 000, significantly more than the R10 000 which has been used since 1993. The Bill also proposes that candidate attorneys be fined R20 000 compared to the R2 000 that is in place currently. Cape Law Society president Peter Horn said the current punitive measures were outdated and many of the offences required more severe punishments. Full Daily Dispatch report Draft Judicial Matters Amendment Bill (PDF file)