What types of lawyers are in high demand in South Africa? High demand exists for lawyers in corporate, criminal, human rights, environmental, and intellectual property law. Moreover, lawyers specialised in family, employment, and property law are also in high demand due to their relevance to everyday issues.
The highest paying fields of law in South Africa typically include corporate law, intellectual property law, and mergers and acquisitions. These areas often involve complex legal issues and high-value transactions, contributing to higher salaries.
Preman, 911 S.W. 2d 288, 301 (Mo. App. 1995) ("The relation between attorney and client is fiduciary and binds the attorney to a scrupulous fidelity to the cause of the client which precludes the attorney from any personal advantage from the abuse of that reposed confidence. . . .
Professional Ethics: Most legal ethical codes strongly discourage or outright prohibit lawyers from engaging in romantic relationships with clients during representation. This is to maintain professional boundaries and ensure that the lawyer-client relationship is based solely on the client's legal needs.
The general rule in South African law is that communications between a lawyer and their client, as well as documents prepared by lawyers for their clients, may not be disclosed without the client's consent.
Some of the most universally in-demand legal specialties include intellectual property law, family law, immigration law, real estate law, and corporate law. Other quickly growing areas of law also include intellectual property law, data privacy and cybersecurity law, litigation, and labor and employment law.
The establishment of the attorney-client relationship involves two elements: a person seeks advice or assistance from an attorney; and the attorney appears to give, agrees to give or gives the advice or assistance.
The general rule in South African law is that communications between a lawyer and their client, as well as documents prepared by lawyers for their clients, may not be disclosed without the client's consent.
Usually, 30-45 days is considered reasonable unless there is pending litigation and the client needs the file transfered to another attorney. Then the time limit can be much shorter--as little as 5 days in one case. If your attorney is dragging his/her feet, you should consider filing a complaint with the CA Bar.
For example, if you've missed filing deadlines or had court requests denied because your attorney failed to communicate, you likely have a claim for legal malpractice.