Legal Sector Code Charter Council to Monitor Briefing Patterns

Posted 18 June 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: In terms of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, No. 53 of 2003, the Legal Sector Code Charter Council has been operationalised to monitor briefing patterns and work distribution within the legal profession.

In accordance with the Legal Sector Code of Good Practice published on 20 September 2024, the Minister of Justice & Constitutional Development has confirmed that the Charter Council was formally established at the beginning of March 2025. The Council is tasked with improving the participation of historically disadvantaged legal practitioners and law firms in sector-specific work opportunities.

According to a memorandum circulated to legal practitioners and stakeholders on 22 April 2025, the Charter Council will monitor briefing patterns with the assistance of the Solicitor General’s office. This oversight is intended to ensure that the distribution of legal work aligns with the transformation objectives of the sector. The monitoring process will focus on:

  • Briefing patterns within the state and private sectors;
  • The inclusion of black legal practitioners in complex and high-value matters; and
  • General compliance with the targets set out in the Legal Sector Code.

The establishment of the Council follows the gazetting of the sector-specific code, which provides a framework for measuring and monitoring the transformation of the legal profession in South Africa.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through firm-level compliance and reporting against the Legal Sector Code targets.
  • For your business: Law firms must establish data collection processes to track the demographic allocation of briefs and ensure work distribution aligns with the targets specified in the Legal Sector Code of Good Practice.
  • For your clients: Corporate clients must review their legal service procurement policies and panel appointments to ensure they meet the specific targets mandated by the Legal Sector Code to maintain their own B-BBEE ratings.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/b-bbee-briefing-patterns-to-be-monitored-minister

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