Legal Services Ombud Rules Replaced via Correction Notice

Posted 18 July 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Justice

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Justice & Constitutional Development has issued a correction notice containing the rules for the Legal Services Ombud, which replace the rules previously gazetted on 18 July 2025.

In terms of the Legal Practice Act, No. 28 of 2014, the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development gazetted a correction notice on 25 July 2025. This notice provides a revised set of rules for the Legal Services Ombud, effectively replacing the version published on 18 July 2025. These rules are also intended to replace the initial rules published in April 2022, which were issued in anticipation of the Ombud’s formal establishment two months later.

The new rules are immediately effective and govern the administrative and procedural framework under which the Ombud operates. This includes the processes for:

  • The submission and handling of complaints against legal practitioners or the Legal Practice Council;
  • The investigation procedures followed by the Ombud’s office; and
  • The implementation of recommendations or directives issued by the Ombud.

Click here to download the correction notice and rules.

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

  • For yourself: You must ensure that any professional conduct matters or disputes referred to the Ombud follow the procedural requirements set out in the 25 July 2025 rules rather than previous iterations.
  • For your business: Law firms and legal practices must update their internal compliance manuals to reflect the current Ombud rules, particularly regarding the handling of client complaints and cooperation with Ombud investigations.
  • For your clients: Clients seeking recourse against legal practitioners now have a clarified regulatory framework for lodging complaints with the Ombud, providing an alternative to the Legal Practice Council’s disciplinary processes.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/legal-services-ombud-rules-replaced

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