Draft Legal Practice Amendment Bill Published for Public Comment

Posted 20 August 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Legal Practice

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has released the Draft Legal Practice Amendment Bill, 2026 for public comment.

Published under Government Gazette No. 55166, Notice No. 4088, the proposed legislation seeks to amend the Legal Practice Act, No. 28 of 2014. The draft amendments focus on enhancing sectoral administration, adjusting governance frameworks around the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund, and broadening access to legal services across South Africa.

Key focus areas addressed in the draft amendment include:

  • Revising governance and structural frameworks governing the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund.
  • Improving the regulatory and administrative mechanisms applied by the Legal Practice Council.
  • Streamlining compliance and disciplinary processes within the legal sector.
  • Introducing legislative measures designed to enhance public access to justice.

Click here to download the Draft Legal Practice Amendment Bill, 2026 (Gazette 55166, Notice 4088).

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

  • For yourself: Legal practitioners and trust account auditors must review the proposed statutory changes to assess their future compliance and administrative obligations.
  • For your business: Law firms and accounting practices conducting legal trust audits must monitor impending adjustments to Fidelity Fund oversight and reporting mandates.
  • For your clients: Clients holding funds in attorney trust accounts will be subject to updated governance and protection structures established by the amended Fidelity Fund provisions.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/draft-legal-practice-amendment-bill-2026

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