Attorneys steer kids away from law
2013-01-21 13:14
Cape Town - A survey has revealed most attorneys will not encourage their
children to pursue the profession, according to a report on Monday.
The Cape Times reported that only 34% of 500 practitioners interviewed in
the third quarter of last year would encourage their children to enter the
profession.
This figure was a down from the 40% recorded by financial services group PPS
in the second quarter of last year.
"Compared with other professions, this is one of the lowest [figures]
so far," said PPS marketing head Gerhard Joubert.
He told the newspaper that during forums last year, many lawyers had
expressed serious concerns about the restructuring of their profession, through
the Legal Practice Bill.
The bill determines the rates lawyers can charge their clients and gives the
justice minister greater clout in governing the profession.
Law Society of SA co-chairperson Jan Stemmett said the decline could be
attributed to a number of factors, particularly around ethics.
Of the attorneys interviewed, 57% felt that high ethical standards had not
been maintained and that the profession was not a noble one.
- SAPA
