Aspirant judges training

The South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI) held a three-day training programme for aspirant judges from 9 to 11 July in Magaliesburg, Gauteng. The training was attended by 31 people, including attorneys and advocates, and one prosecutor. 

The training took place in July in order to coincide with the court recess period as most of the facilitators were sitting judges.  The selection criteria for the programme were –
• a minimum of ten years’ experience as an admitted attorney, advocate, judicial officer or other relevant experience;
• a certificate of good standing from a legal professional body; and
• an LLB or equivalent academic qualification. 

East London attorney Percival Maseti attended the training and told De Rebus that it was ‘inspiring and constructive’, adding that he believed he had benefited from it immensely. He said that he was now able to draft judgments and heads of argument and that he was confident that he could preside over court hearings.

The chief executive officer of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), Nic Swart, said that the LSSA’s learning division, Legal Education and Development (LEAD), would be running a follow-up training course in which it would reinforce certain skills such as judgment writing and case management. 

Mr Swart said that the attorneys who participated in the SAJEI course would be the first to be invited to attend the course and if any places were still available after this, LEAD would consider other candidates.  He said: ‘Although we trust that the training will assist attorneys who are invited to act as judicial officers or who are considered for appointment, I believe that it will also benefit participants in their practices even if they do not serve in that capacity.’

Nomfundo Manyathi, 
nomfundo@derebus.org.za