B-BBEE Act Draft Legal Sector Code published for comment

12 August 2022

Draft Legal Sector Code was issued for public comment by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition in terms of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, (B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003) as amended by the Act 46 of 2013.

The draft Code proposes special limitations on startup legal sector measured entities; and on small practicing attorneys and advocates qualifying as exempted legal entities (e.g. R3 million annual revenue threshold, only first 3 years of practice, and 3 or less partners/directors or be junior advocates). Limits ownership, management control, and enterprise and supplier development expectations to attorneys.

The Legal Sector Code will apply to all legal practitioners i.e. attorneys, advocates and candidate legal practitioners including practitioners in private practice, Legal Aid, Universities, and those working for the State.

The draft code is open for comments within 60 days from 22 July 2022.

You can find the draft Code here.