For many people encountering the legal system for the first time, the distinction between an attorney and an advocate isn’t always clear. In South Africa’s split legal profession, attorneys manage the day-to-day relationship with a client, while advocates are specialist counsel briefed to advise on complex matters or represent that client in the higher courts.
Briefing an advocate typically happens because a matter requires specific expertise — commercial litigation, constitutional review, or courtroom advocacy at a level attorneys usually don’t handle themselves. As independent members of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, each member of the Duma Nokwe Group practises under a strict code of conduct, bringing focused legal opinion, drafting, and appearance work to every brief.
If you’re an attorney with a matter that needs specialist counsel, our members welcome direct briefs across a wide range of practice areas — from civil and commercial disputes to labour and administrative law.