Newly elected President of the Law Society, Alwyn Harmse (left), with Judge President Justice Petrus Damaseb, at the High Court Legal Year opening. (Photograph by Retha Steinmann)
At the opening of the High Court Legal Year on Thursday this week, the President of the Law Society of Namibia, Mr Alwyn Harmse said 2013 was an eventful year full of challenges but it was also a year of achievements for the Law Society. “In line with our mission to ‘improve the standards of legal practice and as part of our continuing professional development we presented 10 training seminars which was well attended by various members in the government service, the corporate environment and private practice” he said. Harmse said at the end of 2013 the Law Society launched its first year book of the events that happened during the year. “At the time of launching the year book there were 614 admitted legal practitioners of which 46 are employed in government, 98 are in the corporate environment, 4 are at the Legal Assistance Centre, 304 are practising at 117 law firms, and 37 are practising with exemption certificates as members of the Society of Advocates. 302 of these legal practitioners are from the racially disadvantaged group and 256 of our legal practitioners are females.
” The Law Society President said various challenges such as the introduction of the new High Court Rules and the E-Justice systems await the legal profession, as was with the Judiciary Case Management system which was introduced towards the end of 2011. Looking ahead, Harmse said the Law Society will continue with its focus on professional development of its members giving all legal practitioners and candidate legal practitioners the opportunity to improve their professional skills and competence. In addition to the Year Book for 2014, the Director of the Law Society will also publish a book this year, capturing the period from November 2005 to November 2012.
