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Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN A CV / APPLICANT?

In order to maintain our past success and to offer the best service to our clients, we are acutely aware of the importance of employing top calibre candidate attorneys. Due to the firm’s size and diversity, we look for candidates with a variety of talents and competencies.

Without losing sight of the importance of academic achievement, we are on the lookout for bright and talented candidates who are capable, determined and driven to deliver outcomes, are energetic, enthusiastic and motivated, have good interpersonal skills and are focused on all-round performance. We employ people of excellence who are passionate about what they want to achieve. We encourage our candidate attorneys to work hard and achieve, thereby carving their own long-term career paths in the firm. The firm believes strongly in organic growth and retention – recruits, trains and aids its professionals to grow within the firm.

TIPS FOR CV

The one tip which we could give you with regards to applying for articles at Adams & Adams, would be to make your application to us as significant as possible. Guard against making it too brief, but rather include information about yourself that is both interesting and makes you stand out as an individual. We believe in work-life balance - you are more than just your law qualification. Share this with us.

WHAT ARE YOUR AREAS OF SPECIALISATION?

• Administrative law and constitutional issues
• Banking and finance law
• Commercial litigation
• Competition law
• Construction law and arbitration of building disputes
• Consumer Protection
• Contract law and agreements
• Corporate work (incl. advice, structuring, governance, share transactions etc.)
• E-commerce
• Exchange control
• Family law and matrimonial disputes
• Franchising
• General Commercial law
• Insolvency, liquidation, sequestration and ancillary issues
• Insurance law
• Intellectual property law: all aspect of including patents, trade marks, copyright, competition law, cyberlaw and domain name disputes, advertising law, commercial aspects of intellectual property law, anti-counterfeiting and litigation relating to all these fields
• Labour law, employment and restraints of trade
• Litigation (covering all fields of practice)
• Medical malpractice and professional negligence
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Personal injury claims including claims against the Road Accident Fund
• Personal injury litigation
• Procurement and tenders (incl. agreements, submissions and review of awards)
• Property law and conveyancing
• Recovering of royalties for artists
• Tax and estate planning

WHERE ARE YOUR OFFICES LOCATED?

Pretoria (Head Office), Johannesburg, Cape Town & Durban as well as Maputo (Mozambique) and Luanda (Angola).

CAN I DO ARTICLES IN OFFICES OTHER THAN PRETORIA?

Because our training programme is set up to run from our Pretoria office, we prefer all clerks to undergo the majority of their training in Pretoria. However, now and then depending on operational requirements, it does become necessary for us to place articled clerks in our branch offices.

WHAT WILL I DO AS A CA?

Adams & Adams offers unrivalled training, ongoing support and excellent opportunities for a long and rewarding career.

Training is aimed at developing reputable professionals and partners. We endeavour to rotate candidate attorneys between the various departments of the firm. Candidates will generally be afforded the opportunity to gain experience in various practice areas within the Commercial, Property and Litigation Department and the Trade Marks Department. On-the-job training is of primary importance and candidates are involved in the firm’s day-to-day activities in order to develop skills and gain experience in as wide a range of practice areas as possible.

This training is supported by a formal lecture programme, offered by partners and senior professionals. In addition, the firm supports and endorses participation in the Practical Legal Training (PLT) offered by the Law Society of South Africa, to ensure that candidates have no difficulty in passing their Attorney’s Admission Exams. The firm is generally supportive of candidates who wish to obtain additional qualifications in their chosen fields of specialisation.

Further, candidates interested in pursuing a career in intellectual property will also be supported in their attendance of, and participation in, the specialised courses offered by the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (“SAIIPL”). Special training is also provided, to the extent necessary, in relation to computer skills, typing and even driver’s education, with a view to ensuring that our candidate attorneys are placed in a position to overcome any previous disadvantages arising out of unequal opportunities.

WHAT TRAINING DO YOU OFFER?

INDUCTION

Upon joining Adams & Adams, CAs are involved in a comprehensive induction programme, during which they are trained in, amongst others, the following:

• dictation
• computer skills
• business writing
• mentorship 
• etiquette, etc.

They are also introduced to the support staff of the firm, the firm’s culture, policies and procedures, web services, library and professional staff and partners.

HANDS-ON TRAINING

Adams & Adams believes that practical experience is the most effective way to become a competent attorney. Each CA is therefore appointed to a partner and his/her professional team for a period of at least three months. During this time the CA is able to gain hands-on experience through involvement in all aspects of the reporting partner’s day-to-day practice, including:

• attending consultations
• taking instructions
• attending court
• drafting documentation
• drafting opinions
• doing research, and much more

Regular feedback on performance is provided, based on delivery rating to the above aspects. Such feedback sessions take place formally, on a six-monthly basis, through our comprehensive performance appraisal system.

ROTATION SCHEME

Adams & Adams follows a policy of rotating CAs in order to enhance their exposure and experience. The Human Resources Department considers the CA allocations every three months and makes recommendations to Staff Partners. Rotations are most frequently effected on a six-monthly basis, taking into account the input and competencies of the CAs and the needs of the firm.

IN-HOUSE TRAINING LECTURES

Our in-house training programme takes into account the interests of CAs and that of the firm. It runs over the first 11 months of articles and provides practical insight into various fields and aspects of law in which CAs can expect to gain experience and knowledge. All CAs are obliged to attend this programme.

PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT)

We require all first year CAs to attend the Practical Legal Training (PLT) presented by Legal Education and Development (LEAD) of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA). The objective of PLT is to supplement the training provided by the firm and to provide the overall knowledge, skills and attitude required for a competent attorney in practice. The course is practice-orientated and emphasis is placed on the Admission Examinations.

SHOULD I DO PLT BEFORE I START ARTICLES WITH YOU?

No, we require all first year CAs to attend the Practical Legal Training (PLT) presented by Legal Education and Development (LEAD) of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA). The objective of PLT is to supplement the training provided by the firm and to provide the overall knowledge, skills and attitude required for a competent attorney in practice. The course is practice-orientated and emphasis is placed on the Admission Examinations.

WILL I BE ABLE TO DO MY LLM DURING ARTICLES?

Yes, you could but we do not recommend it because your two-period is a busy one, wherein you will also be undertaking PLT lectures, the firm’s own lecture programme and preparing for your Attorney’s Admission Examinations.

DO YOU PAY FOR FURTHER STUDY?

Each application is dealt with on merit. If the applicant and his / her position in the firm will benefit from the area of study, it is likely support will be given.

DO YOU PAY FOR RELOCATION FEES?

No, unfortunately we do not.

PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR BURSARY SCHEME

The Adams & Adams Bursary Scheme is aimed at supporting previously disadvantaged individuals in their third and/or fourth years of LLB study, to the value of R30,000, per annum, per individual. This amount is administered by Adams & Adams, directly to the university, for the purpose of registration & tuition fees, and if funds are still available, a contribution towards books and hostel / residence fees. Upon completion of the LLB degree, the firm may provide the bursary holder with a two-year contract of articles.

WHAT IS A PATENT ATTORNEY?

With the firm having a dynamic, ever-growing Patent Law Department, we also recruit BSc graduates from various disciplines. These candidates are appointed as and when a specific need arises. In addition to a science or engineering degree, a prospective patent attorney also has to obtain a law degree (LLB), be articled to a patent attorney, pass the Attorney’s Admission Examinations and pass the Patent Examinations (set by the SA Institute of Intellectual Property Law, through the Patent Examination Board). Substantial study and commitment is required to qualify as a patent attorney.

Tuition for such study is given during office hours and CAs attend the official LEAD coaching courses provided by the Law Society of South Africa to assist them in passing the Attorney’s Admission Examinations. For a person who holds both a BSc and an LLB degree, generally three to five years (or possibly more) of part-time training, whilst working for a firm of patent attorneys, is usually required before a person is permitted to qualify as a patent attorney

DO YOU EMPLOY STUDENTS WITH BCom LAW OR BA LAW DEGREES?

Yes, we prefer this with an LLB combination however.

DO YOU RETAIN CANDIDATE ATTORNEYS AFTER COMPLETION OF ARTICLES?

Adams & Adams believes that its complement of young professionals is an investment in the future and is committed to empowering them to become successful practitioners through the retention of all candidate attorneys who prove themselves to be excellent.

WILL I STAY IN ONE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE TWO YEARS?

In all likelihood, no. Adams & Adams follows a policy of rotating CAs in order to enhance their exposure and experience. The Human Resources Department considers the CA allocations every three months and makes recommendations to Staff Partners. Rotations are most frequently effected on a six-monthly basis, taking into account the input and competencies of the CAs and the needs of the firm.

WHAT ARE YOUR POLICIES ON TRANSFORMATION AND / OR CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT (CSI)?

Adams & Adams has long held the view that upliftment, transformation and empowerment of people from disadvantaged backgrounds can best be achieved by creating opportunities for such people to work and be trained within the firm. It is considered preferable that a full process of transfer of skills and expertise takes place which enables people so trained to join the professional staff of our firm, or to set up their own independent practices, or to find placement elsewhere.

The partnership believes that the development of all staff to their maximum potential contributes mutually to the staff’s and partnership’s success and its policy is that it has a specific responsibility to provide development opportunities to those people who have been excluded from the mainstream of economic activity as a direct result of discrimination in the past. It is also our policy to take positive steps not only to equalise opportunities within the firm for existing staff as well as for new recruits, but in fact to create special opportunities for empowerment.

The firm thus actively seeks to identify and develop the potential of people from disadvantaged groups to promote the firm’s representativeness of the demographics of our country.

The firm’s transformation policy reflects the partnership’s core values, namely:

• high quality standards in all aspects of our professional practice
• commitment to client care and development
• respect for the individual and regard for individual dignity
• absence of discrimination in all contexts of the firm including employment
• performance improvement through empowerment and team work. Adams & Adams has always had an awareness of, and has assumed a social responsibility for, the need to uplift people and groups from less privileged backgrounds.

Adams & Adams has accordingly over the years been involved in a variety of community oriented and upliftment projects, for example, but not only:

• We make bursaries available to the dependants of our staff members, particularly those staff members from disadvantaged groups, for the purpose of secondary and tertiary education. Over the years many such bursaries have been awarded.
• Study bursaries for deserving law students.
• Annual merit prizes at universities around the country
• Initiatives such as “Take a girl child to work day”, Integrated Bar Project, Attorneys’ basic legal advice arranged through the Law Society of Northern Provines etc.
• Annual donations to deserving registered organisations