Finding the best advocate, attorney, or lawyer for your legal matter in the Western Cape High Court – Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf

The best thing to do if you have a legal problem is to speak to a legal professional. However, not all lawyers are alike. You have attorneys, advocates, conveyancers, notaries, and lawyers. If you are involved in the sale of a house, you see a conveyancer; if you want a document to be authenticated, you see a notary; if you want general legal advice, you may see a lawyer. However, when do you see an attorney or an advocate?

The best time to see an attorney

If your legal problem is serious, in that it involves other people and a lot of money, then it is advisable to see an attorney to assist you with the problem. The attorney would be able to advise you on the law and your rights. If need be, the attorney can prepare a letter of demand and take the matter to court for you. This is usually where most people’s legal problems would be resolved. Attorneys usually represent clients in the Magistrate’s Court and some in the High Court. A Trust Account Advocate would usually represent clients in the High Court.

The best time to see an advocate

Advocates are usually specialists with specific skills, as compared to attorneys. Most of their work is court-related. They would draft court documents and present and argue cases in Court. Mainly in the High Court. However, advocates do often appear for clients in the Magistrates Court. There are two types of advocates in South Africa. The first and most common is the referral advocate. This type of advocate receives his or her work directly from attorneys. He or she would then bill the attorney for the job done. The client (or you) would mostly deal with the attorney and pay the attorney.

The second type of advocate in South Africa is the Trust Account Advocate. This advocate is similar to that of an attorney. He or she would hold a Trust Account wherein clients would pay into the account. Once the work is done, the fees billed come from the funds held in trust. As you can see, a Trust Account advocate may work with members of the public directly, as opposed to a referral advocate.

Who represents clients in the Western Cape High Court?

Both an attorney and an advocate would represent their clients in the Western Cape High Court. If it is an attorney with High Court rights of appearance, he or she would represent their client. If it is a referral advocate, then he or she would represent his or her client while being instructed by an attorney. If it is a Trust Account advocate, he or she would represent his or her client directly, unless he or she has been briefed by an attorney.

Who would represent you best in the Western Cape High Court?

Various attorneys and advocates have various skills and experience. You may find an attorney with high court rights of appearance (meaning he or she can represent a client in the High Court) has more experience and skills than an advocate in a specific field. The long and the short of the matter is that it depends on the nature and complexity of your legal matter. Another important consideration is affordability. Sometimes, making use of an attorney who can represent you in the high court without an advocate is best. Otherwise, it may not be the best option for your specific matter.

The best way to find the top attorney or advocate for your case in the Western Cape High Court

If you have a matter in the Western Cape High Court, and you require legal representation, finding a good attorney or advocate for you would not be that hard. There are many capable attorneys and advocates in Cape Town who litigate frequently in the Western Cape High Court. You may want to start by asking people you know who have had legal problems and used lawyers. Or you may want to find a good attorney or advocate in the law directory, or even by looking at their website. We strongly suggest that you have a consultation with the attorney or trust account advocate prior to engaging them to make sure you are a good fit.

Otherwise, best of luck with your legal matter in the Western Cape High Court. Fight for your rights and let no one walk over you.