Quick answer
Before booking, ask for the individual lawyer's full name as recorded by the Legal Practice Council (LPC), LPC number, practitioner type, current practising status, office and firm name. Check those facts yourself on the LPC practitioner search. Then ask who will actually handle the matter, what relevant work that person has done, what the consultation includes, how fees will be charged and whether any client money will be received.
How to use this guide
If the practice will receive or hold money or property entrusted in the course of legal practice, ask whether the appropriate practitioner has a current Fidelity Fund certificate (FFC) and verify it through the LPC where the statutory requirement applies. An FFC is not required for every legal practitioner in every role, and Fidelity Fund protection is not a guarantee against poor advice or an unsuccessful case. Keep admission, suitability and the financial arrangement as three separate checks.
Ask for details you can match to an official record
Start with questions that produce precise, verifiable answers:
- What is your full enrolled name and LPC number?
- Are you recorded as an attorney or an advocate, and are you currently practising?
- Which province and office are linked to your practice?
- What is the exact legal name of the firm or juristic practice engaging me?
- Will you personally perform the work, or will another practitioner or candidate legal practitioner assist?
Enter the supplied details into the LPC's public search and compare the practitioner type, province and practising indicator. A similar surname, a professional-looking email signature or a profile on a private directory is not a substitute. If the result does not match, pause and ask the LPC or the practice to explain the discrepancy before paying or sending sensitive records.
The Legal Practice Act distinguishes admission by the High Court from enrolment with the LPC. A person may not practise as a legal practitioner merely because they have a law degree or once worked at a firm. The current regulatory record is therefore more useful than an undated certificate photograph. At the same time, a matching LPC result only confirms limited regulatory facts; it does not certify specialist skill, responsiveness or likely success.
Find out who owns the work
The person whose profile attracted you may not be the person drafting, appearing or communicating day to day. Ask, "Who is responsible for my file, and who will do each immediate task?" If a candidate legal practitioner or junior team member will assist, ask who supervises that work and whose time will appear on the bill.
For an advocate, ask how instructions will be accepted and whether an attorney must brief the advocate for this matter. The Act recognises different forms of practice, including trust-account advocates subject to particular requirements; do not assume every advocate may receive instructions or client money in the same way.
Ask for the practice's physical and electronic contact details, and independently confirm them. Use the official switchboard or a previously verified channel if banking details change. This is an identity-control step, not an accusation.
Test experience without asking for promises
Replace "Will you win?" with questions that reveal fit:
- Which part of my problem falls within your usual work?
- Have you dealt with this type of document, forum or procedural stage recently?
- What facts could change the recommended route?
- What is outside your experience or the proposed mandate?
- Would another type of practitioner or specialist need to be involved?
A practitioner should not have to reveal another client's confidential information to answer. Useful evidence may include a clear description of the relevant process, the likely first decision, possible routes and limitations. Admission does not guarantee that a person is the right lawyer for a particular tax, labour, family, criminal, property or commercial problem.
Clarify what the booking actually buys
Ask whether the initial fee covers only attendance, pre-reading, a written opinion, a document review or a next-step plan. Confirm the duration, cancellation terms, VAT treatment where applicable and whether disbursements or third-party costs are excluded. If the matter is urgent, ask expressly whether the lawyer accepts responsibility for calculating or meeting a stated deadline. A booking confirmation by itself does not transfer responsibility for court filing, service, referral or appeal dates.
Request written engagement terms before substantive work begins. They should identify the client, responsible practice and practitioner, the immediate task, exclusions, charging basis, deposits, communication arrangements and how either side may end the mandate. If a percentage or success-based fee is proposed, ask which legal basis permits it and whether the formal requirements of the Contingency Fees Act apply; do not treat an informal outcome-sharing proposal as ordinary billing.
Ask the right questions about client money
If you are asked to pay, first distinguish an earned fee or business-account payment from money that will be held in trust for a transaction, settlement or later work. Ask:
- Who is the account holder and why is this the correct account?
- Is the payment an advance fee, a disbursement, or entrusted money?
- Will a receipt and account be issued?
- Does the relevant practitioner hold the current FFC required for this form of practice?
Under the Legal Practice Act, specified attorneys and trust-account advocates practising for their own account, and directors of juristic practices, require an FFC. The categories and limited statutory exceptions matter. The Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund addresses qualifying theft of entrusted money or property subject to the Act and its conditions; it does not compensate ordinary professional negligence, fee dissatisfaction or a lost case.
Never transfer money solely because a message uses a familiar logo. Verify the account through an independently sourced contact, especially after any last-minute banking change.
End the call with a written verification list
Before confirming the appointment, record the LPC search result, practitioner and firm names, responsible person, scope, fee basis, payment destination and any FFC detail that applies. Ask the practice to correct inconsistent information in writing. Preserve the profile and correspondence as they appeared when you booked.
If the identity and regulatory details align but the experience or mandate remains vague, continue comparing providers. If the LPC result says the person is not practising, the practice identity cannot be verified, or payment is directed to an unexplained personal account, stop before sharing more or paying. A court or statutory deadline should be triaged through another verified practitioner without waiting for a marketing dispute to be resolved.
Important limitation
This is a verification and consultation-preparation guide, not a finding about any named person. LPC records, practice arrangements and certificate status can change. Confirm current details with the regulator and obtain matter-specific advice where a deadline, safety issue or transfer of money is involved.
FAQs
Which identity details should I request from a lawyer before booking?
Ask for the person's full enrolled name, LPC number, practitioner type, practising status, firm or juristic-practice name, office and the name of whoever will handle the file. Match those details to the current LPC record rather than relying on a profile alone.
Does a positive LPC search prove that a lawyer is suitable for my matter?
No. It verifies limited regulatory facts recorded by the LPC. You must still assess relevant experience, the proposed task, supervision, availability, fees and conflicts, and nobody can guarantee the result of a legal matter.
Should every lawyer I consult produce a Fidelity Fund certificate?
No. The statutory FFC requirement applies to specified practitioners and forms of practice, particularly where a trust-account practice receives entrusted money. Ask why an FFC is or is not required for the actual arrangement and verify it where applicable.
What should I confirm if another person will do most of the legal work?
Ask for that person's name and status, what tasks they will perform, who supervises them, who remains responsible for advice and deadlines, and how each person's time will be billed. Put those points into the written mandate.
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Legal note
This article is general legal information for South African readers. It is not legal advice. Speak to a qualified legal professional about your specific facts before taking action.