Law, Military Science and Security Justice in Society

Represent Clients Within A Paralegal Context Training

SAQA US 119504 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 7 Days
From $1,523 per delegate

Description

This course equips paralegals with the skills to effectively represent clients in legal contexts, including client interviews, case preparation, and communication with legal professionals. It ensures ethical and professional conduct within the South African legal framework.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply the principles of client representation in a paralegal context.
  • Analyze client needs and legal issues to prepare accurate case documentation.
  • Evaluate ethical considerations and legal boundaries when representing clients.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in client interviews and legal correspondence.
  • Implement case management strategies to support client representation.
  • Design a client representation plan that adheres to South African legal standards.

Target Audience

Paralegals, legal assistants, and junior legal practitioners seeking to enhance their client representation skills within a paralegal context.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Paralegal Practice and Ethical Framework

Objectives:
• Understand the role and scope of paralegals within the South African legal system.
• Identify key ethical obligations and professional conduct standards.
• Recognise the regulatory environment and relevant legislation.
• Apply foundational principles of client representation.

Topics:
• Overview of the South African legal system and sources of law.
• Definition and functions of a paralegal.
• Ethical duties: confidentiality, conflict of interest, and competence.
• Professional codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures.
• Legal frameworks: Legal Practice Act, rules of court.
• Client intake procedures and initial consultation protocols.

Day 2: Communication and Interviewing Skills for Paralegals

Objectives:
• Develop effective verbal and written communication techniques.
• Conduct structured client interviews to gather relevant information.
• Apply active listening and questioning strategies.
• Document client instructions accurately and comprehensively.

Topics:
• Principles of client-centered communication.
• Interviewing techniques: open-ended questions, paraphrasing, summarising.
• Handling sensitive information and vulnerable clients.
• Note-taking and record-keeping best practices.
• Drafting client correspondence and instructions.
• Barriers to effective communication and how to overcome them.

Day 3: Legal Research and Case Analysis

Objectives:
• Locate and interpret primary and secondary legal sources.
• Conduct systematic legal research using online and library resources.
• Analyse case facts and identify relevant legal issues.
• Apply findings to client matters.

Topics:
• Introduction to legal research methodology.
• Sources of law: statutes, case law, regulations, textbooks.
• Using online databases (e.g., SAFLII, LexisNexis).
• Citation and referencing in legal documents.
• Case analysis: facts, issues, rules, application, conclusion (IRAC).
• Preparing research memoranda for supervising attorneys.

Day 4: Drafting Legal Documents and Court Forms

Objectives:
• Draft common legal documents with precision and clarity.
• Complete court forms and pleadings correctly.
• Understand the structure and requirements of legal writing.
• Review and edit documents for accuracy.

Topics:
• Principles of legal drafting: plain language, structure, and style.
• Drafting affidavits, notices, and summonses.
• Completing court forms for various proceedings (e.g., High Court, Magistrate's Court).
• Pleadings: particulars of claim, plea, and counterclaim.
• Reviewing documents for errors and consistency.
• Practical exercises in drafting and editing.

Day 5: Client Representation in Court and Tribunal Proceedings

Objectives:
• Understand the paralegal's role in court and tribunal settings.
• Prepare clients for appearances and hearings.
• Assist with case preparation and file management.
• Navigate procedural rules and etiquette.

Topics:
• Overview of court hierarchy and jurisdictions.
• Role of paralegals in litigation support.
• Preparing briefs and bundles for counsel.
• Client preparation: what to expect, dress code, behaviour.
• Tribunal procedures: CCMA, rental housing tribunals, etc.
• Managing court files and deadlines.

Day 6: Alternative Dispute Resolution and Client Advocacy

Objectives:
• Explain alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms.
• Facilitate mediation and negotiation processes.
• Advocate for clients in non-court settings.
• Draft settlement agreements and consent orders.

Topics:
• ADR overview: mediation, arbitration, negotiation.
• Paralegal's role in ADR: preparation and representation.
• Negotiation strategies and techniques.
• Drafting settlement agreements and consent papers.
• Ethics in ADR: impartiality and confidentiality.
• Practical role-play exercises in mediation.

Day 7: Integration, Assessment, and Professional Development

Objectives:
• Synthesise knowledge and skills across all learning areas.
• Complete a comprehensive case study simulation.
• Identify pathways for continuing professional development.
• Prepare for the formal assessment.

Topics:
• Review of key concepts from Days 1-6.
• Case study simulation: from intake to resolution.
• Mock assessment tasks and feedback.
• Professional development resources and networks.
• Career pathways for paralegals in South Africa.
• Final Q&A and course evaluation.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Wed 09 Sep 2026 Thu 17 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Tue 29 Sep 2026 Wed 07 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Tue 27 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Tue 15 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Fri 15 Jan 2027 Mon 25 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Thu 18 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Wed 03 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 09 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Tue 23 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 11 Jun 2027 Mon 21 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 01 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
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Tue 07 Sep 2027 Wed 15 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Tue 05 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 22 Oct 2027 Mon 01 Nov 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Tue 14 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 31 Dec 2027 Mon 10 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 20 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 499 sessions across 26 venues
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Fri 31 Jul 2026 Mon 10 Aug 2026 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Winter 2026 $4,525 Register
Mon 03 Aug 2026 Tue 11 Aug 2026 Johannesburg, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,283 Register
Tue 04 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $4,525 Register
Wed 05 Aug 2026 Thu 13 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,769 Register
Thu 06 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $5,929 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Thu 17 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Wed 07 Oct 2026 Thu 15 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 27 Oct 2026 Wed 04 Nov 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Wed 23 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Tue 26 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Fri 26 Feb 2027 Mon 08 Mar 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Thu 11 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 17 Mar 2027 Thu 25 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 23 Mar 2027 Wed 31 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Tue 22 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 09 Jul 2027 Mon 19 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 29 Jul 2027 Fri 06 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 15 Sep 2027 Thu 23 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 05 Oct 2027 Wed 13 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Tue 02 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Wed 22 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Tue 11 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 28 Jan 2028 Mon 07 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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