Law Society of Namibia
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| Abbreviation | LSN |
|---|---|
| Formation | 7 September 1995 |
| Type | Statutory professional body |
| Legal status | Body corporate (Legal Practitioners Act, 1995) |
| Headquarters | Namlex Chambers, 333 Independence Avenue, Windhoek |
Region served | Namibia |
Members | All enrolled legal practitioners |
| Affiliations | High Court of Namibia; Board for Legal Education |
| Website | lawsocietynamibia |
The Law Society of Namibia (LSN) is the statutory professional body for legal practitioners in Namibia. Section 40 of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1995 (Act 15 of 1995) establishes it as a body corporate with perpetual succession, a common seal and the capacity to sue and be sued. Every person enrolled as a legal practitioner under the Act is a member.[1][2]
The Act was signed on 23 August 1995, published in Government Gazette 1141 and brought into force on 7 September 1995 by Government Notice 150/1995. Later amending acts include the Legal Practitioners Amendment Act, 1997 (Act 4 of 1997) and the Legal Practitioners Amendment Acts of 2002. The statute replaced the divided attorneys-and-advocates model inherited from South West Africa with a single roll of “legal practitioner.” Some practitioners still belong to a voluntary Society of Advocates and hold High Court exemption certificates; they remain LSN members by statute.
Objects and powers
Section 41 sets out the Society’s objects. They include:
- maintaining standards of conduct and integrity
- presenting the views of the profession
- treating law as an instrument of social justice
- promoting education of lawyers at every stage
- defining and enforcing uniform practice and discipline
- assisting legal-aid schemes created by law
- promoting applied research and law reform
- enhancing the rule of law and the protection of human rights
- representing members on conditions of practice
Section 42 allows the Society, among other things, to hold property, invest money, publish, employ staff and co-operate with other professional bodies. Income of the Society is exempt from tax (section 51). The Council may make rules under section 52; published rules deal with books of account, client mandates, fee allowances and professional-standard “rulings.”[3]
Admission, education and discipline
“Court” in the Act means the High Court of Namibia. That court admits practitioners, hears applications to strike names from the roll and may restore a name. Candidate legal practitioners follow a postgraduate course at the Justice Training Centre and sit the Legal Practitioners’ Qualifying Examination under a Board for Legal Education created by the same Act. A law centre may be the clinical programme in the Faculty of Law at the University of Namibia or a non-profit office that gives free legal services.
A Disciplinary Committee established by section 34 deals in the first instance with candidate practitioners; the High Court retains power over admitted practitioners. Part VI of the Act creates the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity Fund and a board of control to compensate clients for certain losses caused by practitioners.
The Society may put names forward when the Judicial Service Commission considers appointments to the High Court and the Supreme Court of Namibia. Other statutes require an LSN nominee on specialist boards (for example the Health Professions Act, 2024).[4]
Council, circles and office
Members elect a Council. The Council elects a president (who chairs) and a vice-president, calls general meetings, keeps accounts, makes rules and appoints a directorate. About twenty voluntary committees assist on ethics, human rights and related work. For members outside central Khomas Region the country is divided into three regional circles; Council members visit those circles once a year.[5]
In March 2025 the president of Council was Clive Kavendjii. The secretariat sits on the first floor of Namlex Chambers, 333 Independence Avenue, Windhoek (P.O. Box 714; telephone +264 61 230 263).[6]
The Society issues an updated firm list used by the High Court deputy sheriffs and the profession.[7]
See also
- High Court of Namibia
- Supreme Court of Namibia
- Judicial Service Commission (Namibia)
- Constitution of Namibia
- Ministry of Justice (Namibia)
- University of Namibia
- Legal Assistance Centre
- Windhoek
- Legal aid
- Rule of law
- Human rights
References
- ↑ "Legal Practitioners Act 15 of 1995" (PDF). Legal Assistance Centre. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Legal Practitioners Act, 1995". NamibLII. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Rules of the Law Society of Namibia" (PDF). Legal Assistance Centre. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Health Professions Act, 2024" (PDF). Legal Assistance Centre. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "About". Law Society of Namibia. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Congratulatory message" (PDF). Law Society of Namibia. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
- ↑ "Law Society of Namibia firm list" (PDF). Namibia Superior Courts. June 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2026.
External links
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