BWE1501 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 (Answer Guide) – DUE 26
March 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2025
Contents
1. In terms of the Legal Practice Act, which document must attorneys practising on
their own account or in partnership possess to be entitled to practise? ......................... 2
2. Discuss the competence and diligence expected under the specific ethical
guidelines that a paralegal must consider and apply in the workplace. ........................... 2
3. Explain the difference between trust and business money. Also give an example of
each. .................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Indicate whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE (only write down the
answer). .............................................................................................................................................. 6
5. You are a paralegal working at a law firm. Your supervising attorney provides you
with all the required information and documents and asks you to prepare a last and
final will or testament for a client. You did it and handed it over to the client directly.
Is this permissible? Give reasons for your answer. ............................................................... 6
6. What is your understanding of the financial matters in relation to the specific
ethical guidelines?........................................................................................................................... 7
, 1. In terms of the Legal Practice Act, which document must attorneys practising
on their own account or in partnership possess to be entitled to practise?
In terms of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA), attorneys who practise on their
own account or in partnership must be in possession of a Fidelity Fund Certificate
(FFC) in order to be legally entitled to practise.
The Fidelity Fund Certificate is issued annually by the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity
Fund. Section 84 of the Legal Practice Act clearly provides that no legal practitioner
may practise or act as an attorney unless they are in possession of a valid
Fidelity Fund Certificate.
The purpose of the Fidelity Fund Certificate is to:
Protect members of the public against theft of trust money by legal
practitioners.
Ensure that attorneys comply with strict financial and accounting
requirements, especially regarding trust accounts.
Promote ethical conduct and public confidence in the legal profession.
An attorney who practises without a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate:
Acts unlawfully.
Is not entitled to charge fees for services rendered during that period.
May face disciplinary action, including suspension or striking off the roll.
Therefore, the Fidelity Fund Certificate is a mandatory legal requirement for attorneys
practising for their own account or in partnership under the Legal Practice Act.
2. Discuss the competence and diligence expected under the specific ethical
guidelines that a paralegal must consider and apply in the workplace.
Competence and diligence are fundamental ethical principles that guide the
professional conduct of a paralegal in the legal workplace. Although paralegals are not
March 2026
VERIFIED AND CERTIFIED ANSWERS. WRITTEN IN REQUIRED FORMAT AND WITHIN
GIVEN GUIDELINES. IT IS GOOD TO USE AS A GUIDE AND FOR REFERENCE, NEVER
PLAGARIZE. Thank you and success in your academics.
UNISA, 2025
Contents
1. In terms of the Legal Practice Act, which document must attorneys practising on
their own account or in partnership possess to be entitled to practise? ......................... 2
2. Discuss the competence and diligence expected under the specific ethical
guidelines that a paralegal must consider and apply in the workplace. ........................... 2
3. Explain the difference between trust and business money. Also give an example of
each. .................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Indicate whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE (only write down the
answer). .............................................................................................................................................. 6
5. You are a paralegal working at a law firm. Your supervising attorney provides you
with all the required information and documents and asks you to prepare a last and
final will or testament for a client. You did it and handed it over to the client directly.
Is this permissible? Give reasons for your answer. ............................................................... 6
6. What is your understanding of the financial matters in relation to the specific
ethical guidelines?........................................................................................................................... 7
, 1. In terms of the Legal Practice Act, which document must attorneys practising
on their own account or in partnership possess to be entitled to practise?
In terms of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA), attorneys who practise on their
own account or in partnership must be in possession of a Fidelity Fund Certificate
(FFC) in order to be legally entitled to practise.
The Fidelity Fund Certificate is issued annually by the Legal Practitioners’ Fidelity
Fund. Section 84 of the Legal Practice Act clearly provides that no legal practitioner
may practise or act as an attorney unless they are in possession of a valid
Fidelity Fund Certificate.
The purpose of the Fidelity Fund Certificate is to:
Protect members of the public against theft of trust money by legal
practitioners.
Ensure that attorneys comply with strict financial and accounting
requirements, especially regarding trust accounts.
Promote ethical conduct and public confidence in the legal profession.
An attorney who practises without a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate:
Acts unlawfully.
Is not entitled to charge fees for services rendered during that period.
May face disciplinary action, including suspension or striking off the roll.
Therefore, the Fidelity Fund Certificate is a mandatory legal requirement for attorneys
practising for their own account or in partnership under the Legal Practice Act.
2. Discuss the competence and diligence expected under the specific ethical
guidelines that a paralegal must consider and apply in the workplace.
Competence and diligence are fundamental ethical principles that guide the
professional conduct of a paralegal in the legal workplace. Although paralegals are not
