⋆ §§§ ⋆
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LJU4802: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
May/June Examination 2026 — Covers Papers from 2023 to 2025
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
Department of Jurisprudence – School of Law – UNISA
Exam Revision Guide
LJU4802
Module Code:
Professional Ethics
Module Name:
May/June 2023, 2024 & 2025
Papers Covered:
May/June Examinations 2026
Prepared for:
100 marks per paper
Total Marks:
2 hours (in-person) / portfolio format
Duration:
School of Law, UNISA
Faculty:
This guide reconstructs exam-style questions from past papers and study materials.
Study for understanding, not memorisation. Engage with the cases.
Exam Revision Notes | LJU4802 | 2026 Edition
,LJU4802 | Exam Revision Professional Ethics
How to Use This Guide
This revision guide covers three consecutive May/June examination periods for LJU4802 Pro-
fessional Ethics at UNISA. Each section reconstructs exam questions based on the prescribed
study material (Tutorial Letter 501), past paper content, and assignment questions from 2023–
2025. Questions mirror the format and difficulty of actual UNISA examinations.
Key Concept
Module Structure: LJU4802 Professional Ethics has four core study units:
• Unit 1: Introduction to legal ethics (wide vs narrow sense); professional codes
• Unit 2: Ethical theories (virtue ethics, utilitarianism, rule-based ethics, feminist
ethics)
• Unit 3: Legal practice and the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014; fit and proper per-
sons
• Unit 4: Role morality; confidentiality; conflict of interest; fees; the adversarial
system
The examination is 100 marks and 2 hours. All questions must be answered.
Page 2 of 29
,LJU4802 | Exam Revision Professional Ethics
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2023 EXAMINATION
Module: LJU4802 Professional Ethics
Duration: 2 Hours
Total Marks: 100
Examiners: Prof M M Mswela; Prof M P (External)
Answer ALL questions. This is a closed-book examination.
Page 3 of 29
, LJU4802 | Exam Revision Professional Ethics
Question 1 [40 marks]
(1.1) [8 marks]
Question: “Legal ethics can be understood in a wide and a narrow sense.” Explain what
is meant by each of these two senses of legal ethics, and identify the legislation and regula-
tory bodies that govern the conduct of legal practitioners in South Africa.
Answer: Legal ethics in a wide sense refers to the relationship between ethics
and law as a whole. It deals with broader moral questions that the law intersects with,
including debates on abortion, sex work, gender equality, and other issues of social
morality. In this sense, legal ethics asks how law influences and is influenced by ethical
debate.
Legal ethics in a narrow sense refers specifically to the ethical standards of profes-
sional conduct that govern practising lawyers. It sets out how legal practitioners must
behave in their professional capacity and provides standards of accountability within the
profession.
Legislation and regulatory bodies governing legal practitioners:
• The Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA) – the primary legislation regulating
both attorneys and advocates since 1 November 2018
• The Attorneys Act 53 of 1979 – historically regulated attorneys (largely super-
seded by the LPA)
• The Admission of Advocates Act 74 of 1964 – historically regulated advocates
• The Legal Practice Council (LPC) – a statutory body established under the
LPA responsible for regulating all legal practitioners, setting standards, handling
complaints, and disciplining members
• The Code of Conduct for All Legal Practitioners, Candidate Legal Prac-
titioners and Juristic Entities – sets out the professional and ethical standards
practitioners must follow
Page 4 of 29
]]
LJU4802: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
May/June Examination 2026 — Covers Papers from 2023 to 2025
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
Department of Jurisprudence – School of Law – UNISA
Exam Revision Guide
LJU4802
Module Code:
Professional Ethics
Module Name:
May/June 2023, 2024 & 2025
Papers Covered:
May/June Examinations 2026
Prepared for:
100 marks per paper
Total Marks:
2 hours (in-person) / portfolio format
Duration:
School of Law, UNISA
Faculty:
This guide reconstructs exam-style questions from past papers and study materials.
Study for understanding, not memorisation. Engage with the cases.
Exam Revision Notes | LJU4802 | 2026 Edition
,LJU4802 | Exam Revision Professional Ethics
How to Use This Guide
This revision guide covers three consecutive May/June examination periods for LJU4802 Pro-
fessional Ethics at UNISA. Each section reconstructs exam questions based on the prescribed
study material (Tutorial Letter 501), past paper content, and assignment questions from 2023–
2025. Questions mirror the format and difficulty of actual UNISA examinations.
Key Concept
Module Structure: LJU4802 Professional Ethics has four core study units:
• Unit 1: Introduction to legal ethics (wide vs narrow sense); professional codes
• Unit 2: Ethical theories (virtue ethics, utilitarianism, rule-based ethics, feminist
ethics)
• Unit 3: Legal practice and the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014; fit and proper per-
sons
• Unit 4: Role morality; confidentiality; conflict of interest; fees; the adversarial
system
The examination is 100 marks and 2 hours. All questions must be answered.
Page 2 of 29
,LJU4802 | Exam Revision Professional Ethics
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2023 EXAMINATION
Module: LJU4802 Professional Ethics
Duration: 2 Hours
Total Marks: 100
Examiners: Prof M M Mswela; Prof M P (External)
Answer ALL questions. This is a closed-book examination.
Page 3 of 29
, LJU4802 | Exam Revision Professional Ethics
Question 1 [40 marks]
(1.1) [8 marks]
Question: “Legal ethics can be understood in a wide and a narrow sense.” Explain what
is meant by each of these two senses of legal ethics, and identify the legislation and regula-
tory bodies that govern the conduct of legal practitioners in South Africa.
Answer: Legal ethics in a wide sense refers to the relationship between ethics
and law as a whole. It deals with broader moral questions that the law intersects with,
including debates on abortion, sex work, gender equality, and other issues of social
morality. In this sense, legal ethics asks how law influences and is influenced by ethical
debate.
Legal ethics in a narrow sense refers specifically to the ethical standards of profes-
sional conduct that govern practising lawyers. It sets out how legal practitioners must
behave in their professional capacity and provides standards of accountability within the
profession.
Legislation and regulatory bodies governing legal practitioners:
• The Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA) – the primary legislation regulating
both attorneys and advocates since 1 November 2018
• The Attorneys Act 53 of 1979 – historically regulated attorneys (largely super-
seded by the LPA)
• The Admission of Advocates Act 74 of 1964 – historically regulated advocates
• The Legal Practice Council (LPC) – a statutory body established under the
LPA responsible for regulating all legal practitioners, setting standards, handling
complaints, and disciplining members
• The Code of Conduct for All Legal Practitioners, Candidate Legal Prac-
titioners and Juristic Entities – sets out the professional and ethical standards
practitioners must follow
Page 4 of 29
