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The Legal Practitioners Development Fund (LPDF) held their Annual General Meeting on 17 November 2025 in Pretoria. Chairperson of the Fund, Bukky Olowookorun, announced a significant increase in loan applications, with the fund disbursing 24 loans worth a total of R 976 987,41. She added that there were four pending applications as a result of outstanding documents and that two applications were rejected. Ms Olowookorun attributed increased loan inquiries to advertising that was placed in De Rebus and the active social media engagements that the fund had.
While presenting the chairperson’s report, Ms Olowookorun pointed out that there has been a notable improvement in repayment of loans by legal practitioners who have received funding by the LPDF. She said this shows the fund’s beneficiaries are growing financial responsibility. Ms Olowookorun touched on ethical and professional integrity. She said that the fund takes immense pride in the conduct and professionalism of its beneficiaries. She added that over the past few years, none of the LPDF’s beneficiaries have appeared on the Legal Practice Council’s (LPC) list of unethical practitioners or have been struck off the roll of legal practitioners. ‘This achievement speaks volumes about the role in nurturing these legal practitioners during their foundation phase continues to yield positive and sustainable outcomes for the broader legal community,’ Ms Olowookorun said.
Ms Olowookorun added that the fund’s mentorship programme was developed to strengthen the skills, ethical standards, and business acumen of both emerging and established LPDF beneficiaries. She pointed out that the programme offers a structured platform where experienced professionals mentor junior legal practitioners, ensuring that they not only excel in legal practice but also thrive as business leaders and ethical professionals. She said that the initiative continues to bridge the gap between academic training and the practical realities of the legal profession, thereby fostering excellence, integrity, and sustainability across the legal profession.
Ms Olowookorun pointed out that the mentorship programme, aims to equip legal practitioners with technical legal skills and competence, build business and management capacity of sustainable practice growth, encourage ethical conduct, accountability, and professionalism, as well as to support transformation and inclusivity within the legal profession. She added that the mentorship programme has delivered measurable impact, including:
- Enhanced confidence and technical proficiency among junior practitioners.
- Increased financial literacy and firm sustainability.
- Stronger ethical awareness and compliance with LPC standards.
- Growth in collaborative networks across various regions and practice areas.
Legal practitioners who are looking to give back to the legal profession can do so by being a part of mentors of the LPDF (see Kgomotso Ramotsho ‘LPDF calls on legal practitioners to assist with mentoring beneficiaries of the Fund’ 2025 (March) DR 4).
Ms Olowookorun added that participants consistently report that the mentorship experience improved client services quality, promotes innovation, and strengthens professional identity. ‘The LPDF Mentorship Programme continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of component, ethical, and business-minded legal practitioners,’ Ms Olowookorun said.
Legal practitioners looking for funding towards starting a law firm are encouraged to contact the LPDF (see Kgomotso Ramotsho ‘The LPDF is waiting for your loan application for office resources funding’ (www.derebus.org.za)).
The Legal Practitioners Development Fund (LPDF) held their Annual General Meeting on 17 November 2025 in Pretoria. Representatives of the following organisations were represented at the meeting, National Democratic Lawyers Association, Black Lawyers Association, Legal Practice Council, Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund, as well as the Law Society of South Africa.
Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.
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