Legal Opinion Writing 2024

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16 - 17 July 2024

Indaba Hotel & Conference Centre, Fourways, Sandton
Virtual: MS Teams & ZOOM

For more information please contact our Offices:

Tel: +27 87 802 9076 / +27 87 802 8776

Email: admin@bizstrat.co.za

Overview:

Writing Legal Advice, more loosely called Legal Opinion, will enable you to build on problem-solving skills and take them one step further, applying them in a way that will be useful to you in your job and to your Organisation. The importance of legal advice/ writing whilst studying will have equipped you with the knowledge and skill to answer problem-type questions. This is an important skill, because it trains you on how to abstract the relevant facts from the irrelevant, identify the legal issues, state the Law relevant to the issues, apply the Law to the facts and then conclude on the issues. This will be so, irrespective of where you practice. The most important feature of a Legal Advice/Opinion which distinguishes it from other types of legal writing is that is must be presented in a specific format. This Workshop seeks to empower Delegates with uniformity in style and to address Procedural and various other aspects regarding the Formulation of Legal Opinion Reports within the Public & Private Sectors.

Legal Opinion Writing 2024 will address the following:

  • Analytical thinking and problem solving
  • Legal writing – writing technique, clarity and plain language, citation.
  • Legal research – research techniques, types of research resources, efficiency, and timesaving
  • Role of the Opinion Writer
  • Types of Opinion
  • Obtaining instructions and establishing the facts – fact analysis
  • Defining the legal questions / issues
  • Structure, style, and content of your report.

Benefits of Attending:

  • Improving written advice
  • Research Techniques
  • Enhancing Drafting Skills
  • The use of correct language when drafting written advice
  • Establishing Best Practice across the Legal Department

Who Must Attend

  • Advocates
  • Attorneys
  • Heads of Legal Departments
  • Legal Advisors
  • In-House Legal Counsel
  • Para Legal’s
  • Company Secretaries
  • Legal Assistants
  • Business Development Directors

Facilitated by: Adv. Ettian Raubenheimer, MBA, LLM, LLB, BLC, Diploma in Tax Practice, Diploma in Police Administration Current Practicing Advocate of the High Court of South Africa since 2006, focusing on Commercial, Corporate, Contractual, & Human Rights matters, chairing enquiries, and administrative boards, mediations, and arbitrations.International exposure involves the development of contractual frameworks for telecommunications and commodities operations as well as compiling peace and reconciliation frameworks for regional governments.

Appointed to the Disciplinary Committee of the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors and the Tax Board. Comprehensive training experience, involving development and implementation of internationally benchmarked curricula, lecturing at tertiary level and corporate training as a facilitator and accredited assessor and moderator.

Image of Adv. Ettian Raubenheimer
Day 1

07:30-08:30 Registration, Tea & Coffee

08:30 Welcome, Workshop commences.

Introduction To Legal Opinion Writing

  • Definition And Purpose of Legal Opinions
  • Types Of Opinion
  • Role Of The Opinion Writer

Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving

  • Problem Solving Techniques
  • Logical Deduction
  • Reasoning By Analogy

10:00 Mid-Morning Teas/Coffees & Refreshments

Legal Writing

  • Writing Techniques
  • Pursuit Of Clarity
  • Plain Language Principles

Role Of the Opinion Writer

  • Types Of Opinion
  • Layout And Structure Of Opinion
  • The Key Elements

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch & Networking

Legal Opinions

Types of Opinion

There are different types of Legal Opinions that are used when writing a Legal Opinion. In this session, the different types of Legal Opinions will be analyzed as well as where the different Legal Opinion should be used and in what context.

Instructions & Fact Establishment

  • Taking Instructions and Asking the Right Questions
  • Collecting Relevant Information and Documents
  • Analysing The Facts

Defining The Legal Questions / Issues

  • Identifying The Legal Problem
  • Framing The Key Questions

15:00 Afternoon Teas/Coffees & Refreshments

Legal Research

  • Research Techniques
  • Efficiency And Timesaving
  • Research Resources/Sources
  • Necessity to Do Research

16:00 End of Day 1, Day 2

Day 2

07:30-08:30 Registration, Tea & Coffee

Caselaw Research

Practical session (Computer/Tablet or Smartphone with internet access needed). Delegates will get Subject references and need to find Applicable Acts, Legislation and Caselaw on such.

Identifying And Analyzing the Relevant Law

  • Identifying And Analysing the Relevant Law
  • Applying The Law to The Facts
  • Critical Analysis and Discussion

10:00 Mid-Morning Teas/Coffees & Refreshments

Formulating the Legal Conclusion

  • Key Facts and Law
  • Answering The Questions

Composing The Opinion

  • Opinion structure and outline
  • Use and importance of headings!
  • Identifying the legal questions / issues
  • Reviewing the relevant facts
  • Discussing the relevant law and its application to the facts
  • Drafting the conclusion

Reviewing And Settling the Opinion

  • Taking A Bird’s Eye View
  • Attention To Detail and Language Use
  • Reviewing The Advice

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch & Networking

Practical Legal Opinion Writing Session (Extended Session)

This session will entail the actual Writing of a Legal Opinion by Delegates/Attendees

  • Key tips and trouble shooting
  • Practical opinion writing exercises.

15:00 Questions & Certificate Handout & End of Workshop

Terms and Conditions: Please read carefully.

The following Ts & Cs apply:

  • All payments to be made directly to Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat, Payment is required in full, 5 days from date of invoice.
  • No seats will be reserved, unless otherwise agreed to by Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat.
  • Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat reserves the right to change speakers, program content, date and venue, due to circumstances beyond the control of Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat.
  • The signed registration form is a legally binding document.
  • The conference / workshop fee includes conference / workshop material, Lunches, and refreshments.
  • Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat is not liable for travel and accommodation expenses unless otherwise stated in writing.

Cancellations

  • All cancellations will be subject to approval by Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat management.
  • All cancellations made 14 working days prior to date of the mentioned event will be subject to a 50% cancellation fee.
  • Cancellations made within 7 days or less of date of the mentioned event, will be subject to a 100% cancellation fee.
  • There will be no refunds or credit vouchers unless agreed to by BizStrat Management in writing.

Substitutions

  • Delegates, or any substitutions, must notify Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat in writing.
  • There is no charge for substitutions. Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat will not be held liable for incorrect delegate details on certificates due to late substitutions being made on the day of the conference/ workshop.

Views expressed by speakers and facilitators are not necessarily those of Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat.

Company Information

Delegate Information



Signature


Venue Attendance


Payment Information

  • Bank Transfer: Servigraph 30 cc t/a BizStrat.
  • Bank: First National Bank
  • Branch Name: Randburg Commercial Suite
  • Account No: 62322454422
  • Branch Code: 250655
  • Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ

Note: Credit card payments accepted. Contact our Offices for the Processing of Credit Cards.