12 June 2008

The South African Lawkipedia -a humble beginning to a grand dream!

Submitted by: Stephan vd Merwe
{pp}It was Garp's uncles who famously remarked that ‘the study of law is noble –the practise of it vulgar'.Whether true or not- public sentiment regarding those who practise law is often negative. It also finds rather consistent expression in those all too familiar lawyer jokes whose punch lines are invariably based upon either the notion of some inherent ethical/moral bankruptcy in the very practise of law alternatively lawyers’ narrow minded obsession with material gain.

Vulgar stereotypes and caricatures of popular culture are of course rarely matters in need of serious reflection.However; their effect and influence should not be underestimated. In my view, public perceptions concerning lawyers and the practise of law are matters that should concern all members of the legal fraternity. A significant step towards the possible betterment of such perceptions will lie in educating the public as to the rules and normative framework of the law itself and the role of legal practitioners within that framework. In doing so it will indeed be vital if not a prerequisite to grant the South African public free access to a credible and reliable source on South African law.

In light of the above, I am saddened to note the marked lack of free available sources on the internet pertaining to SA law (which also regrettably only serves to strengthen some of the negative stereotypes referred to herein above). No internet site of which I am aware provides free access to a comprehensive discussion on individual topics of law as is done in the famous publication known as LAWSA (Law of South Africa).

This is a most regrettable state of affairs as our nation's aspiration to be a true and prospering participative democracy as indeed envisaged by our Constitution can only be realised when citizens are informed. To be informed presupposes access to information.

The South African Lawkipedia (http://stephanvdmerwe.googlepages.com) is an attempt to offer this kind of access stating some of the basic principles of our legal system in a hopefully accurate and reliable fashion. What does free legal information for anyone have to do with democracy and the rule of law? Neither can succeed without communication.

Efforts to make law more accessible, more understandable, and more clearly expressed are ultimately efforts to make law more effective and in a democracy, more accountable. South Africa is certainly still very much in need of both!

Contact Information:
Stephan van der Merwe Attorneys
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