WHO IS CCASA?

The Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa (CCASA) is the national voice and forum for Corporate Counsel in South Africa.

CCASA, formerly known as the Corporate Lawyers Association of South Africa, was established in 1982 to meet the professional needs of Corporate Counsel in South Africa, including practice-sharing, networking and professional development.

CCASA recognises the distinct interests and needs of Corporate Counsel who provide professional legal and business services to their employers, namely the corporate entity.

In 2017 CCASA was formally recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as the official Professional Body representing the Corporate Counsel profession in South Africa. As part of this recognition CCASA is allowed to determine and set the required standards for the Corporate Counsel profession including qualifications, expertise, competencies and skills.  CCASA is therefore well placed to establish benchmarks for Corporate Counsel in South Africa and to ensure that the credibility and high standards expected of the Corporate Counsel profession are not only continually developed and enhanced but are also maintained in the South African environment.

THE IN-HOUSE PROFESSION

The terms ‘corporate counsel’ / ‘legal advisors’ / ‘corporate lawyers’ / ‘in-house counsel’ / legal counsel’ are used to describe practitioners who hold a legal degree/qualification and who are employed by companies and other organisations (public and private sector) for the purpose of providing in-house legal counsel, giving legal guidance and advice on a variety of legal and business related topics.

In other words such person generally acts as an in-house lawyer who provides advice of a legal and business nature, to his/her employer, the corporation, its employees, related companies and stakeholders, and who does not write fees in respect of this advice, but instead gets paid a salary by the employer. Corporate Counsel, as compared with practicing attorneys and advocates who provide their services to the public at large on an independent basis and in exchange for a fee, provide their service to a single employer.

Corporate Counsel are not regulated by a state body or by statute in South Africa, unlike International jurisdictions such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

When a practicing attorney elects to leave the practicing profession, he/she is required to remove him-/herself from the practicing roll held by the provincial Law Society and from this time he/she will no longer fall under the jurisdiction or control of the Law Society. Corporate Counsel, where employed by a public / private sector employer (corporate) will be subjected to, and must comply with any rules, policies and codes of practice as laid down by his/her respective employer.

In-house practice has showed tremendous growth in South Africa over the last several years.  Talented and ambitious practitioners now routinely leave private practice for in-house posts that provide compensation and sophistication of work that rivals the cream of the profession.

VISION

Better Counsel, Better Corporations, Better Community.

CCASA’s vision is to promote the standing and value of Corporate Counsel, both in South Africa and on a global basis and to be the Association of choice for all Corporate Counsel in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES OF CCASA

The overriding objective of CCASA is to promote the common interest and value of Corporate Counsel and demonstrate their multi-faceted roles. This includes:

• acting as the voice and public face of Corporate Counsel;
• providing leadership to those providing in-house legal services;
• serving the needs of Corporate Counsel by providing members with the resources and the networks that are needed to better serve their organisations;
• directing and guiding the Corporate Counsel profession in South Africa by setting common standards for the Corporate Counsel professional;
• promoting and improving the proficiency and competency of its members and the Corporate Counsel profession in general;
• encouraging the highest professional and ethical conduct amongst its members and the Corporate Counsel profession in general;
• regulating and determining the acceptable qualifications and standards for Corporate Counsel in South Africa; and
• Offering up-to-date information on national and international trends in the provision of in-house legal services.

GOVERNANCE

Whilst CCASA operates as a non-profit entity, it is managed like a business under a sound business structure.

CCASA is governed by a Constitution and supporting governance documents, including:

• Board Charter and level of authorities;
• Code of Ethics;
• Disciplinary Code and procedure;
• CPD policy;
• Transformation policy;
• Recognition of prior learning policy;
• Policy on foreign qualifications.

Furthermore, CCASA has embraced and applies strong corporate governance principles and practices in its day-to-day activities, and at all times places strong focus on the following factors:

• Its mandate as set out under its Constitution;
• Economic viability;
• Transformation;
• Promotion of Ethics and good Standards of Conduct amongst its members;
• Professional development and recognition of prior learning;
• Continuous Professional Development;
• Growth and Effectiveness;
• Flexibility;
• Good Governance;
• Political impact.

MANAGEMENT

CCASA is managed by a CEO under the direction of a properly constituted Board in accordance with CCASA’s Constitution. The Board is annually elected by CCASA’s members.

Management is responsible to:

• Set goals / strategies;
• Identify staffing responsibilities and needs (Full-time, part-time, contractors);
• Manage the business.

The current CEO is Alison Lee who is consulted on a part-time basis to manage CCASA a position which she has held since 2004.

The CCASA Board is currently composed of a number of independent members, who have offered their services on a voluntary basis, who are in good standing with CCASA and who are employed by companies as Corporate Counsel in South Africa.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION AND ACCREDITATION PROGRAM

CCASA holds a formal recognition by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as the Professional Body that represents the Corporate Counsel profession in South Africa. By virtue of its accredited recognition, CCASA offers four certified professional designations in accordance with the SAQA-approved CCASA criteria. These professional designations are:

• Corporate Legal Support Practitioner;
• Corporate Legal Counsel;
• Corporate Senior Legal Counsel; and
• Corporate General Counsel.

The CCASA Accreditation process and resultant acquisition of the relevant CCASA designation is testimony that the member meets the stringent competency levels required and expected from a Corporate Counsel and is a solid indication that the member is committed to the advancement of his/her career, whether new to in-house, in a mid-level position or General Counsel.

MEMBERSHIP

CCASA members are employed by and represent more than 60 blue-chip companies and other organisations in South Africa. CCASA offers the following membership categories, opening the door to a powerful array of benefits which have been curated and crafted to enhance your career and hone your legal and business skills:

• Ordinary Members: Available to an individual Corporate Counsel in his/her personal capacity who joins CCASA for his/her own account.
• Commercial & Corporate Members: Available to an organization that employs Corporate Counsel. Whilst the membership is held by the organization, it will be represented by the individual Corporate Counsel employed by the organization.
• Associate Members: Available to attorneys and other persons or organizations who have an interest in being a member of CCASA but who are not employed as Corporate Counsel.

MEMBER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

No other Professional Body is in a position to deliver a service which assists Corporate Counsel across South Africa with the development of their professional skills and careers as well as CCASA. Some of these services are included in the annual CCASA membership subscription fee, but others, such as the accredited certification program, training courses and networking events are on a fee basis, with a discount offered to CCASA members. The value-added in-house counsel services developed for Corporate Counsel include:

• Accredited Professional Designations: Gain a competitive advantage in your career, grow your influence and earning potential by obtaining an accredited certified Corporate Counsel designation. It is the only accredited program of its kind in South Africa.
• Courses: Topic specific workshops which ensure that Corporate Counsel keep up to date with developments in law and business. A variety of informal educational courses are offered each year which are presented by Corporate Counsel for Corporate Counsel. All courses are run live and online.
• Legislation Update Sessions: These sessions cover relevant changes to laws which impact on the Corporate Counsel’s day-to-day activities and outputs.
• Team Talks: Team Talks are held online on a monthly basis and cover legal Best Practices and challenges facing Corporate Counsel.
• e-Magazine: CCASA publishes a regular newsletter titled “In-House Brief” which reports on the Association’s activities and contains articles of interest to Corporate Counsel and the legal profession in general.
• Online Resources: Complementary access to popular online tools and resources such as CCASA’s Knowledgebox, Lexology’s weekly newsstand, the ICW’s Universal Competencies Profile, surveys about the profession and much more.
• CCASAlerters: Information at your fingertips. Stay informed on leading trends in the legal profession through CCASAlerters.
• Template of the Month: Once a month, a “Template of the Month” is shared with members. These generic templates take the form of various types of agreements or policies which Corporate Counsel deals with on a regular basis.
• Representations: CCASA is the national voice and forum for Corporate Counsel in South Africa. From time to time CCASA makes representations to the relevant regulatory authorities on matters concerning Corporate Counsel and their work fields.
• Surveys: Exclusive access to surveys on compensation for Corporate Counsel, including the opinions and practices of other in-house lawyers.
• Liaison with other Associations: CCASA has strong alliances with corporate counsel organisations around the world, including being a member of In-house Counsel Worldwide (ICW). ICW is a global network of associations that is focused on the profession of in-house counsel. Member associations have formed a community of international in-house counsel working together to promote the value of the in-house profession, share knowledge and best practices across borders and foster global connections.
• Mentoring: Senior CCASA members are available to provide mentorship to in-house professionals.
• The CCASA Foundation Trust Scholarship: Each year CCASA awards scholarships to carefully selected previously disadvantaged South African law students.

CCASA COURSES / WORKSHOPS

CCASA runs customised courses and workshops for Corporate Counsel on a regular basis. The courses and workshops are prepared and presented by subject matter experts. All courses are presented online.  A list of CCASA’s courses offer can be viewed under the CCASA Calendar.

CCASA FOUNDATION TRUST

CCASA has established an educational trust which is a separate standalone entity known as the “CCASA Foundation Trust”. Each year CCASA awards scholarships to carefully selected previously disadvantaged South African law students.

ASSOCIATIONS

CCASA is currently associated with the following entities:

• In-house Counsel Worldwide (ICW) – Alison Lee, CCASA’s CEO, was a board member since its inception during 2013 until 2020;
• LexisNexis;
• Lexology;
• Association for Corporate Counsel America (ACC)  – CCASA has forged an informal relationship at the end of 2012;
• ProBono.Org – relationship and association forged during 2013

CONTACT INFORMATION

CCASA is run from offices based in Northcliff, Johannesburg and can be contacted at:
Telephone:  011 476 3217 (ext. 3)  |  e-mail:  info@ccasa.co.za   |  Website:  www.ccasa.co.za