SADC Lawyers Association

The SADC Lawyers Association (SADC-LA, also styled SADCLA) is a voluntary regional professional association that brings together law societies, bar associations and individual lawyers from the 15 member states of the Southern African Development Community. It describes itself as the only organization that effectively unites lawyers from the sub-region and as an authoritative and representative voice of the collective legal profession in Southern Africa. Its stated mission is to strengthen, defend and advance the rule of law, justice and fundamental human rights across the SADC region and beyond. The association was formed in 1999 at an inaugural meeting of SADC regional lawyers held in Maputo, Mozambique. At its formation, its headquarters were located in South Africa and hosted by the Law Society of South Africa. In 2003 the office relocated to Botswana and was registered there under the Societies Act in April 2003. The office moved back to South Africa in 2011 and was registered as a non-profit company under the South African Companies Act in July 2012. SADC-LA operates as a membership-based body. Its governing body is the General Meeting, and it is led by an Executive Committee comprising a President, Vice President, Treasurer and committee members. The association states that it gives a fair hearing to all points of view from members, representing both small or developing bars and larger ones. Its work is guided by values and principles articulated in its founding preamble, including mutual interaction with bar associations and law societies, upholding respect for the rule of law and fundamental liberties, and promoting human rights, especially the rights of women, people with disabilities and children. Since its formation, the organization has been involved in numerous activities at the regional and international levels to strengthen, defend and advance the rule of law in the SADC region and beyond. It positions itself as the voice of the legal profession in Southern Africa and as a platform for regional cooperation among legal professionals.

The SADC Lawyers Association was formed in 1999 at an inaugural meeting held by SADC regional lawyers in Maputo, Mozambique. It was established as a voluntary association made up of law societies, bar associations and individual lawyers from the 15 member Southern African region, with the aim of uniting the legal profession across the SADC region to advance the rule of law, justice and fundamental human rights. At its formation, the headquarters of the Association was located in South Africa and hosted by the Law Society of South Africa. In 2003, the office relocated to Botswana and was registered in that country under the Societies Act in April 2003. The office moved back to South Africa in 2011 and was registered as a non-profit company in terms of the South African Companies Act in July 2012. Since its formation, the organization has been involved in numerous activities at the regional and international levels to strengthen, defend and advance the rule of law in the SADC region and beyond. It describes itself as the only organization that effectively brings together lawyers from the sub-region, and as such an authoritative and representative voice of the collective legal profession in Southern Africa. In executing its duties, SADCLA is guided by values and principles articulated in its founding preamble, including mutual interaction with the bar associations, law societies and their respective members within the region; upholding and maintaining respect for the rule of law and fundamental liberties; and promoting respect for human rights, especially the rights of women, people with disabilities and children. The Association's General Meeting is its governing body, and it is led by an Executive Committee. For the 2026–2028 term, the Executive Committee comprises the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Executive Committee Members.

• 2012

  Registered as a non-profit company under the South African Companies Act in July 2012.

• 2011

  Office moved back to South Africa.

• 2003

  Office relocated to Botswana and registered there under the Societies Act in April 2003.

• 1999

  Formed at an inaugural meeting of SADC regional lawyers in Maputo, Mozambique.

The authoritative and representative voice of the collective legal profession in Southern Africa.

1. 1SADC-LA Official Websitesadcla.org
2. 2Organization Overview – SADC-LA Official Websitesadcla.org
3. 3SADC Lawyers Associationwikidata.org