Legal Practitioners trust account engagements

Guidance is provided to registered auditors in the special circumstances applicable to engagements on legal practitioners’ trust accounts, as required by the Legal Practice Act, No. 28 of 2014 (the Act) and the South African Legal Practice Council Rules made under the authority of Sections 95(1), 95(3) and 109(2) of the Act (the Rules)

An engagement on legal practitioners trust accounts to report compliance with the Act and the Rules is a reasonable assurance engagement within the scope of International Standard on Assurance Engagement (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information

Guide

Title Date issued Effective date Documents
Guide for Registered Auditors: Engagements on Legal Practitioners’ Trust Accounts (Revised March 2020) May 2022
  • Audits and reviews of financial statements for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2022; and
  • Other assurance and related services engagements beginning on or after 15 December 2022.
PDF | Word

Guide for Registered Auditors: Engagements on Legal Practitioners’ Trust Accounts (Revised March 2020), including:

  • Illustrative engagement letter
  • Illustrative representation letter
  • Illustrative auditor's report
  • Legal Practitioners annual statement on trust accounts
28 April 2020 Effective for financial periods commencing on or after 1 March 2019 PDF | Word

Previous version(s) of the Guide:

Issued on 14 March 2017 effective for financial periods commencing on or after 1 March 2016 PDF | Word

Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagement Performed In Respect Of An Application By A Legal Practitioner Firm For A Refund Of Bank Charges And Audit Fees 

The illustrative agreed-upon procedures report was developed by a task group of SAICA’s Legal Practitioners and Accountants Committee (LPAC). The report was approved by SAICA’s Assurance Guidance Committee. 

Title Date issued Documents
Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagement Performed In Respect Of An Application By A Legal Practitioner Firm For A Refund Of Bank Charges And Audit Fees 2 November 2023 PDF

Advisory / Notice issued by the Legal Practice Council

 

Notices from the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund (LPFAdvisory / Notice issued by the Legal Practice Council F)

 

Useful links

 

Related communiqués