Unlike in many other professions, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is not mandatory for legal practitioners in South Africa. However, in a demanding and fast-changing legal landscape, staying current and competitive is essential—making CPD a valuable investment in any legal career.
While traditional CPD activities such as seminars and courses are useful, professional coaching offers a highly personalised and results-driven approach. Coaching is structured, goal-oriented, and tailored to the unique challenges lawyers face—qualifying it as a powerful form of CPD.
Coaching supports the development of leadership, business acumen, communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. These are the critical, non-technical skills that legal education often overlooks, yet they are essential for running a successful practice and sustaining a fulfilling career in law.
Emmie de Kock, a former practising attorney, qualified business coach, and founder of LawyerFirst®, specialises in coaching lawyers at all stages of their professional journey. Her one-on-one coaching sessions create a safe, focused space for reflection, planning, and decision-making—helping clients navigate real-world challenges and drive meaningful progress in both their personal and professional lives.
Recognising the demands on legal practitioners’ time, and the amount of lawyers practising on their own, Emmie has also developed a self-paced online course, “How to Start a Legal Practice”, with more courses in development. These resources make it easier for lawyers to engage in practical, flexible, and impactful CPD.
Whether you are launching a new practice, developing a new legal practice area, or planning an exit, coaching can be your most strategic CPD investment—unlocking growth, clarity, and long-term success.
To enquire about coaching options with Emmie de Kock for legal professionals
Emmie de Kock is a former law firm owner and qualified business coach supporting lawyers through tailored coaching and CPD-aligned learning.