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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply accounting skills in an attorney's books of account 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116105  Apply accounting skills in an attorney's books of account 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Legal Education and Training 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Justice in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  8 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is aimed at understanding basic business accounting practices in an attorneys practice. The qualifying learner will have the ability to:
  • Keep accounting records and implement accounting systems and procedures.
  • Explain basic business control principles.
  • Describe the requirements of the Value-Added Tax Act, 89 of 1991.
  • Discuss the general Trust and Business Accounting Principles as required by the Attorneys Act, no 53 of 1979 and the various applicable rules of the provincial law societies regarding attorney's bookkeeping.
  • Explain the principles of making Trust Investments in accordance with Section 78 of the Attorneys Act no 53 of 1979.
  • Record and account for correspondent transactions. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners have acquired the ability to:
  • Apply mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national issues
  • Apply knowledge of statistics and probability to critically interrogate and effectively communicate findings on life related problems
  • Measure, estimate and calculate physical quantities and explore, critique and prove geometrical relationships in two and three-dimensional space in the life and workplace of the adult with increasing responsibilities

    Learners registering for this unit standard will have demonstrated competence in legal knowledge at NQF level 7 as contained in a recognised law degree like B Proc or LLB or any other qualification recognised as equivalent to such a law degree in terms of legislation as indicated in the notes to the qualification. This assumed learning is listed in paragraph 4 of the qualification "Post graduate certificate in Attorneys Practice". 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain basic business control principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Explain the legal and technical requirements to open and administer a bank account. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Explain the legal and technical requirements to make payments by way of cheques. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Explain how to receipt and bank money. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Explain the ethics involved in business transactions 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Keep accounting records and implement accounting systems and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Explain the principles, importance of and define bookkeeping. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Explain the principle of debits and credits. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    List the various books of prime entry. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Distinguish between books of prime entry and ledgers. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Distinguish between cash and non-cash transactions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Distinguish between receipts and payments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Enter a transaction from the source records to the cash book and balance the cash book. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    Write up and balance a petty cash book. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
    Explain the posting process and be able to determine which book should be used for every transaction. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 10 
    Prepare a supplementary cash book. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 11 
    Explain the purpose of a bank reconciliation statement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 12 
    List the different reconciling items and prepare a reconciliation statement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 13 
    Explain when a journal is used, list the various journals, describe their separate functions and make journal entries. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 14 
    Explain the reason for using a ledger and list the various ledgers. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 15 
    Explain the posting of transactions from books of prime entry to ledger accounts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 16 
    Explain when a ledger account is debited or credited. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 17 
    Balance and interpret a ledger account. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 18 
    Extract a trial balance 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Describe the requirements of the Value-Added Tax Act, 89 of 1991. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    List and explain relevant VAT terminology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Explain the calculation of the amount of VAT. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Record VAT transactions and complete VAT returns. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Discuss the general Trust and Business Accounting Principles as required by the Attorneys Act, no 53 of 1979 and the various applicable rules of the provincial law societies regarding attorney's bookkeeping. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    How to distinguish between trust and business accounting. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Identify trust and business accounts and transactions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Explain the difference between trust and business money and trust and business creditors. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Explain the principle of trust and business cash books. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Distinguish between the trust and business cash books. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Indicate the various applicable rules of the provincial law societies regarding accounting. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Describe the process of recovering trust account bank charges and audit fees from the Attorneys Fidelity Fund. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Explain the principles of making Trust Investments in accordance with Section 78 of the Attorneys Act no 53 of 1979. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Define the term " trust investments". 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Distinguish between a section 78(2)(a) and a section 78(2A) investment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Indicate the difference between a section 78 investment and an investment practice. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Record trust investment transactions in the accounting records. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Explain how the interest received is dealt with in the different investments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Identify the beneficiary of investment interest. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    Reconcile the trust creditor balances and total trust funds on hand. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Record and account for correspondent transactions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Explain the term "correspondent". 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Distinguish between the instructing and instructed correspondent. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Explain correspondent allowances. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Draft an accounting statement for the instructing and instructed correspondent. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this qualification must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA.
  • The relevant ETQA will oversee assessment and moderation of assessment according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant competency and the agreed procedures of the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessment at exit points of the qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards, exit level outcomes as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this competency may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Demonstrated knowledge and understanding:
  • The nature and functioning of legal organizations and the legal system.
  • Ethical and professional conduct.
  • Problem solving techniques.
  • Values such as fairness, justice, accountability, ethics, etc. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    Personal development. 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identifying and solving problems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contributing to the personal development of learners and the society and economy, by being culturally sensitive and by participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  48920   National Certificate: Attorneys Practice  Level 7  NQF Level 07  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.