This is the first of a new monthly round-up of stories from legal magazines from around the world

There is a 'serious crisis facing young and old black lawyers' in South Africa as the country celebrates ten years of democracy, it was claimed this month.

An editorial in De Rebus, the journal published by the Law Society of South Africa, said the country's re-entry into the global marketplace has brought many benefits, and 'the legal profession - particularly the large, old, established, traditionally white law firms - has enjoyed these fruits of globalisation'.

But most black lawyers work as sole practitioners, dealing with mainly private work, and changes to the legal aid system and proposals for no-fault compensation for road accidents are set to hit them hard.

'What is left for the black lawyer, the black law graduate and the black candidate attorney? Democracy, after ten years, has taken firm root.

The democratisation of our economy to embrace black business persons has started in the mining and financial corporate sectors.

Black lawyers have been left behind or are waiting for the proverbial manna from heaven...

Does the black lawyer also need a charter for economic empowerment?

Another cri de coeur - this time a rallying call to fight discrimination against childless female lawyers - came in the May issue of the Law Institute Journal, published by the Law Institute of Victoria in Australia.

Barrister Susan Borg wrote that she often heard PWC (people with children) complaining 'how they are not getting a fair go'.

She added: 'However, it has occurred to me and my "childless sisters-in-the-law" that our rights are rarely considered, especially in the workplace.'

Ms Borg explained: 'I am tired of taking calls at 9pm from people who think I have nothing better to do.

I am fed up with having to listen to PWC complaining about their plight, especially when most chose to get married and have a family.

Furthermore, I'm peeved at the thought that my legally qualified childless sisters feel intimidated into keeping their mouths shut regarding these issues.

'What is needed is a study into whether women lawyers who are childless are being discriminated against because of their status and whether this has impacted on their health.'

The Canadian Lawyer reported how there is a rising tide of lawyers putting off until tomorrow what they should be doing today.

'Is it ironic, pathetic or just sad?' the magazine asked in its May issue.

'The profession that is supposed to take care of everyone else's unfinished business, wrestle with the tough stuff, cut through the mess and get to the finish line first has issues with - wait for it - procrastination.'

So widespread is the problem that the Law Society of British Columbia often refers the afflicted for 'procrastination counselling' through the Lawyers Assistance Program.

The program's executive director, Derek LaCroix, said chronic procrastination is generally not traceable to one source, but causes include depression, addiction, an 'internal protest' at the lack of free time, and insufficient expertise in a field.

Lawyers may simply need to recognise that their behaviour is self-destructive, he said.

The article explained: 'Some lawyers thrive on the excitement of working to fingernail-biting deadline, so they delay projects until the last minute.

But that can also lead to poor results for the client or missed deadlines.'

Finally, following hot on the heels of its UK counterpart, the New Zealand government has launched a consultation on whether to create a judicial appointments commission, according to Law Talk, the magazine of the Law Society of New Zealand.

Attorney-General Margaret Wilson said there are already such commissions in the US, Canada and South Africa, and that while New Zealand has been well served by its judges, and by the ministers who recommended them, 'from time to time, commentators have asked whether the appointment process could be improved'.

Neil Rose