World’s first legal brief goes digital in South Africa

On 25 October 2025, the Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA) will make history when the first-ever digital legal brief is issued live at the launch of AuxBrief. This world-first innovation, generally described as the new “Uber” of the legal profession, is set to irrevocably change briefing and billing practices. Led by South African women in law, the platform embeds fairness, efficiency, and transparency into every stage of the pipeline — to the benefit of clients, attorneys and advocates alike.

AuxBrief was the vision of Rose-Marie van den Bogert, attorney, director and founder of the legal fintech company Auxcon, who set out to modernise the legal pipeline. This vision is now finally realised through the leadership of Adv Mahlape Sello SC and Adv Tiny Seboko SC of the JSA and the persistence of three senior associates at Vezi de Beer Inc.—Celia de Beer, Nicolette Crous-Nel, and Roslynn Ismail. Together, they left no stone unturned to ensure the innovation could come to life.

AuxBrief, piloted in partnership with JSA, Vezi de Beer Inc., is not only an SA-first, but also a first on the globe. The system allows attorneys to digitally upload legal briefs with the relevant instructions, documents, fees, and timelines. The platform connects them to available advocates who meet the client’s requirements in real-time. Once an appointment is made, terms are locked in, and progress and payments are tracked transparently. This establishes a single source of truth and removes the uncertainty that has plagued the profession for decades.

This need for change has been urgent. Traditional briefing practices are slow, paper-heavy, and riddled with inefficiencies. Advocates, particularly juniors, women, and historically disadvantaged members of the Bar, often struggle to access work fairly. Attorneys face hours of administrative burden and reputational risk when clients push back on fees or delays. Clients too frequently encounter opaque billing, hidden costs, and little assurance that their briefing instructions — including transformation priorities — are followed. At the heart of the fractured system lies a vicious cycle: inequitable briefing, delayed payments, and eroding trust.

AuxBrief is designed to break that cycle. By hardwiring equitable distribution of work into the process, the platform ensures that juniors and disadvantaged advocates are not overlooked. Attorneys save time and resources, issuing briefs in minutes instead of hours. Clients gain cost clarity upfront and the ability to specify briefing parameters aligned with their transformation objectives. For the first time, all three parties have full visibility of the same process. They can also respond more quickly to the needs of justice.

“This is a turning point for the legal fraternity and for justice in South Africa,” says Adv Mahlape Sello SC, Chairperson of the JSA. “The Johannesburg Bar has long recognised the urgent need to make briefing fairer and more efficient. With AuxBrief, we are empowered to lead the way. Transformation is now embedded, not optional. The system works for advocates, attorneys, and clients alike.”

Adv Tiny Seboko SC, Chair of the JSA Transformation, Briefing Patterns and Pro Bono Committee, emphasises the impact for those most excluded by the old system. “For too long, juniors, women, and historically disadvantaged advocates have been sidelined, with too little work to sustain their practices. AuxBrief ensures equitable distribution of work across the Bar. It makes fairness the default, not the exception. It builds accountability and confidence into the pipeline.”

For attorneys, the platform promises to radically reduce inefficiencies. “AuxBrief will make our briefing processes faster, lighter and more resource-efficient, says Nicolette Crous-Nel, Senior Associate at Vezi de Beer Inc., which will be the first firm to issue a live digital brief at the launch. “More importantly, it gives clients transparency and control. Their briefing parameters are honoured. Their transformation commitments are reflected in practice.”

The AuxBrief Launch Event, themed The Brief That Changes Everything, will be held at The Venue, Houghton Hotel, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 25 October 2025. It will feature:

• A high-level panel discussion, facilitated by Adv Tiny Seboko SC. Leaders of the Bar, the Bench, government, and finance will join for a frank conversation on the challenges in the legal pipeline.

• The unveiling of the AuxBrief corporate video, capturing the story behind the innovation.

• The world’s first live issuing of a digital legal brief — a historic milestone for South Africa and the global legal fraternity.

  
  
  

The event will host senior members of the judiciary, government and corporate and institutional partners, as well as invited media. Leaders of the JSA and attorneys from across the profession will also attend.

AuxBrief not just represents a South African innovation, but a global precedent. It shows how technology can close systemic gaps, restore trust, and expand access to justice. It also advances transformation in meaningful and measurable ways.

“This is not just about digital efficiency,” concludes Adv Tiny Seboko SC. “It is about building a legal profession that is fairer, more transparent, and more resilient — for advocates, attorneys, and clients alike. And it is South Africa’s women in law who have led the way in making history.”

For more information, visit www.auxbrief.co.za