Finalists: Ride-Africa Legal Aid Services Department Project • Van Rensburg Attorneys

The LEX Africa Exchange Programme, submitted by Werksmans, took the award for Diversity Initiative of the Year.

Founded in 1993 by Werksmans, it is the longest-established and largest African legal network with members in 22 African countries: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In an effort to grow the bond between its members and help more experienced professionals and managers share their skills with younger lawyers, the group established an exchange programme in which members would reciprocally host junior professionals and managerial staff from other member firms. Werksmans Attorneys hosted the first manager exchange in late 2012 and the programme has now been extended to allow exchanges with law firms in China, Europe and the US.

One participant praised the programme, saying: "During my visit, I had the opportunity to work in a different legal environment and to collaborate with attorneys outside my practice area. I have therefore been able to develop new skills and gain a good understanding of the different aspects of the law and legal practice in South Africa. This programme has also enabled me to develop professional and personal relationships with new colleagues and I look forward to collaborating with them in the future on cross-border work assignments."