Legal practitioner; a fancy name for a lawyer? Why one uses this term is unclear. it is like calling a teacher and educational practitioner. This just leads to confusion. In any case, even if lawyers are often the focus of cruel jokes, the legal practitioner is a vital service provider in our society. They are able to guide the laity through complex legal processes to ensure that the rights of the individual are protected. They draft wills, execute estates, draw up contracts, hear a Statutory Declaration, represent estranged and embittered husbands and wives as they dissolve the remnants of a failed marriage. Perhaps before we next time deride legal practitioners we should reflect on the valuable service they provide.