Johannesburg: Consultation notes about Jacob Zuma's defence were seized when the Scorpions raided his attorneys, his legal adviser, Julie Mahomed, said in papers before the high court here.

Mahomed has made an urgent application to have documents returned to her that were seized from her offices and home on August 18.

"A person studying my files relating to Mr Zuma's matters could gain substantial insight into the nature of Mr Zuma's defence to the charges brought against him," she said.

Included in Mahomed's papers were notes from Zuma's current attorney, Michael Hulley.

When Zuma was charged in July, she acted as his attorney at his bail application. She has since withdrawn in favour of Hulley, but still represented Zuma in other matters.

She said she had consultations with Hulley, which were confidential "and related to the defence of Mr Zuma, which he handed to me. Such notes may have been seized".

She said Zuma had consulted with her extensively about the investigation against him. She made notes, took statements and collected "documentary material for the purposes of enabling Mr Zuma to defend himself". She said the matter was "very sensitive and was kept confidential" between herself, Zuma and other lawyers acting on his behalf.

Mahomed asked for documents and files, including her laptop, to be returned because they contain privileged attorney-client information. She also wanted a black ledger with business records, a bank statement for her savings account and a small file containing her son's bank details returned.

She asked Judge Ismail Hussain to declare the searches and seizures unlawful.

The matter was postponed until September 7. The National Prosecuting Authority has until Friday to reply and Mahomed has until Monday.

With acknowledgements to Nalisha Kalideen and the Cape Times.