how to become a corporate lawyer in south africa

How do I become a corporate lawyer in South Africa? The first step towards becoming a corporate lawyer is either completing an undergraduate degree in law or a degree in another subject and then a conversion course. To become a corporate solicitor, you must then take the LPC and obtain a training contract.

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What does a corporate lawyer do in South Africa?

In addition, the corporate lawyers will often draft finance agreements pertaining to the transaction as well as any escrow agreements. In South Africa, the vast majority of attorneys focus on corporate law. The major difference between these lawyers is the size of the transactions that they participate in.

What are the requirements to become an attorney in South Africa?

The admission requirements for attorneys in South Africa are currently prescribed by the Attorneys Act, 1979 and the Rules promulgated in terms of the Act. These are an academic qualification, service under articles of clerkship or service contract, compulsory practical legal training and personal fitness.

How to become a lawyer in South Africa with an LLB?

If you have an LLB from any other country, then you need to approach a South African law school for assessment of your law degree as credit towards a South African one. Once you have completed your recognised LLB, you can then apply for a position of service under articles of clerkship.

How do I become an advocate in South Africa?

If you wish to become an advocate in South Africa you must apply to the High Court after one year's pupillage under another advocate, after this you will then be called to the Bar. The General Council of the Bar is the association of all the local Bar Councils in South Africa who operate the individual Bar Examinations.

How long do you study to become a corporate lawyer in South Africa?

How Long Does It Take To Become A Corporate Lawyer? Any graduate of an applicable discipline should strive to become a corporate lawyer within 3 years after joining. The requirement to take either a B or 10+2 in order to enter a 5-year integrated program for your certificate.

How many years does it take to become a corporate lawyer?

Becoming a corporate lawyer involves seven years of college-level education, as well as continuing education.

Where can I study corporate law in South Africa?

LLM Programs in Corporate Law / Company Law - South AfricaUniversity of South Africa (UNISA) - College of Law. Pretoria, South Africa 143 Followers 11 Discussions. ... University of Pretoria. ... University of Western Cape. ... University of Witwatersrand - Oliver Schreiner School of Law.

What subjects are needed to become a corporate lawyer?

You'll take courses in topics such as:Legal procedures.Administrative law.Torts.Legal communications.Intellectual property.Civil and criminal law.Legal advocacy.Taxation.

What subjects are needed to become a corporate lawyer in South Africa?

Subjects that are needed to become a lawyer in South Africa include Foundations of South African law, South African private law, constitutional law, criminal law, intellectual property, evidence and African Customary Law.

Do corporate lawyers go to court in South Africa?

Most business lawyers do not get involved in litigation or argue cases in court. Most of the business lawyer's time will be spent on negotiation, legal analysis, contract drafting, advising, and writing.

Which law gets paid the most?

Which type of law you specialize inTax attorney: $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

How do I get a job in corporate law?

As a corporate lawyer, you can work for the government or various business verticals, like retail, marketing, travel, hospitality, insurance, or technology industries. The career offers flexibility in employers, like working as an in-house counsel for a corporation or as an associate or a partner with a law firm.

Can you do corporate law after LLB?

Corporate Law Eligibility Criteria The eligibility criteria for the Corporate Law course offered at the PG level is such that candidates should have completed a five year integrated law course or possess an LLB or equivalent degree.

Do corporate lawyers need math?

In general corporate law practice does not require higher math skills. However, good math skills are very helpful in any area of the law that deals with damages or financial transactions .

Is corporate law easy?

The point is, that corporate lawyers' work is not easy, be it in-house or law firm. The initial years at the law firm were gruelling as it should be. You learn the most in the initial years after all. But the lack of a systematic guidance mechanism is what makes the process gruesome.

Do corporate lawyers make a lot of money?

Corporate lawyers with one to four years of experience earn around INR 5.82 lakh per annum on average. However, after a certain level of experience, your pay in this field increases substantially. Corporate lawyers with a significant amount of experience (five to nine years) make INR 14.5 lakh per annum on average.

How to become an attorney in South Africa?

There are various methods to obtain the practical qualification to be admitted as an attorney in South Africa. An applicant must complete at least:#N#1 . Two years under a contract of articles (service at a private law firm or state attorney) or a service contract ( community service at a legal aid institution) after having satisfied the requirements for an LLB degree of a South African university; or#N#2. Two years under a contract of articles or service contract after having satisfied all the requirements for a degree of a university in a country designated by the Minister and certified by a South African university as being equivalent or superior to the South African LLB degree (currently the former ‘TBVC’ states, Swaziland, Namibia and Zimbabwe); or#N#3. One year under a contract of articles or service contract if the person has satisfied all the requirements for a South African LLB degree or a degree of a university in a country designated by the Minister and has attended the full-time School for Legal Practice for a period of approximately six months; or#N#4. Three years under a contract of articles or service contract if the applicant:#N#– has completed a degree that does not meet the requirements of a South African LLB degree; or#N#– if the applicant has completed a degree that does not meet the requirements of a South African LLB degree at a university in a country designated by the Minister, which degree has been certified by a university in South Africa; or#N#– if the applicant has obtained a matric certificate and has served continuously for a period of at least two years as a clerk to any judge of the High Court, provided that the applicant enters into articles of clerkship within a period of one year after completing such; or#N#5. Five years if the applicant does not have a degree, but at least has a matric certificate with full university exemption.

What are the requirements to become an attorney in South Africa?

This requirement refers mainly to the moral integrity of a person, his characteristics and particularly honesty, which is considered to be an important prerequisite for practising as an attorney.#N#A person must be older than 21 years and a South African citizen; or be legally entitled to permanent residence in the Republic and be ordinarily resident in the Republic ; or be a citizen of a state which formerly formed part of the Republic and belongs to a category of persons and has complied with certain conditions, as determined by the Minister from time to time (currently being the former ‘TBVC’ states, Swaziland, Namibia and Zimbabwe).#N#Source: h ttp://www.lssa.org.za/

What are the admission requirements for attorneys in South Africa?

The admission requirements for attorneys in South Africa are currently prescribed by the Attorneys Act, 1979 and the Rules promulgated in terms of the Act. These are an academic qualification, service under articles of clerkship or service contract, compulsory practical legal training and personal fitness. All these have to be complied with ...

How long is appropriate legal practice?

Appropriate legal practice. A person may be exempted from articles on condition that appropriate legal experience for at least five years, to the satisfaction of the provincial Law Society concerned, has been undergone. The Minister has determined categories of appropriate legal practice in consultation with the profession.

What is the LLB degree?

The LLB degree (the course duration of which is not less than four years) or BProc degree (obtained on or before 31 December 2004), obtained at any university in the Republic, is the required academic qualification. There are exceptions, namely: – If the person has previously been admitted as an advocate in South Africa.

How to become an attorney in South Africa?

Everyone who wishes to become an attorney in South Africa must begin by completing their LLB, which can be no less than four years in length. They must attend an institution in South Africa unless they have already completed an LLB from an institution from an approved country. The designated countries approved in South Africa currently are Swaziland, Namibia, Lesotho and the former Bophuthatswana, Venda, Transkei, and Ciskei states. If you have an LLB from any other country, then you need to approach a South African law school for assessment of your law degree as credit towards a South African one.

How long does it take to become an advocate in South Africa?

Well, the first thing you need to know is that in South Africa lawyers are known as attorneys and advocates. It takes at least seven years to become an attorney and an additional year to become an advocate. Only some foreign-trained lawyers are able to avoid repeating their LLBs at a South African law school – as usually a South African qualification is necessary.

What countries are approved for LLB in South Africa?

The designated countries approved in South Africa currently are Swaziland, Namibia, Lesotho and the former Bophuthatswana, Venda, Transkei, and Ciskei states . If you have an LLB from any other country, then you need to approach a South African law school for assessment of your law degree as credit towards a South African one.

How long does it take to get an attorney's license?

Once you have completed at least six months of your articles of clerkship, then you can take the Attorney's Admission Examination. This has four parts; Practice and Procedure, Wills and Estates, Attorneys’ Practice, Contracts and Rules of Conduct, and Legal Bookkeeping.

How long is the legal practice course?

It can be shortened to one year if the student completes the full-time course at the School for Legal Practice for a period of approximately six months. Otherwise, this course is attended on a part-time basis for a shorter period of time of around five months.

How long does it take to become an article of clerk?

This training period is conducted in a law firm and is generally two years in length.

Can you take law lessons from a reputable teacher?

There are unofficial lessons available from some law lecturers, and if you are recommended one and are feeling weak in an area of the exam, then taking the lessons from a reputable teacher is a great way to grow your confidence.

Is there math in corporate law?

All newly credentialed law school graduates who go to work for law firms need basic math knowledge to fill out timesheets to bill clients and track their business expenses.

Are corporate lawyers in demand in South Africa?

Lawyers that are in the litigation sector are known to always be in high demand in South Africa.

What qualifications do you need to be a lawyer in South Africa?

The South African law requires that a lawyer obtain a law degree, work several years in a legal setting and pass an admissions exam. You must also be at least 21-years-old and a citizen or legal resident of South Africa.

Study options

You will need to enrol for and complete a four-year LLB degree, which is the minimum requirement. You also have the option of completing a BCom degree before the LLB degree but this is not compulsory.

Vacation work

In your pre-final year of study, or even as early as the end of your second year of study, you will need to apply direct to law firms for work experience during the July or December holidays. Most of the larger law firms in South Africa offer such work experience for a two- to three-week period.

Articles of clerkship

After successful completion of your law degree, you will need to work at a law firm as a candidate attorney under the guidance of a practising attorney before you will be allowed to practise as an attorney yourself.

Update your CV

You will need an updated CV to apply for vacation work experience and an appointment as an articled clerk. Robert Walters legal recruitment specialists can offer advice on how to make your CV stand out, as a strong CV is vital to success. Here are some quick tips:

Improve your interview skills

Interviews need not be as nerve-wracking as they are made out to be, as interview skills can be taught. A few simple guidelines can take you a long way. For tips on how to prepare for a job interview, download the Robert Walters Interview Guide.

Register your contract

Make sure your contract is registered with the law society of the province in which you are working, within two months of starting your period as an articled clerk. Also make sure that the contract is backdated to the commencement date of this period so that you do not lose the two months’ experience you have already completed.

1. Passing matric with the right marks

To be able to pass to the next step in becoming an attorney, you have to pass matric with the right subjects. To be admitted to UP’s Undergraduate LLB programme, you need an APS of at least 32. You will also have to pass English home language or first additional language with 60-69%.

2. Studying LLB

Doing your LLB degree at any South African university that allows you to study LLB can be done right after passing matric and meeting the admission requirements of the university.

3. Doing vacation work at a registered law firm

Most law firms offer vacation work to aspiring attorneys in South Africa. However, most law firms only offer vacation work to 3rd and 4th year students.

4. Doing your law articles

Doing your law articles takes 2 years of working as a candidate attorney. This has to be done at a registered law firm in South Africa. During this time you will work under the supervision of a registered attorney.

5. Preparing for the Board exams

Completing the board exams is the next step in being admitted as an attorney. You may start to prepare for these exams while you are still a candidate attorney.

7. Attorney admission

Attorney admission is the final step of becoming an attorney in South Africa. First complete your articles with a registered law firm and pass your board exams. Then you may apply to court to be admitted as an attorney.

8. Celebration

The process of becoming an attorney in South Africa takes at least 6 years. 4 Years of studying and 2 years of articles and writing the admission exams. That is a long time of working hard with late nights and early mornings.

How long does it take to become a corporate lawyer?

Within a large firm ('Big 5') the normal progression for an LLB gradate is to complete two years of Articles of Clerkship. Once this period is over and the candidate has successfully completed the attorney’s admission examinations (Board exams), they may, depending on their performance as well as operational requirements of their respective firms, be offered and associate position. From associate the candidate’s next progression is three to four years to senior associate and later on, director/partner.

What is the next step for corporate lawyers?

The next step for the corporate lawyers will be conducting a legal due diligence on the target company, assessing what legal liabilities exist.

What are the key skills required to be a corporate lawyer?

The first key skill that corporate lawyers are equipped with is an understanding of business and how transactions will fit in within the ordinary scope and course of business in general.

What type pf corporate lawyers succeed?

Along with these attributes, corporate lawyers are expected to be excellent contract negotiators and drafters. They are expected to work long hours, often being held to tight schedules.

What is corporate and commercial law?

Corporate and commercial lawyers are experts in company and business law. They understand the minute differences between legal entities and how to best utilise them for different purposes. They also assist companies in various transactions stemming business operations.

Why are big law firms preferred?

As the transaction size and value increases, so does the complexity and risk and therefore big law firms are often preferred as they have specialist teams which focus exclusively on these types transactions as opposed to smaller firms who are more generalist.

What is the second aspect of company law?

The second and arguably most important aspect is an intermit understanding of company law, this includes but is not limited to the New Company’s Act, the Competition Action, the Consumer Protection Act as well as in depth knowledge of business entities.

Academic Qualifications

Service Under Articles of Clerkship Or Service Contract

• There are various methods to obtain the practical qualification to be admitted as an attorney in South Africa. An applicant must complete at least: 1. Two years under a contract of articles (service at a private law firm or state attorney) or a service contract (community service at a legal aid institution) after having satisfied the requirements f...

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