when in south africa as a young lawyer

by Leopoldo Becker 8 min read

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.

Full Answer

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 long does it take to study law in South Africa?

The degree must be obtained from an accredited South African law school at one of the various universities or colleges in South Africa. The LLB degree usually takes four years to complete and the BCom plus LLB degrees five years.

Is my law degree equivalent to an LLB in South Africa?

If you obtain a law degree outside South Africa, you will have to contact the National Forum of Advocates (NFA) to verify whether your degree is recognised as equivalent to an LLB in South Africa.

Who was nominated by the Black Lawyers Association of South Africa?

• Nape Masipa from Pretoria nominated by the Black Lawyers Association. View the launch presentation here of the survey results by Nkhensani Manyike at the LSSA conference. View the summary of the survey report here.

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How old is the youngest lawyer in South Africa?

Mr Mathopo, now 24 years old, aspires to become a judge at the Supreme Court. “My passion for the legal profession was instilled after a visit to a court that was in sitting. I was in awe. Watching, as a first-year law student, lawyers' arguing their cases in front of a judge, inspired me.

Who is the youngest lawyer in South Africa?

Nomlayo Mabhena is known for being the youngest-ever black female attorney admitted as a conveyancer. She was just 23 years old when she successfully completed her qualification at the University of Pretoria.

What is the youngest age to be a lawyer?

Harris Buller. Harris Buller is one of the youngest lawyers who graduated from law school at the age of 22. Buller took his bachelor's degree in history at USC and graduated when he was only 15 years old.

How many years does it take to become a lawyer in South Africa?

4 yearsHow long does it take to become a lawyer in South Africa? It takes at least 4 years to become a lawyer in South Africa. However, if you would like to become an attorney, you will need to complete a 4 year LLB degree and 2 years of articles for a total of at least 6 years.

Are advocates rich in South Africa?

How much money do advocates make in South Africa? A Junior Attorney in South Africa usually earns an average salary of R 15,922 per month. A Senior Attorney is higher in level than a Junior Attorney, having 4- 10 years of professional experience.

Who is the most famous lawyer in South Africa?

Odette Geldenhuys She has been the recipient of numerous awards during her illustrious career in the legal industry and is widely considered the best lawyer in South Africa.

How old are most beginning lawyers?

The median age for lawyers in 2019 was 47.5 years old, while the median age of all U.S. workers is 42.3....Lawyer population by age25-34 years (19%)35-44 years (25%)45-54 years (20%)55-64 (17%)65 and up (7%)

Who is the youngest lawyer in Africa?

Esther ChukwuemekaCape Town– Nigeria's Esther Chukwuemeka, who was denied admission to study law at Abia State University (ABSU) due to her young age, has at 20 years old, become Africa's youngest barrister (advocate) to be called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Who is the youngest law school graduate?

DALLAS (Gray News) – A 19-year-old woman has just become the youngest person to ever graduate from law school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. At age 16, Haley Taylor Schlitz was accepted into nine law schools across the country.

Which university in South Africa is best for law?

Top Law Universities in South AfricaUniversity of Pretoria. Law Program Link. Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Laws, Masters, and Doctor of Laws. ... University of Cape Town. Law Program Link. ... Stellenbosch University. Law Program Link. ... University of Venda. Law Program Link. ... Rhodes University. Law Program Link.

Does an LLB make you a lawyer?

Becoming an Attorney is only one of many options that a law graduate has; many LLB graduates do become attorneys or advocates, but the list of options is vast - and growing! An LLB degree can be the first step to an academic career.

What subjects are needed to become a lawyer in Grade 12?

Required High School SubjectsEnglish. In law school, you will be required to read a lot of case law, academic articles and textbooks. ... Math v Math Literacy. Law school is about reading, reading and more reading. ... History. ... Business Studies, Accounting, Economics. ... A third language. ... Drama. ... Physical Science and Biology.

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 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.

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 are the exceptions to the LLB?

There are exceptions, namely: – If the person has completed a degree of the same status as the 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 and the person has completed a supplementary examination (if required); ...

What is an LLB degree?

The Qualification of Legal Practitioners Amendment Act of 1997 stipulates that an LLB degree is required to practise law in South Africa. The degree must be obtained from an accredited South African law school at one of the various universities or colleges in South Africa.

What is PLT in law school?

Practical legal training (PLT) at a law school. PLT is a compulsory course in practical legal training, teaching you legal skills and preparing you for your board examination. You need to complete your PLT before you can be admitted as an attorney.

How many languages does South Africa speak?

Languages : South Africa has 11 official languages with English being the language of business, politics and the media. isiZulu and Afrikaans are also widely spoken. Timezone : South Africa Standard Time (SAST) +2 UTC.

How many people live in Johannesburg?

However, almost 8 million people call the greater Johannesburg area home (of which 4.4 million live in Johannesburg city). It is the largest city in South Africa and one of the top 50 urban areas in the world.

Is Johannesburg a violent city?

Like any world city there are places you should not wander but statistics show that Johannesburg’s reputation as a violent city is exaggerated – the crime rate is lower than Cape Town, for instance, and daily life is indistinguishable from that in many other cities around the globe.

Is Jozi a good place to play golf?

Jozi is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts with road or trail running races taking place every weekend for most of the year. Road and mountain bike cycling is immensely popular, as is golf: South Africa hosts an enviable number of top golf courses where you can play a round of golf for less than 40 GBP!

Is Cape Town a collegial community?

“Cape Town’s legal fraternity is distinctly collegial and an environment that is primed to give you the perfect work-life balance. As a young professional, it’s exciting to be part of a fraternity that’s culture is transformative, both traditional and innovative and seasoned yet vibrant. Practicing cutting edge law whilst living under the watchful eye of Table Mountain, is an added bonus.”

How many rhinos are there in South Africa?

South Africa is home to70 to 80% of the world’s rhino population. As a result it has become the target of what the WWF calls “organized poaching gangs”. Though the black and white rhino populations are growing healthily, in 2011 a record of 448 rhinos were poached in South Africa.

Do you need a 4x4 to go to Lesotho?

In fact, by law you have to have a 4x4 vehicle in order to attempt the climb up the steep dirt road leading to Lesotho. As we exited the South African border I realized that this was my first time leaving the country in almost six months.

What is the legal profession in South Africa?

The Legal Profession in South Africa includes both the Practice of Law and Professional Legal Education. The Practicing Legal Profession in South Africa is divided into two branches: Attorney and Advocates.

How much does a senior attorney make?

Hence, their Salary is usually higher with an estimated Average Salary of R 30,000 per month.

How much do associates make in a law firm?

They usually earn an average Salary of R 300,000 per year, divisible into a Monthly Salary.

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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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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. Practice at the Bar and service as a regional prosecutor or magistrate were approved.
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