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

Asked by: Cloyd Roob  |  Last update: November 7, 2023
Score: 5/5 (57 votes)

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.

How long is law course in South Africa?

The four-year programme comprises mostly law subjects with several Humanity or Commerce subjects at first year level. You must take certain core law subjects if you wish to graduate with an LLB. Other subjects form a set of electives you can choose from.

Is becoming a lawyer in South Africa worth it?

A career in law can be immensely rewarding and offer job satisfaction. This is especially so when you are able to provide the client with a solution in an expeditious and cost effective manner. However it also has its drawbacks, the biggest of which must be the high levels of stress which lawyers work under.

Do lawyers get paid well in South Africa?

The legal profession in South Africa offers one of the highest-paying and most lucrative careers in the country, with many legacy and emerging fields requiring highly skilled individuals to make sure affairs are in order.

How much does it take to study law in South Africa?

The average cost of law schools in South Africa ranges between R32, 000 – R40, 000. This is all dependent on the law school a graduate chooses to attend. If you're looking for education funding for your law study, visit here to get the latest law bursaries and scholarship updates.

Lawyer Moved from South Africa to work in London - My experience

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Can foreigners study law in South Africa?

This is in accordance to the Legal Practice Act - which only allows South Africans and permanent citizens to be admitted as lawyers. It is despite non-citizens being allowed to study law at South African universities.

Is it hard to be a lawyer in South Africa?

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.

What field of law makes the most money in South Africa?

In South Africa, a general counsel earns an average salary of R1,185,677.00 yearly. The highest-paid lawyers in South Africa, according to the Robert Walters salary benchmark, are general counsels in the financial services, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Is it easy to become a lawyer in South Africa?

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.

Which type of law pays the most in South Africa?

What type of lawyers get paid the most in South Africa? Personal injury attorneys are arguably the most-paid advocates in South Africa in 2023. They earn about R645,807 annually.

What is the minimum wage for a lawyer in South Africa?

How much does a Lawyer make in South Africa? The average lawyer salary in South Africa is R 732 000 per year or R 375 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 259 500 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 6 780 000 per year.

Who pays lawyers in South Africa?

Typically the purchaser pays the transfer fees charged by the conveyancing attorneys attending to the transfer of the property into the purchaser's name.

What type of lawyers do you get in South Africa?

We will explore some of these types of lawyers here, and what they do.
  • Divorce lawyer. When terminating a marriage there are many legal aspects that need to be addressed. ...
  • Family lawyer. ...
  • Immigration lawyer. ...
  • Criminal lawyer. ...
  • Accident and personal injury lawyer. ...
  • Business and corporate lawyer. ...
  • Bankruptcy lawyer. ...
  • Labour law lawyer.

Do you need maths to study law in South Africa?

There are no specific subject requirements for Law, and you don't need to have Maths as a matric subject.

What law degree do you need in South Africa?

Entry Requirement
  • A National Senior Certificate with degree admission.
  • English Home Language level 5 or English First Additional Language level 6.
  • Mathematical Literacy level 5 or Mathematics level 3.
  • Life Orientation level 4.
  • Minimum composite Academic Point Score (APS) 32 not including Life Orientation.

What is a degree in law in South Africa?

Regenesys offers students an accredited 4-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree which will enable them to practice in a variety of legal disciplines, in addition to being eligible to enter the legal profession as an admitted attorney or advocate, once passing the relevant examinations.

Is there a bar exam in South Africa?

The board exam consists of four examinations that you need to pass as a requirement for becoming a registered attorney in South Africa. This exam is now called the 'competency-based examination for admission as an attorney'.

Do lawyers get hired in South Africa?

South Africa needs committed young graduates to join the legal profession. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a profession is a paid occupation which requires a prolonged education and training. Lawyers are part of more than 1 400 professions and careers open to young graduates from universities in South Africa.

Which university produces best lawyers in South Africa?

QS World Rankings ranks UCT as the top university to study law in South Africa. The university is recognized for producing law graduates that are highly sought after both locally and internationally.

Which country pays highest for law?

Switzerland -260,739 USD:

Switzerland is at the top of our list of countries that reward their lawyers the best. With an average annual salary of $260,739.

Which career is in demand in South Africa?

South Africa has a growing economy with numerous job opportunities across various sectors. However, some careers have a higher demand in the job market than others. The careers with the most job opportunities in South Africa include information technology, healthcare, finance, engineering, and education.

Which field of law pays least?

Some lawyers earn more than others, depending on their experience and practice area. Still, many law firms offer many opportunities for their associates to move up the ladder and earn a higher salary. The lowest-paid legal jobs are typically those in the public sector, such as district attorneys or public defenders.

How many years does it take to study law at Unisa?

The LLB degree comprises of 40 modules: 37 compulsory modules and 3 optional modules. In order to complete, the qualification students must comply with the 480 (40 modules) credit requirement. The minimum duration is 4 years.

Do lawyers earn more than doctors in South Africa?

The average salary of a qualified lawyer in South Africa is R 45,000 per month while that of doctors is R 50,000 per month. As you can notice, doctors earn better than lawyers at all levels. If you are into self-employment, as a lawyer you will start a law firm and as a doctor you will operate a clinic.