How many law students are there in South Africa?

Asked by: Cecelia Stroman  |  Last update: December 14, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (66 votes)

To break it down: In 2017 there was a total of 5185 students that graduated with an LLB degree. The majority of these students were enrolled at UNISA, University of Pretoria, University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of the Witwatersrand.

How many people are lawyers in South Africa?

About the attorneys' profession

There are currently some 29 981 practising attorneys and 5 483 candidate attorneys in South Africa.

Is law degree in demand in South Africa?

South Africa has different types of lawyers, and criminal attorneys are in high demand. These are professionals who defend individuals, organisations, and entities charged with crimes. They draft, file, and argue motions on behalf of clients.

How many law schools are there in South Africa?

Studying law in South Africa

In total, South Africa has 17 law schools, several of which are rated amongst the best universities in Africa and even in the world. These include both public and private universities.

Is a law degree worth it in South Africa?

Law students have a great chance of getting a job or internship straight out of university and completing their studies. While a large percentage of law graduates will go on to practise law, many others study Law just because it's a prestigious degree which opens a vista of other occupations.

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

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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.

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.

Is law school expensive in South Africa?

Costs of Law Schools in South Africa

Law schools in South Africa are quite costly. One can expect to pay more for full-time law school as opposed to part-time law school. The average cost of law schools in South Africa ranges between R32, 000 – R40, 000.

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.

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.

How much does a BA lawyer earn in South Africa?

While this is not cast in stone, a “beginner lawyer'' in South Africa may earn in the range of R500,000 to R700,000 a year in formal employment. The amount for those in self employment or who own their own practices is not defined. BusinessTech. (2022).

How much does a law graduate earn in South Africa?

How much does a Legal graduate make in South Africa? The average legal graduate salary in South Africa is R 330 000 per year or R 169 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 298 500 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 421 200 per year.

How many law graduates per year in South Africa?

In 2017 there was a total of 5185 students that graduated with an LLB degree. The majority of these students were enrolled at UNISA, University of Pretoria, University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of the Witwatersrand.

What do they call lawyers in South Africa?

There is not difference between a lawyer and an attorney, other than semantics. In different regions around the world, licenced legal professionals are called by different names. In South Africa, we refer to someone who performs a legal function as lawyers or attorneys (which can be used interchangeably).

What is the highest paid type of lawyer in South Africa?

General Counsel salary in South Africa 2023

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.

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.

Is LLB difficult to study in South Africa?

Studying law takes a lot of hard work and dedication. In South Africa, proficiency in the English language is extremely important as students are required to study a multitude of technical legal books and hundreds of cases in English.

Which African country is the best to study law?

Best Law Schools in Africa
  • Egypt.
  • Ghana.
  • Kenya.
  • Nigeria.
  • South Africa.

Where do lawyers work in South Africa?

The scope of the legal profession is vast. There are four main sectors: the public sector; the private sector; the civic and nongovernmental sector, which straddles both the private and public sectors; and the courts and administration of the justice sector.

Which law school is the best in South Africa?

Top Law Universities in South Africa
  1. University of Pretoria. Law Program Link. Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Laws, Masters, and Doctor of Laws. ...
  2. University of Cape Town. Law Program Link. ...
  3. Stellenbosch University. Law Program Link. ...
  4. University of Venda. Law Program Link. ...
  5. Rhodes University. Law Program Link.

Can an American lawyer practice in South Africa?

Do you need to hold local nationality to be eligible to practise law? A candidate must be a South African citizen, or permanent resident in the Republic. There are pathways open to foreign practitioners who have already fully qualified in their home country.

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 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.