How much do candidate attorneys earn in Cape Town?
Asked by: Malvina Koch | Last update: December 19, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (10 votes)
The estimated total pay for a Candidate Attorney is ZAR 12,083 per month in the Cape Town South Africa area, with an average salary of ZAR 10,750 per month.
What is the minimum salary for candidate lawyers in South Africa?
According to the Government Gazette notice, those in rural areas should earn a minimum of R6 000 per month or R72 000 per year, while those in urban areas should earn R8 000 per month, or R96 000 per year. More than a third of law firms which took part in a survey pay candidates less than R6 000 a month.
What type of lawyer gets paid the most in South Africa?
Which lawyers earn the most in South Africa? The highest-paid lawyers often work in medical, intellectual property, business, and environmental law. Their salaries can vary based on their experience and the type of law they practice.
How much do LLB graduates earn in South Africa?
LLB degree holders working as general counsels in commerce and industry can earn between R1,000,000 to R3,500,000 annually, with varying salaries for junior and senior roles.
How long are you a candidate attorney in South Africa?
However, the majority of law firms in South Africa prefer that their candidate attorneys serve a two-year period of articles of clerkship, irrespective of their attendance of the School for Legal Practice or not.
Attorney Salary in South Africa I Candidate Attorney Salary I LLB Degree Salaries in South Africa
Is there a high demand for lawyers in South Africa?
Yes, lawyers are in demand in South Africa, especially in corporate, criminal, human rights, environmental, and intellectual property law, due to economic, social, and legal developments.
How many candidate attorneys are there in South Africa?
About the attorneys' profession
There are currently some 29 981 practising attorneys and 5 483 candidate attorneys in South Africa. Attorneys are officers of the court and are registered on the roll of attorneys at the Legal Practice Council.
How much do candidate attorneys make in Cape Town?
The estimated total pay for a Candidate Attorney is ZAR 12,083 per month in the Cape Town South Africa area, with an average salary of ZAR 10,750 per month.
Is a law degree worth it in South Africa?
A law degree in South Africa is more than just a qualification for practising law; it is a career path that opens doors to diverse and influential opportunities. Lawyers have historically played crucial roles in shaping societies by supporting justice and protecting the rights of individuals and communities.
Who gets paid more, lawyers or attorneys?
The national average salary for an attorney is $97,879 per year , while a lawyer has an average salary of $96,557 per year . Although the average earnings have a slight difference, you may earn more or less depending on your years of experience, employer, location and skills.
Which country pays lawyers the most?
The top countries which offer the highest average Lawyer's salary are the USA, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. The legal field presents numerous opportunities for skilled professionals to create significant impacts locally and globally.
What is the highest paying job in South Africa?
- Neurosurgeon – R3 million to R5 million.
- Cardiothoracic surgeon – R2. ...
- Ship captain (Deep sea/Specialised cargo) – R2 million to R3. ...
- Actuary (with experience) – R1. ...
- Mining engineer (deep level) – R1. ...
- Legal partner (corporate law) – R1.
What is a lawyer called in South Africa?
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).
How much do beginner lawyers earn in South Africa?
The average lawyer salary in South Africa is R 360 000 per year or R 185 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 156 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 2 352 000 per year.
How to become a candidate attorney in South Africa?
These are an academic qualification, service under a Practical Vocational Training Contract (PVTC), compulsory practical legal training and personal fitness. All these have to be complied with before a candidate can be admitted as an attorney or advocate.
What is the starting salary for most lawyers?
According to The National Association for Law Placement, the overall median first-year associate base salary was $200,000, as of January 1, 2023. In addition to base salary, many first-year lawyers also receive additional pay via bonuses, commissions, and tips.
What type of lawyer is most in demand in South Africa?
In its annual salary survey for 2022, specialist professional recruitment firm Robert Walters revealed the most in demand legal jobs in South Africa were general counsels in the financial services, commercial and industrial sectors.
How long does it take to become an attorney in South Africa?
How 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.
Which university is best for a lawyer in South Africa?
The best law universities in South Africa include the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Regenesys School of Law, University of Johannesburg (UJ), University of Pretoria (UP), Stellenbosch University, North-West University (NWU), and University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
What law makes the most money?
- Patent attorney: $180,000.
- Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
- Trial lawyer: $134,000.
- Tax attorney: $122,000.
- Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
- Medical lawyer: $113,000.
- Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
- Family lawyer: $93,000.
Which law firm is the best in South Africa?
- Webber Wentzel. ...
- ENSafrica. ...
- Eversheds Sutherland. ...
- Werksmans Attorneys. 2024 Country Outstanding | Position: 8. ...
- Dentons. 2024 Country Outstanding | Position: 9. ...
- Weich & Kriel inc. 2024 Country Outstanding | Position: 10. ...
- Gikera & Vadgama Advocates. 2024 Country Outstanding | Position: 11. ...
- Bowmans. Recommended Law Firm.
How much do corporate lawyers earn in South Africa?
As of October 2024, the average salary for a corporate lawyer in South Africa is approximately R 1,620,000 per year. However, salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, the size of the law firm, and the complexity of the work involved.
How much does a candidate attorney earn in SA?
As of August 2024, Glassdoor reports that a candidate attorney earns a salary ranging from R324000 to R408,000 per year.
Is there a shortage of lawyers in South Africa?
The paper concludes that there are not enough lawyers in the country at present to provide access to justice in the narrow sense, and suggests how this shortage can be overcome by using mechanisms that provide alternatives to lawyers.
Can a foreigner become an advocate in South Africa?
See 'Becoming a legal practitioner'. Further requirements with regard to admission are provided in the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014. A person must be a South African citizen or permanent resident and be otherwise fit and proper in the opinion of the court to be admitted as a legal practitioner.