How much does a law firm director earn in South Africa?

Asked by: Ayden Koelpin  |  Last update: January 13, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (4 votes)

R1,786,568 (ZAR)/yr The average legal director gross salary in South Africa is R1,786,568 or an equivalent hourly rate of R859. In addition, they earn an average bonus of R214,031. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in South Africa.

How much money does a CEO of a law firm make?

As of January 2025, the average annual salary for a Chief Executive Officer at Big Law Partners is $772,988, which translates to approximately $372 per hour. Salaries for Chief Executive Officer at Big Law Partners typically range from $591,120 to $974,725, reflecting the diverse roles within the company.

What is the highest paying law firm in South Africa?

Which law firms offer the highest salaries in South Africa? Some of the highest paying law firms in South Africa are Bowmans, Webber Wentzel, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Norton Rose Fulbright, ENSafrica, and Werksmans Attorneys. These firms offer competitive salaries and exceptional career growth opportunities.

What is a director in a law firm?

A legal director is the head of a company's legal team. In this management role, you handle strategic leadership and work closely with legal staff, the board of directors, and company executives.

Which law firm pays highest salary?

What is the best-paying law firm in India? Currently, from all of these law firms, S&R Associates, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas stand at the top as they pay fresh law graduates a salary of up to ₹20 lakhs a year.

Attorney (Lawyer) Salary 2022 | South Africa

24 related questions found

Can lawyers make 200k a year?

Lawyers' salaries depend on the type of law they practice, the state they reside in, and where they are in their careers. In major cities, entry-level jobs can be as high as $200, 000 per year, while the average lawyer salary across the country is $197,000 per year.

What position in law makes the most money?

Highest-Paid Types of Lawyers
  • 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.

What is the highest position in a law firm?

The highest level in a law firm is typically the senior partner, who has significant control over the firm's operations, strategic direction, and client management.

What does an executive director of a law firm do?

A legal administrator, also known as a law firm administrator or executive director, is responsible for supervising a law firm's administrative functions, including finance, facilities, human resources and information services.

What is the position of directors in a company law?

Directors are considered the trustees of the company's property and money, and they also act as the agents in transactions that are entered into by them on behalf of the company.

Does law pay well in South Africa?

Mid-level lawyers, such as associates, earn between R650,000 to R850,000 per year, while senior associates earn R850,000 to R1,400,000 annually.

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).

What is the number one law firm in Africa?

The Africa Top 30, 2024: A Headcount Ranking of the Largest Law Firms on the Continent. ENS remains dominant, while two international firms have dropped out of the top 30 entirely. ENS and Bowmans have retained their places at the top of The Africa Top 30, which ranks the largest law firms on the continent by headcount ...

Who is the highest paid CEO in South Africa?

These components are not always clearly disclosed, making it difficult for stakeholders to understand the true cost of executive pay. Mike Henry of BHP Billiton, who has been at the helm of the company since 2020, is the highest-paid CEO in our sample with total remuneration of over R 258 million.

Do lawyers make a million a year?

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the top-paying states for lawyers are: District of Columbia — $226,510 annual mean wage. California — $201,530 annual mean wage. Massachusetts — $196,230 annual mean wage.

Who is higher manager or director?

Directors are senior managers. They are part of the highest leadership positions of a company. In comparison, managers make up middle-level and first-line management.

What is considered a large law firm?

The nation's largest and most prestigious firms typically are characterized by having multiple offices spread across the globe with thousands of employees. A good example of a big law firm is Los Angeles-founded Latham & Watkins LLP, which operates in 14 countries and employs more than 3,500 lawyers.

What is the difference between a director and a CEO?

Hierarchy of CEO and Managing Director

The CEO is at the highest position in a company. They head C-level members such as the COO, CTO, CFO, etc. They also rank higher than the vice president and many times, the Managing Director. They only report to the board of directors and the chairperson of the board of directors.

Who is the boss at a law firm?

The managing partner sits atop the law firm's hierarchy. In this role, the managing partner lays out a vision for the firm, then develops the strategic plan to achieve that goal. The managing partner dictates the firm's finances, including determining overall compensation packages and overhead costs.

Why are big law salaries so high?

Why does Big Law pay so well? Big Law firms pay well in part because of the extremely competitive market, in which firms are raising salaries to keep up with each other and capture top talent. That competition is creating a wider divide between the largest firms and the midlevel and small firms.

Which type of lawyer is the richest?

As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
  • Patent Attorneys.
  • Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
  • Trial Lawyers.
  • Tax Attorneys.
  • Corporate Lawyers.

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 the world?

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure.