How much does a new lawyer earn in South Africa?

Asked by: Lue Lindgren MD  |  Last update: October 21, 2023
Score: 5/5 (59 votes)

The average lawyer salary in South Africa is R 720 006 per year or R 369 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 231 450 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 6 780 000 per year.

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 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.

Can a foreigner work as a lawyer in South Africa?

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. For further information, please contact the Legal Practice Council.

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.

Attorney (Lawyer) Salary 2022 | South Africa

39 related questions found

What are attorneys called 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 kind of lawyer makes the most money 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.

Are attorneys 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.

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.

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.

How much does a divorce lawyer earn in South Africa per month?

An early career Divorce Lawyer with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of R131,000 based on 10 salaries. A mid-career Divorce Lawyer with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R425,000 based on 5 salaries.

What is the average salary for a candidate attorney in SA?

The estimated total pay for a Candidate Attorney is ZAR 23,928 per month in the South Africa area, with an average salary of ZAR 11,928 per month. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

How much does a family lawyer make in South Africa?

How much does a Family law make in South Africa? The average family law salary in South Africa is R 228 000 per year or R 117 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 214 500 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 420 000 per year.

What is the most paying job in South Africa?

Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs In South Africa 2023
  • Specialist Doctor: R1,123, 890 p/a.
  • Technical and Business Architect: R871,342 p/a.
  • Petroleum Engineer: R694,700 p/a.
  • IT Manager: R663,539 p/a.
  • Industrial Engineer: R663,347 p/a.
  • Management Consultant: R625,038 p/a.
  • Financial Manager: R619,240 p/a.
  • Actuary: R550,656 p/a.

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.

Who is the richest lawyer in Africa?

Adewale Tinubu – $700 million

Adewale is Nigeria's wealthiest lawyer. He was born in Lagos State and graduated from the University of Liverpool in England.

What are the two kinds of lawyers 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.

What qualifications do I need to be a lawyer in South Africa?

The basic requirement is an LLB degree from any South African university. Having achieved this, the next step is to apply to the High Court to be included on the 'roll' of advocates. To do this, an applicant must satisfy the court that he/she is both qualified and able to be a member of the profession.

Is it better to be an advocate or attorney in South Africa?

Advocates generally need skills to present and argue cases in court while attorneys mostly use their general knowledge of the law to consult with their clients and give legal advice. Both of these career paths can lead to high salaries and job satisfaction.

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.

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.

What makes a good lawyer South Africa?

What makes a great lawyer?
  • Good Communication Skills.
  • Judgment.
  • Analytical Skills.
  • Research Skills.
  • Perseverance.
  • Creativity.
  • Logical Thinking Ability.
  • Public Speaking Skills.