How much does a senior legal counsel earn in South Africa?
Asked by: Xzavier O'Conner Jr. | Last update: August 11, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (3 votes)
The average senior legal counsel salary in South Africa is R 1 625 000 per year or R 833 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 985 003 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 8 700 000 per year.
How much do senior legal advisors make in South Africa?
A Senior Adviser usually has 8 to 10 years of legal experience, with some years in this role. The Senior Legal Adviser salary in South Africa is on average R825,000 annually, with experienced senior advisers making up to R7,262,999 on average annually as of December 2024, according to Talent.com.
What is senior counsel in South Africa?
Senior counsel carries the post-nominals of 'SC' and are also referred to as 'Silks' on account of the fabric of their very expensive gowns. Silks are appointed by the President of the Republic of South Africa after recommendations made by the silk committees of the various Bars. Field of interest. Administrative Law.
What is the maximum salary for a lawyer in South Africa?
Senior lawyers, including partners, earn higher salaries ranging from R1,400,000 to R3,500,000 per year, depending on their experience and firm size.
How much do in house legal counsel earn in South Africa?
R1,163,740 (ZAR)/yr
An entry level in-house counsel (1-3 years of experience) earns an average salary of R809,590. On the other end, a senior level in-house counsel (8+ years of experience) earns an average salary of R1,463,950. Data powered by ERI's Assessor Platform.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CORPORATE ATTORNEY IN SOUTH AFRICA || LAW SERIES || SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTUBER
What type of lawyer is most in demand in South Africa?
What types of lawyers are in high demand in South Africa? High demand exists for lawyers in corporate, criminal, human rights, environmental, and intellectual property law. Moreover, lawyers specialised in family, employment, and property law are also in high demand due to their relevance to everyday issues.
What's the highest paid type of lawyer?
- 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.
Can lawyers make 300k a year?
Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for attorneys in the US is just over $125,000. The highest-paid lawyers (10% of the legal workforce) make over $208,000 However, the top 1% of attorneys make $500,000 or more per year.
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 the salary of a judge in South Africa?
Remuneration of judges
In the case of Constitutional Court or Supreme Court of Appeal judges, the monthly salary amounts to R188,367 (equivalent to R2. 26 million annually), while High and Labour Court judges receive a monthly salary of R153,047 (equivalent to R1. 83 million annually).
Is Senior Counsel higher than of counsel?
Of counsel is the title of an attorney in the legal profession of the United States who often has a relationship with a law firm or an organization but is neither an associate nor partner. Some firms use titles such as "counsel", "special counsel", and "senior counsel" for the same concept.
How much do general counsel lawyers make in South Africa?
Their role also involves advising senior executives, managing legal risks, and supporting the business with strategic legal guidance. Salary Range: According to Indeed, the average salary of a General Counsel in South Africa as of September 2024 is R1,185,677 per year.
Is Senior Counsel an attorney?
Becoming a Senior Counsel is a distinguished milestone in an attorney's career, typically signifying extensive experience and substantial contributions to the legal field. Achieving this rank often involves a combination of rigorous education, years of practice, and a demonstrated expertise in specialized areas of law.
How much does a corporate lawyer make in South Africa?
How much does a corporate lawyer 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 senior director at a law firm earn?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $225,000 and as low as $76,500, the majority of Law Firm Director salaries currently range between $109,000 (25th percentile) to $160,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $222,500 annually across the United States.
How much do newly admitted lawyers make in South Africa?
How much does a Admitted attorney make in South Africa? The average admitted attorney salary in South Africa is R 240 000 per year or R 123 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 180 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 540 006 per year.
What is considered a high salary in South Africa?
50% of polled individuals believe you need to earn anywhere between R1 million and R4 million per annum to be considered rich. Following this, 21% believe you need to earn at least R8 million or more to be considered rich in South Africa.
Is 50k a month good in South Africa?
Is 50k a month good in South Africa? Yes, earning R50,000 a month is considered very good and allows for a comfortable lifestyle in South Africa, covering all basic needs and affording a higher standard of living.
Can a lawyer make $500,000 a year?
The reality is that most lawyers earn significantly less than half a million dollars each year. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for lawyers in 2022 was $135,740, with only the top 1% surpassing the $500,000 mark.
What 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 type of lawyer has the highest salary?
The highest-paid lawyers typically specialize in fields such as corporate law, intellectual property, tax law, medical malpractice, and entertainment law. These areas command higher salaries due to the complexity, demand, and financial stakes involved.
Which lawyer makes the most money in South Africa?
The highest paying fields of law in South Africa typically include corporate law, intellectual property law, and mergers and acquisitions. These areas often involve complex legal issues and high-value transactions, contributing to higher salaries.
Which type of lawyer is the richest?
- Patent Attorneys.
- Intellectual property (IP) Attorneys.
- Trial Lawyers.
- Tax Attorneys.
- Corporate Lawyers.
Who gets paid more a lawyer or an attorney?
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.