What is a lawyer called in South Africa?

Asked by: Prof. Efren Prohaska Sr.  |  Last update: January 10, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (33 votes)

An advocate is also a lawyer, however, to qualify as an advocate you will need to do one year of apprenticeship, called 'pupilage', write a Bar exam at the General Council of the Bar, and be admitted to the Bar by the High Court of South Africa.

What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney 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 are Nigerian lawyers called?

Nigerian lawyers are associated with different names or appellations and they practise their legal profession in different categories and institutions, which include the following: Barristers. Solicitors. Attorneys. Advocates.

Is a barrister the same as a lawyer?

In general, the terms lawyer and attorney are used interchangeably in the United States and Canada, while solicitor and barrister are more common in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.

What is the US equivalent of a barrister?

Barristers are involved in and litigation , similar to “trial lawyers” or “ litigators ” in the United States, except such lawyers in America may perform tasks beyond courtroom advocacy, unlike barristers.

10 Signs You Should Become A Lawyer

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Who makes more, an attorney or a lawyer?

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.

What are South African lawyers called?

The legal administration in South Africa is comprised of:

1.2 Officers of the Court in the Private Sector: i) Attorneys; and ii) Advocates.

What are lawyers called in Ghana?

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) is a professional association of lawyers in Ghana, including what used to be called solicitors and barristers but they are now called legal practitioners, as well as magistrates.By convention, all lawyers admitted to practice in Ghana become automatic members of the association.

What are American lawyers called?

In the United States, the terms “lawyer” and “attorney” are often used interchangeably.

What is a slang word for lawyer?

Mouthpiece is a slang term for a lawyer, especially a criminal defense lawyer. The term stems from the view of lawyers as being the spokesperson for their client.

What is the highest title for a lawyer?

Law Firm Partners

The pinnacle of the law firm hierarchy is the partners of the firm. Law firm partners play a significant role in law firm management and business. Attorneys who are seasoned not only possess extensive legal knowledge. But also play a major role in a firm's business or capital.

What does att mean in law?

Definition: Abbreviation for Attorney. Example: The att'y representing the defendant argued that there was insufficient evidence to convict. Explanation: In this example, "att'y" is used as a shortened form of "attorney" to refer to the legal representative of the defendant in a court case.

What is a legal practitioner in South Africa?

Authorization to practise. For the purposes of the Act, a 'legal practitioner' is an attorney or an advocate. To be able to practise as one, the High Court must give you permission to do so – this is called being 'admitted to practice'.

Are lawyers well paid 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 the difference between lawyer and attorney in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, there is no distinction of these concepts in Nigeria, as these terms encapsulate the roles of a Legal Practitioner. Anyone who has fulfilled the requirements to be a Legal Practitioner in Nigeria wears this mantle as long as he/she practices.

What is an attorney in South Africa?

In South Africa, Attorneys are lawyers who provide legal advice and representation to clients, aiding individuals and businesses in their legal dealings, and as required, handling related correspondence and writing up contracts.

What is the title of a lawyer in Nigeria?

In this regard, a lawyer in Lagos, Abuja or any other state in Nigeria, usually takes on the title of “Barrister, Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria”. The terms Attorney, Barrister, Solicitor, Legal Practitioner, Counsel, and Advocate are sometimes used interchangeably in Nigeria.

What do Australians call lawyers?

In Australia, the 'attorney' or 'attorney-at-law' term is not common except in the case of 'trade mark attorney'. Instead, 'lawyer' or 'solicitor' is more common. For example, in the US, an attorney is a general term for a lawyer who has passed a bar examination and can practice law in a particular jurisdiction.

What is a barrister called in South Africa?

In South Africa the employment and practice of advocates (as barristers are known in South Africa) is consistent with the rest of the Commonwealth. Advocates carry the rank of Junior or Senior Counsel (SC), and are mostly briefed and paid by solicitors (known as attorneys).

What is a law degree called in South Africa?

legal field: BA(Law), BCom(Law) and the LLB. You have to have at least an LLB degree – which will take four years – to become an attorney or advocate in South Africa. If you choose the BA(Law) LLB or BCom(Law) LLB, you can obtain two degrees in five years.

Who is a lawyer in Kenya?

The Kenyan legal profession is unified, and all lawyers are called advocates. The president may give the title of senior counsel to any advocate of 15 years' standing in recognition of outstanding conduct or public service.

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 do you call a person with a law degree?

Lawyer. After you get a JD, you can sit for the bar exam in any state to become an attorney and thus be licensed to practice law in that state. As a lawyer who's passed the bar, you can practice any specialty of law you like, from criminal justice and civil litigation to environmental or medical law.

What is the most expensive type of lawyer?

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.