What is a lawyer salary in South Africa?

Asked by: Thalia Carter  |  Last update: August 6, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (66 votes)

Find out what the average Lawyer salary is
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.

How much do top lawyers earn in South Africa?

Discover the highest-paid lawyers in the country today and what their job entails.
  • Estate planning/ real estate lawyer - R315,000 pa.
  • Corporate attorney - R300,486 pa. ...
  • Criminal attorney - R270,919 pa. ...
  • Litigation attorney - R269,789 pa. ...
  • Divorce/ family attorney - R198,317 pa. ...
  • Immigration attorney - R188,673 pa. ...

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.

Which law is the highest-paid 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.

Attorney (Lawyer) Salary 2022 | South Africa

18 related questions found

How much is high salary in South Africa?

Maximum and minimum salary range

The national average monthly salary in South Africa ranges from a minimum wage of 7,880 ZAR per month (USD 405) to a maximum average salary of 139,000 ZAR per month (USD 7,148.)

Which country pays highest for law?

Switzerland -260,739 USD:

Switzerland is at the top of our list of countries that reward their lawyers the best. With an average annual salary of $260,739.

Can a foreigner become 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.

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.

How many years does it take to become a lawyer in South Africa?

This degree is required to pursue a career as a legal practitioner in South Africa. It takes four years but a minimum of six years while doing part-time. Straight LLB may also take five years, depending on the plan.

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.

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.

What is the highest paying job in South Africa?

The highest-paying jobs in SA in 2023
  1. Chief executive officer - R1,189,902 pa.
  2. Petroleum engineer - R1,129,021 pa. ...
  3. Medical doctor - R720,003 pa. ...
  4. Actuarial scientist - R706,602 pa. ...
  5. Judge - R622,474 pa. ...
  6. Plant manager - R563,488 pa. ...
  7. Investment banker - R562,501 pa. ...
  8. Financial manager - R543,927 pa. ...

Do lawyers get hired in South Africa?

South Africa needs committed young graduates to join the legal profession. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a profession is a paid occupation which requires a prolonged education and training. Lawyers are part of more than 1 400 professions and careers open to young graduates from universities in South Africa.

How much does a dentist make in South Africa?

Find out what the average Dentist salary is

The average dentist salary in South Africa is R 420 000 per year or R 215 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 89 500 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 953 340 per year.

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.

Is there a bar exam in South Africa?

The board exam consists of four examinations that you need to pass as a requirement for becoming a registered attorney in South Africa. This exam is now called the 'competency-based examination for admission as an attorney'.

Which university produces best lawyers in South Africa?

QS World Rankings ranks UCT as the top university to study law in South Africa. The university is recognized for producing law graduates that are highly sought after both locally and internationally.

What type of lawyers do you get 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.

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.

Can a foreigner become a citizen in South Africa?

You can apply for South African citizenship by descent or naturalisation. You can also apply to retain your citizenship before you obtain citizenship of another country.

Can you go to court without a lawyer in South Africa?

If you have a straightforward case and feel comfortable representing yourself, it is your legal right to do so. However, if you need formal legal representation in a complex or criminal case, it could be safer to get formal legal representation that has the appropriate training to deal with these situations.

Where in the US do lawyers make the most?

Best-Paying Cities for Lawyers

The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the lawyer profession are San Jose, San Francisco, Washington, New York, and Los Angeles.

Is lawyer a high paying job in USA?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average lawyer's salary is $144,230. But where your job is, where you went to school, how long you've been practicing, and what type of law you specialize in are all important factors in determining your salary.