What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney in South Africa?

Asked by: Telly Gottlieb  |  Last update: September 4, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (26 votes)

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 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.

Is an attorney more powerful than a lawyer?

What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney? It is helpful to remember that all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys. The major difference is that attorneys can represent clients in court and other legal proceedings, while lawyers cannot.

What does lawyer mean in South Africa?

What is a lawyer in South Africa? A lawyer is basically almost anyone that operates in the legal profession. It is a legal professional who has an LLB degree and who is practising law. Advocates and attorneys are also lawyers, however, a lawyer is not necessarily an advocate or attorney.

What is the highest-paid field of law 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.

What is the difference between an Attorney and an Advocate in South Africa? Why not be a lawyer?!

44 related questions found

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 do lawyers call the judge in South Africa?

The formality of address in any court room in South Africa has always amazed me. In the Magistrates Courts, the magistrates are addressed as “Your Worship”. In the high courts, male judges are addressed as “My Lord”, and female judges are addressed as “My Lady”.

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

How long does it take to become a lawyer in South Africa? It takes at least 4 years to become a lawyer in South Africa. However, if you would like to become an attorney, you will need to complete a 4 year LLB degree and 2 years of articles for a total of at least 6 years.

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.

Is Kim Kardashian a lawyer?

While not yet an official lawyer, The Kardashians star shared with moderator Poppy Harlow that she hopes her efforts in the movement will be "her life's most meaningful work."

What is the highest lawyer position?

Within the world of law firms, the highest position is a partner. It is arguably the pinnacle of their career for most lawyers. It is no small feat to achieve this and not many people can do it.

What is the most powerful lawyer position?

Chief Legal Officer

The top legal position in a large corporation usually earns a multimillion dollar executive salary and may earn millions more in stock awards or options. The chief legal officer, sometimes called the general counsel, has responsibility for ensuring that company actions are legal.

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.

Who controls lawyers in South Africa?

In terms of the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014, legal practitioners (attorneys and advocates) fall under the regulatory and disciplinary jurisdiction of the Legal Practice Council.

How much do lawyers in South Africa end?

Those who have the mettle to stick it out and soar up the ranks of top law firms, meanwhile, can end up earning over R5 million a year as a senior partner (over R415,000 a month). Fresh graduates, operating as candidate attorneys, also start out at R25,000 a month.

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'.

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.

What is the retirement age for lawyers in South Africa?

(b) Pension retirement age: 55 years for women and 60 years for men, if they were permanently appointed on or before 24 June 1954 - in other words such Magistrates can opt to retire at any age on or after attaining the mentioned ages, before obtaining the compulsory retirement age of 65 years.

What do you call a female judge in South Africa?

2. High courts: My Lord/Your lordship or My lady depending on the gender of the presiding Judge. Male Judge: My Lord or My lordship. Female Judge: My lady.

What is the higher court in South Africa called?

The Constitutional Court is the apex court in South Africa. Its decisions cannot be changed by any other court. The court decides constitutional and general matters. A constitutional matter includes any issue involving the interpretation, protection or enforcement of the Constitution.

How much does judge earn in South Africa?

President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted judges and magistrates increases of 3%. Magistrates will now earn closer to R1. 1 million per year, and judges are creeping towards R2 million per year.

Who initiates divorce more in South Africa?

Cape Town - More black South Africans are getting divorced than ever before, and across all population groups more women tend to initiate divorce proceedings than men. This was just some marriage and divorce data across the country released yesterday by Statistics SA from a survey conducted in 2021.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce settlement in South Africa?

This is the default marital regime for South African marriages, and if you didn't sign an ante-nuptial contract (“ANC”) before you married, all your assets and liabilities at date of divorce (with a few specific exceptions) will automatically belong to both of you in “undivided shares” i.e. 50/50.

How long does it take to get a divorce settlement in South Africa?

An uncontested divorce can be finalized in as little as 4 weeks. If a divorce is contested it may take between 2 - 3 years, but most contested divorces do settle long before they go on trial.