What is the dress code for advocates in South Africa?
Asked by: Prof. Jaqueline Lemke I | Last update: October 1, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (63 votes)
The rules of the South African courts prescribe a dress code for legal practitioners who appear before the court. Black Robes are worn by both advocates and attorneys in the High Court. In the Magistrates' Court, only attorneys are required to wear the robes when appearing.
What is the difference between lawyer and advocate in South Africa?
In South Africa, attorneys handle general legal tasks like client consultation and document preparation, while advocates specialise in courtroom advocacy and are usually hired by attorneys to represent clients in higher courts.
What is the dress code in South Africa?
Dress codes
Casual clothes are the rule. Smart casual would be the exception. Only in major cities and the more civilised areas of South Africa would anything more formal be appropriate, although we have felt completely comfortable in regular casual clothes even in the fine dining establishments of the Cape.
What is the dress code for court in South Africa?
2.2 A Judicial Officer presiding in a Magistrates Court, including a Regional Court and District Court must be robed appropriately using robes normally used by Judicial Officers in that Court and must wear a white shirt or blouse, white bib or jabot, dark pants or skirt and black or dark closed shoes.
What do advocates wear in South Africa?
The rules of the South African courts prescribe a dress code for legal practitioners who appear before the court. Black Robes are worn by both advocates and attorneys in the High Court.
What To Wear As A Lawyer - How To Dress As An Attorney / Solicitor
What is appropriate for a woman to wear to court?
Women should wear conservative, professional attire to court. A tailored pantsuit or a knee-length skirt suit in neutral colors such as navy, black, or gray is ideal. Pair it with a modest blouse and closed-toe shoes. Avoid flashy accessories, and ensure your hair and makeup are neat and understated.
Is it OK to wear shorts in South Africa?
We don't have a particularly strict dress code, jeans are perfectly acceptable casual wear and the most comfortable clothing item to bring with you. Shorts are very appropriate for the summer months between the end of October and mid March.
Is it safe to wear jewelry in South Africa?
avoid wearing expensive clothing or jewellery, particularly in public.
Is it okay to wear black in South Africa?
Wear Neutral Colours
Minimise your visibility in the bush by avoiding bright colours such as reds, oranges and blues, as well as white. Other colours to avoid wearing are darker colours such as navy and black, which can attract tsetse flies.
What qualifications do I need to be an advocate 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.
What do advocates do?
Advocates work within the Social Services sector and fight for the needs and rights of other people. This can include jobs such as lawyers, mental health counselors, and patients' rights advocates in the medical field. Often social workers are advocates for people with psychological, legal, or addiction issues.
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.
Are Advocates in demand in South Africa?
Yes, lawyers are in demand in South Africa, especially in corporate, criminal, human rights, environmental, and intellectual property law, due to economic, social, and legal developments.
Who pays Advocates in South Africa?
The distinction is further extended by the fact that the client never pays the advocate directly. The attorney will pay the advocate first from their own account and later the client pays the attorney for such fees.
What is the role of an advocate in South Africa?
Specialised legal representation and litigation: Advocates are responsible for presenting their clients' cases persuasively in court. This includes drafting court documents, , presenting evidence, examining and cross-examining witnesses and making oral and written argument.
What is the safest city in South Africa?
- Cape Town – Western Cape. First up is the world-famous Cape Town. ...
- George – Western Cape. ...
- Paarl – Western Cape. ...
- Kimberley – Northern Cape. ...
- Upington – Northern Cape. ...
- Gqeberha – Eastern Cape. ...
- Bloemfontein – Free State.
Can you wear blue in Africa?
Dark colours attract Tsetse flies, so stay away from dark blue or black clothing – they have a painful bite! Now that you know what to wear, make sure you know how to pack. Most safari operators will ask that you only bring one suitcase, one overnight duffle bag, and one day pack.
What colors should you wear in South Africa?
No special clothes needed. Just a reasonable smattering of breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen in neutral colours such as cream, beige, green, brown etc. However please don't feel that you need to dress like Robert Redford in Out of Africa (however positive the connotations).
Is grey ok to wear on safari?
Choose neutral and earthy colours
Avoid camouflage clothing, as some African nations reserve that for the military. But good colour choices include earthy tones and neutrals like brown, khaki and grey. You probably want to avoid white, cream and other light colours as they'll show up any dust and dirt.
What do you wear to dinner in Cape Town?
A comfortable pair of jeans – the fashion in Cape Town is fairly laid back and chilled. If you go for a lovely dinner on the waterfront, you will be more suitably dressed in jeans and a nice top, instead of your fancy frocks (save these for evenings in the hotel).
Should I wear long sleeves in Africa?
– The days warm up whatever time of year it is, so you'll want to be in light and cool clothing by around midday. – Days on safari are generally hot. In the mornings and evenings, long-sleeved shirts and slacks are better and will also protect you from mosquitoes.
Can I wear open-toed heels to court?
Footwear Not to Ever Wear in Court:
Athletic shoes. High-heel spikes. Open-toed shoes. Anything you would wear at the beach.
What to wear to a lawyer consultation?
You don't have to opt for formal wear necessarily, but make sure you look presentable. Wear business casual attire. Women can wear a nice dress with dress shoes, while men can wear khakis with a nice polo. There are no strict and exact rules here, but try to make the best impression possible.
Can I wear leggings to court?
Yoga Pants or Leggings—While nobody is going to ask you to take your pants off in court, it's best to go for a more polished look than knit bottoms. Any pants perceived as revealing—whether worn tight or loose and falling down—can get you booted from the courtroom or, worse, not allowed in at all.