If you have a passion for justice and the law, then following the career path of a lawyer may be for you. However, becoming a lawyer requires quite a bit of hard work and perseverence, so you need to make sure that you’re prepared to dedicate yourself fully to the journey. Pursuing a career in law demands not only academic prowess but also strong critical thinking skills, effective communication abilities, and a willingness to continually adapt to new challenges.
If you’re up for the challenge, and are eager to become a lawyer in South Africa, then be sure to read on to find out what it takes to enter this esteemed profession.
Career Overview: Lawyer
A lawyer serves businesses, institutions, local authorities, governments and individuals with legal advice regarding rights and obligations. Fields include: business and corporate law, civil and criminal litigation, property transactions, taxation, estate planning, business and personal advice.
Required School Subjects
You will need to have take the following subjects at high school:
- First Language English
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
Recommended subjects:
- History
- Additional Languages
- Accounting
Institution and APS
Below, you will find some of the institutions that are highly recommended for studies in law along with the required APS:
Required Qualification/s
In order to qualify as a lawyer, you will need to complete the following training:
- a BCom Law/BA degree (3 or 4 years) plus a LLB degree (2 years). Alternatively, you can practice law with just a LLB degree (4 or 5 years).
- two years of articles with a South African firm of attorneys or community service at an accredited law clinic or approved office of the Legal Aid Board
- successful completion of the Attorneys Admission Examination
- a legal training course approved by the Law Society will have to be attended before application can be made for admission as an attorney
Required Skills
To practice law effectively in South Africa, you need a diverse set of skills that go beyond just legal knowledge. Here are some essential skills:
- Legal knowledge: Understanding of South African law, including statutes, case law, and legal principles relevant to your area of practice.
- Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse complex legal issues, identify relevant facts, and apply the law to specific situations to provide accurate advice and representation.
- Research skills: Proficiency in legal research methods to find relevant statutes, regulations, case law and scholarly articles to support legal arguments and provide informed advice.
- Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for drafting legal documents, communicating with clients, presenting arguments in court and negotiating with opposing parties.
- Critical thinking: Ability to think critically and creatively to develop effective legal strategies, anticipate potential outcomes and assess the strengths and weaknesses of legal arguments.
- Problem-solving skills: Capacity to identify legal problems, develop innovative solutions, and navigate complex legal issues to achieve favorable outcomes for clients.
- Interpersonal skills: Effective interpersonal skills are crucial for building rapport with clients, collaborating with colleagues and negotiating with opposing parties to reach settlements or agreements.
- Time management: Skill in managing time effectively to meet deadlines, prioritise tasks and handle multiple cases simultaneously while maintaining high standards of quality and professionalism.
- Ethical judgment: Commitment to upholding ethical standards and practicing law with integrity, honesty and respect for the rule of law and professional ethics.
- Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changes in legal regulations, court procedures and client needs, and to continuously update your skills and knowledge to stay current in your field of practice.
Where You Can Work as a Lawyer in South Africa
Once you start your career path as a lawyer, you can expect to work in one of the following areas:
- national or provincial government, local councils and related organisations
- legal firms
- business firms
- legal aid societies
- self-employed: own practice or consultancy
Lawyer Working Hours
Many lawyers work more than the average 40 hours per week, with extra time put in to do research and prepare/review documents. Lawyers who work at legal firms are able to accumulate billable hours, which are the hours that the client pays for directly. The number of hours that a lawyer should bill varies depending on the practice area and expectations of the firm. In some large firms, lawyers are required to bill over 2,000 to 2,200 hours a year.
Expected Salary for a Lawyer
Depending on experience, a lawyer’s compensation ranges from a starting salary of +-R20 300 per month up to +-R60 700 per month or more.
Lawyer Role and What to Expect
You can expect various levels of intensity in this field depending on where you work. However, in general, expect a competitive industry that requires hard work, dedication and a high level of commitment.
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