Legal Jobs

Legal professionals interpret and apply the law to protect the rights and obligations of individuals and organisations. Their work includes giving legal advice, drafting contracts, representing clients in court, negotiating settlements, and ensuring compliance with the country’s laws and regulations.

The legal profession in South Africa offers several different types of career paths. These include that of:

• an attorney, who provides legal advice, drafts documents, and represents clients;
  • an advocate, who specialises in court-related representation and litigation;
  • a legal advisor, who works in businesses or government, offering legal counsel;
  • a corporate counsel, who handles company legal matters internally;
  • a compliance officer, who ensures organisations follow the necessary laws and regulations;
  • a legal researcher, who supports legal cases and academic work through research;
  and
• a paralegal, who assists lawyers with documentation and administrative duties.

An attorney works directly with clients, offering legal advice, drafting documents, and representing clients, if required, in the country’s lower courts. An advocate, on the other hand, is usually engaged by a firm of attorneys for specialised litigation, and appears in the country’s higher courts, i.e. the High Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, and Constitutional Court.

To become a practising lawyer, you need a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, which is the basic legal qualification in South Africa. A few of the most prominent institutions offering this degree include the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the University of Pretoria (UP), the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Stellenbosch University (SU), the Nelson Mandela University (NMU), and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Regenesys Law School  also offers a well-regarded LLB programme, that can be completed on an online basis.

If you take on an LLB full time, it typically takes four years, while if you do a post-graduate degree (after completing a BA or BCom undergraduate degree), it will take you two-to-three years.

Following your studies, you will need to complete what’s referred to as your Articles of Clerkship, or law articles, which consists of practical training under a qualified attorney, and takes two years – or one year if it is combined with Practical Legal Training (PLT), a structured course offered by the Legal Practice Council.

The next step involves taking on your Board Exams, which consist of four papers, and cover both legal practice and legal procedure. They are divided into High Court and Magistrates’ Court Practice; Wills and Estates; Attorneys’ Ethics; and Bookkeeping for Attorneys. Lastly, you will need to apply to the high Court for admission as an attorney or advocate in South Africa.

Several films can inspire individuals considering a legal career, by showcasing the power, drama, and intellectual challenges of the profession. Some popular choices (which are explained in more detail below) include: 12 Angry Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, and A Few Good Men – all of which highlight courtroom dynamics, ethical dilemmas, and the pursuit of justice. Other inspiring options include Legally Blonde, which portrays the fun and rewarding aspects of law, and The Pursuit of Happyness, which demonstrates the resilience and determination required in the legal field. 

In more detail:

• 12 Angry Men (1957) – focuses on the deliberations of a jury and explores themes of reasonable doubt, prejudice, and the importance of individual responsibility in the justice system. It emphasises the power of critical thinking and persuasive argument, even in the face of strong opposition;
• To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) – based on the classic novel of the same name, portrays a lawyer's fight for justice in a racially charged Southern town. It showcases the importance of empathy, integrity, and standing up for what is right – even when it's difficult to do so;
  • A Few Good Men (1992) – delves into military law and the complexities of duty, honour, and truth. It highlights the intense pressure and ethical considerations faced by lawyers in high-stakes cases;
  • Legally Blonde (2001) – offers a lighter perspective on the legal field, showcasing how a determined and intelligent individual can succeed in law school and beyond. It highlights the importance of confidence, hard work, and not being afraid to be yourself;
• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – while not strictly a legal drama, follows a man's journey from homelessness to success as a stockbroker. It demonstrates the resilience, perseverance, and ambition that can be valuable traits for anyone pursuing a challenging career, including law;
  and
  • My Cousin Vinny (1993) – a comedy-drama offers insights into the practicalities of criminal defence, and the importance of thorough preparation and quick thinking in the courtroom. 

There certainly are. You can work as a paralegal, legal secretary, compliance officer, or contracts administrator, after achieving the relevant diplomas or certifications from accredited institutions.

See for interest paralegal jobs.

Several avenues exist for certification in paralegal, legal secretary, compliance, and contracts administration roles in South Africa. You can pursue qualifications from institutions such as Regenesys when it comes to paralegal studies, or the Bellview Institute of Distance Learning for legal secretary courses. Additionally, some courses offer practical experience alongside theoretical learning, allowing you to gain skills relevant to these positions. 

If becoming a paralegal is your chosen career line, consider the paralegal qualification offered by the Regenesys Law School, which focuses on legal principles, ethics, and practical skills, including case studies and expert faculty guidance; and the range of paralegal courses on offer at Skills Academy, which includes options for legal secretary and similar roles.

If you want to legal secretary studies, sign up for online studies from Bellview Institute of Distance Learning, which cover topics such as legal paperwork, office management, and assisting lawyers; or the  Skills Academy, which provides N4 and N6 Legal Secretary courses – covering legal office work, document preparation, and professional communication. The pinnacle, or N6 course, requires 12 months of study and 18 months of practical experience for full qualification. 

Those intent on a career as a compliance officer or contracts administrator, take on an online course from one of the institutions mentioned above, and gain additional on-the-job training and experience, especially within larger organisations. Some professional bodies may also offer certifications or training programmes for compliance officers or contracts administrators. 

Before choosing your course, ensure that it is accredited by a reputable body; that it offers practical experience or an internship; that it covers the specific skills and knowledge required for your desired role; is reasonably priced compared with other options available in the marketplace; and most of all that meets your long-term career goals in terms of timing and the certification you will gain from it.

The LPC regulates the work of legal practitioners in South Africa. It ensures compliance with professional standards, conducts admission exams, and enforces ethics within the profession. Go to https://lpc.org.za/ to enrol, as well as to reinforce the LPC’s mandate of setting norms and standards, providing for the admission and enrolment of legal practitioners, and regulating the professional conduct of legal practitioners to ensure accountability.

You will need to have completed your articles and PLT, passed all your board exams, and submitted an application containing proof of these qualifications, character references, and the payment of the fee of R4 025 (including VAT), which applies to all practising legal practitioners in South Africa.

The organisations and institutions that employ the majority of the country’s graduating legal professionals, include:
• law firms of different sizes, such as Bowmans, Cliffe Dekker Hormeyer, Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (trading as ENS Africa), Webber Wentzel, and Werkmans;
• big corporates, such as financial institutions (e.g. Standard Bank), mining companies (e.g. African Rainbow Minerals), and tech firms (e.g. Cisco Systems);
• government departments and agencies, such as the State Attorney, Public Protector, and National Prosecuting Authority;
and
• NGOs, and international organisations that carry out legal aid and human rights work like Gift of the Givers Foundation.

The following five sectors lead the charge when it comes to the need for legal counsel:

• corporate and commercial (see types of companies in SA);
• mining and environmental (see the advice of the Centre for Environmental Rights);
• labour and employment (go to Labournet);
• intellectual property (go to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission)
  and
• cybersecurity and data protection (go to Good Firms).

There are also legal firms that specialise in each of these areas, such as Adams & Adams (corporate and commercial specialists), MacRobert Attorneys (mining and environmental law specialists), Bagraims Attorneys (labour and employment law specialists), Hahn & Hahn (intellectual property law specialists) and Norton Rose Fulbright (cybersecurity and data protection specialists).

There sure are! Remote work is growing, especially for legal research, contract review, and compliance consulting. Some attorneys even offer virtual consultations – such as Simon Dippenaar & Associates (SD Law), Divorce Attorney, and Our Lawyer as just a few relevant examples.

Three main challenges to be faced include an oversupply of graduates, such that many LLB graduates are struggling to secure an article placement; economic uncertainty, which affects the hiring of attorneys into corporate and commercial roles; and technological disruption, because many routine legal tasks are becoming increasingly automated. Read more about legal automation, here.

It is highly competitive, and there’s no resting on the laurels of your strong academic results. Rather, to improve your chances of being hired, be sure to network extensively; and gain practical experience from holiday work and internships, and short course-related knowledge if you have the time and inclination. Here is a list of the top short courses for newly qualified attorneys in South Africa. Remember that the likes of Contract Law, Advanced Corporate Law, Compliance & Risk Management, and Cybersecurity Law – added to your CV – will without a doubt advance your career.

You’ll need strong research and analytical skills, excellent communication skills (both oral and written), the ability to negotiate and solve problems in a non-confrontation fashion, and the ability to manage your time and pay great attention to the finer detail of your work, even when you’re feeling rather stressed and overworked. Prospects shares a more detailed list of personal skills and attributes, here.

Specialisation will increase both your earning potential and marketability, especially if you choose a high-demand legal area such as tax law, corporate law, or IP law. Read up on a few of the highest-paid legal specialities, here.

This point follows on from the note above about not resting on your academic laurels. Once you’ve gotten to the second interview at a law firm you would love to work at, be sure to emphasise the following to your employer:

• high levels of integrity and ethical conduct;
• strong critical thinking ability;
• excellent client relationship management;
• tech savvy to the extent that you will be able to adapt no matter what software or legal platform changes are implemented.

Candidate attorneys, which are law graduates undergoing practical vocational training (PVT) under the supervision of a qualified attorney (i.e. doing their articles), generally earn between R6k and R15k per month. However, your earning ceiling depends on the firm size at which you have been taken on and the city in which it is based, with Johannesburg offering higher salaries, typically.

An attorney with five or more years of experience can expect to earn between R400 000 and R900 000 annually, while a senior partner in a large law firm can expect to take home R2 million on an annual basis.

Here’s an article explaining the factors influencing lawyer salaries in South Africa.

Junior advocates have an earning ceiling of between R250 000 and R500 000 annually, while senior counsel (SC/Silk), a prestigious title awarded to advocates who have demonstrated exceptional legal ability and experience, can earn R1.5 million and then some, depending on their individual caseload and reputation. The term "silk" originates from the silk gowns that senior counsel members traditionally wear in court. 

At entry level, your earnings will be between R300k and R500k per annum, but once you reach the senior corporate counsel level, expect earnings of R1 million plus each year – especially in sizeable organisations. This YouTube clip shares more info.

Attorneys must complete annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points by attending seminars, webinars, and accredited training programmes.

In South Africa, legal professionals can earn CPD points through a range of different avenues, including by attending conferences, webinars, and workshops, and through online learning platforms.  Additionally, legal publications like De Rebus may offer CPD opportunities through article assessments. 

Networking should never be underestimated in any field, but especially in the legal line. Many opportunities come to individuals through referrals, professional associations, and legal conferences. Check out the Law Society of South Africa for an updated events calendar.

Consider a role as a chief legal officer (CLO), or compliance director at a big corporate, a rewarding legal lecturing role within academia, a magistrate or judge role (for the ambitious, only!), or a position at an international law organisation.

There’s no getting around it – to remain competitive, you’ll need to embrace technology in the following few ways:

• AI in legal research, because it can speed up case preparation;
• use of e-discovery tools for their assistance in litigation;
• the emergence of online dispute resolution platforms.

Two impacts include increased demand for cross-border legal expertise; and plentiful opportunities within the international arbitration and trade law realm. Read this article for insights into globalisation and the legal profession.

Yes, there is. With the emergence of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and growing tech startups, data privacy law, cybersecurity, and fintech regulation are booming. Here’s an article that explains the consequences of non-compliance with the POPI Act.

In-house legal counsellors and those employed at law firms may also like The Future Ready Lawyer: A Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Law Firms and Corporate Legal Departments by Dr Anna Collyer and Professor Dan Hunter, The E-Discovery for Corporate Counsel by Adam Cohen and David Lender,

The Modern Law Department: A Guide to Strategic Information Management by Rees Morrison, The Legal Operations Handbook: How to Transform Your Law Department into a Business Unit by David Cambria and Summer Wheeler, The Ultimate Law Firm Associate’s Marketing Checklist: The Renowned Step-by-Step Year-by-Year Process for Lawyers Who Want to Develop Clients by Ross Fishman,

The Happy Lawyer: Making a Good Life in the Law by Nancy Levit and Douglas O Linder, and The Art of Lawyering: Essential Knowledge for Becoming a Great Attorney by Paul Lisnek.

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Legal jobs in South Africa offer diverse career paths, competitive salaries, and opportunities for specialisation. While the market is competitive, those who invest in strong academic credentials, practical training, and continuous learning can build rewarding careers in law. As technology and globalisation reshape the legal landscape, adaptability will be key.