A lawyer helps people and companies with the law. To become one in South Africa, you study a four-year LLB degree at a university. After that, you do practical vocational training (articles or pupillage), pass the Legal Practice Council exams, and are admitted by the High Court. You can become an attorney, who works with clients, or an advocate, who argues cases in court. Law is popular, so getting a training job after your degree takes hard work.
You must sign up with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) to do this work.
What does a lawyer do?
Lawyers help people and companies with the law. In a day, you might read and write legal documents, give advice, prepare for court, meet clients, and do research. Attorneys work with clients and paperwork. Advocates argue cases in court. Some lawyers work in business, government, or human rights, not just courts.
Where you can work
- Law firms
- Advocates' chambers (the Bar)
- Companies (in-house legal)
- Government and the courts
- Non-profit and human rights organisations
- Your own practice
Kinds of this work
Is this job right for you?
This job is good for you if
- You read and write well, and enjoy words
- You argue and reason clearly
- You pay close attention to detail
- You are honest and can be trusted
- You can handle pressure and deadlines
- You keep learning, because the law changes
The hard parts
- Getting articles (a training job) is competitive
- Candidate attorneys earn little at first
- The work has long hours and deadlines
- There are many law graduates, so you must stand out
- Some cases are heavy and stressful
How you can grow
Your job can get bigger over time. This is a common path.
- 1
Candidate attorney or pupil
After your LLB, you do your practical training: articles at a firm, or pupillage at the Bar.
- 2
Admitted attorney or advocate
The court admits you, and you can practise as a lawyer.
- 3
Senior associate or advocate
You build experience and take on bigger cases.
- 4
Partner, director, or senior advocate
You lead a firm or become a top advocate.
- 5
Magistrate or judge
With years of experience, some lawyers become magistrates or judges.
Steps to become a lawyer
- 1
Pass matric with a good English mark
You need a degree pass and strong English. Most LLB programmes do not need Maths.
- 2
Get into an LLB (4 years)
Or first do a three-year BA or BCom Law, then a two-year LLB.
- 3
Do practical vocational training
For attorneys, about two years of articles at a firm. For advocates, about a year of pupillage at the Bar.
- 4
Pass the Legal Practice Council exams
These are the competency-based admission exams.
- 5
Be admitted by the High Court
You are admitted and enrolled as an attorney or advocate. Now you can practise.
Questions people ask
Written and checked by the NavyBlue Editorial Team. Last updated 2026-07-15. Pay numbers are a guide only. Where we got this: Legal Practice Council (LPC), Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
Related careers
Not sure yet? These jobs use some of the same school subjects and ways to study.
Health & social servicesSocial worker
Social workers help people through hard times: children who are not safe, families with problems, and people who are sick or sad.
From R 24 000/mo · In demand
How to become a social worker
Health & social servicesPsychologist
Psychologists help people with their feelings, thoughts, and mental health. They work in clinics, schools, companies, and private practice.
From R 40 000/mo · In demand
How to become a psychologist
EducationTeacher
Teachers help children and teenagers learn. They work in primary and high schools all over South Africa.
From R 18 000/mo · Steady demand
How to become a teacherAdvertisement