BA (Law)
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Faculty of Law3 years
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+Technical Maths 50%+Maths Lit 75%+English HL 65%+English FAL 70%+
NBT components: AL, QL
What you need in matric
You must have
- English
- A degree (bachelor's) pass in matric
Also good to have
- A second language
- History
- A high overall average
University requirements
Compare the APS and subject requirements for programmes that can lead to Lawyer. Universities use different APS scales, so check your marks against each university separately.
Bachelor of Arts Law
DegreeAPS 390
Bachelor of Arts in Law
Stellenbosch University
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Subject requirements
English 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts in Law
Stellenbosch University
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths 60%+English HL 60%+English FAL 70%+Afrikaans HL 60%+Afrikaans FAL 70%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts (Law)
University of Johannesburg
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 50%+English 60%+Afrikaans FAL 50%+IsiNdebele FAL 50%+IsiXhosa FAL 50%+IsiZulu FAL 50%+Sepedi FAL 50%+Sesotho FAL 50%+Setswana FAL 50%+Siswati FAL 50%+Tshivenda FAL 50%+Xitsonga FAL 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Arts Law
University of Pretoria
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
English 60%+
Arts (Law)
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
English 60%+
Bachelor of Arts Law
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Humanities
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 50%+English HL 60%+English FAL 60%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Laws
DegreeBachelor of Laws
North West University
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths 50%+English HL 60%+English FAL 60%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Extended Bachelor of Laws
North West University
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 60%+English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Laws
Stellenbosch University
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths 60%+English HL 60%+English FAL 70%+Afrikaans HL 60%+Afrikaans FAL 70%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Laws
The University of South Africa
College of Law
No subject marks are available for this course yet.
Bachelor Of Laws
University of Fort Hare
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths Lit 50%+Technical Maths 50%+Maths 40%+Maths 50%+English 50%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Bachelor of Laws (Extended Programme)
University of Fort Hare
Faculty of Law
Subject requirements
Maths Lit 50%+Technical Maths 50%+Maths 30%+Maths 50%+English 50%+
Bachelor of Laws
University of Kwazulu Natal
College of Law and Management Studies
Subject requirements
Maths 60%+English HL 65%+English FAL 65%+
Bachelor of Laws
University of Limpopo
Faculty of Management & Law
Subject requirements
English HL 60%+English FAL 60%+
Bachelor of Laws - Extended Curriculum Programme
University of Limpopo
Faculty of Management & Law
Subject requirements
English HL 60%+English FAL 60%+
Bachelor of Laws
University of Mpumalanga
Faculty of Economics, Development and Business Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 50%+English HL 50%+English FAL 50%+Afrikaans HL 50%+Afrikaans FAL 50%+IsiNdebele HL 50%+IsiNdebele FAL 50%+IsiXhosa HL 50%+IsiXhosa FAL 50%+IsiZulu HL 50%+IsiZulu FAL 50%+Sepedi HL 50%+Sepedi FAL 50%+Sesotho HL 50%+Sesotho FAL 50%+Setswana HL 50%+Setswana FAL 50%+Siswati HL 50%+Siswati FAL 50%+Tshivenda HL 50%+Tshivenda FAL 50%+Xitsonga HL 50%+Xitsonga FAL 50%+
Bachelor of Laws
University of Venda
Code LWBBLFaculty of Management, Commerce and Law4 years
Subject requirements
English HL 60%+English FAL 60%+
B Laws
University of Zululand
Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law
Subject requirements
Maths 30%+Maths Lit 40%+English HL 40%+English FAL 40%+
Bachelor of Laws
Walter Sisulu University
Faculty of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences
Subject requirements
Maths 40%+Maths Lit 50%+English HL 60%+English FAL 60%+
NBT components: AL, QL
Ways to become a lawyer
The best way is first. If your marks are not enough for one way, try the next one down.
DegreeNQF 84 yearsBest way
LLB (law degree)
To get in: About 32 APS or more. English, A degree pass in matric. A strong English mark matters most. You do not need Maths for most LLB programmes. Entry is competitive at top law schools.
Most universities offer the LLB. You can do the four-year LLB, or first do a three-year BA or BCom Law and then a two-year LLB. You are admitted as an attorney, who works with clients, or an advocate, who argues cases in court.
After the LLB you do practical vocational training, pass the LPC exams, and are admitted by the court.
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Higher certificateNQF 51 to 2 years
Paralegal
To get in: A matric certificate. Lower marks than the LLB.
Colleges and some universities offer paralegal qualifications. You work in legal support, helping lawyers, but you are not a lawyer yourself. You work as a paralegal in a law firm, company, or advice office.
Marks too low for the LLB? A paralegal qualification gets you into the legal field. You can study the LLB later.
If you don’t get in yet
Are your marks too low for the LLB, or not sure about the long road? You still have ways into the legal field.
Start with a paralegal qualification
A Higher Certificate or Diploma in Paralegal Studies gets you into legal work sooner, helping lawyers. It needs lower marks, and you can study the LLB later.
Do a BA or BCom Law first
If you just miss the LLB, a three-year BA or BCom Law can lead into the two-year LLB, and gives you a broader base.
Upgrade your matric
You can upgrade your matric: rewrite subjects to get better marks. The government runs a free Second Chance programme. Then you can apply again.
Get ready to apply →How to sign up to work
You sign up with the Legal Practice Council (LPC).
- You must be admitted by the High Court and enrolled with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) to work as a lawyer.
- After your LLB, you do practical vocational training: articles (attorneys) or pupillage (advocates).
- You pass the LPC's competency-based exams.
- You give a police clearance and must be a 'fit and proper' person.
- You pay a fee each year to stay on the roll.
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