How to Become A Legal Consultant In South Africa

A legal consultant is a professional who provides legal guidance to businesses and individuals. This job title is interchangeable with the title of a legal advisor.

What is a legal consultant in South Africa?

The terms ‘corporate counsel’ / ‘legal advisors’ / ‘corporate lawyers’ / ‘in-house counsel’ / legal counsel’ are used to describe practitioners who hold a legal degree/qualification and who are employed by companies and other organizations (public and private sector) for the purpose of providing in-house legal counsel,

What is the qualification for legal advisor?

To work as a legal advisor in the US, the candidates should have the following: They should have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field. They should qualify for the LSAT exam to get admission into the law school. They should join a law school and complete their bachelor’s in Juris doctor of legal studies.

What is a legal consultant job description?

A legal consultant uses legal practice knowledge to enhance a law company’s efficiency and profitability. Other than negotiating, drafting, and reviewing legal documents, legal consultants also conduct legal research and analyze the right securities, insurance, and retirement plans.

Career Requirements

Degree LevelJuris Doctor
LicensurePass state bar exam (Not always required)
Experience3+ years of experience practicing law and 2-6 years of experience in specific legal consultation field
Key SkillsExcellent communication, writing, organizational, and project management skills; extensive legal knowledge in specialty area; familiarity with virtual law libraries, strong Internet research skills and knowledge of how to review electronic legal databases
Median Salary (2018)R1827324.69 (for lawyers)

Steps to Becoming a Legal Consultant In South Africa

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

According to the BLS, individuals must earn bachelor’s degrees prior to enrolling in law school. Undergraduate students have the freedom to major in almost any field, although the BLS recommends interested students take several courses in government, mathematics, English, history, communications, and economics.

Potential majors that are directly related to the field of law may include criminal justice, legal studies, or political science, but students are not required to major in any of these areas.

Step 2: Pass the LSAT

Acceptance into law school is often contingent upon how well students score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), a national exam administered by the Law School Admission Council, Inc. There are five sections to each exam, each of which includes multiple-choice questions.

An additional non-graded section contains an essay question, but this section is mainly used as a writing sample that potential law schools may review. Each student’s score indicates how well that student can analyze questions, make logical decisions, and comprehend advanced concepts.

Step 3: Complete Law School

In most cases, earning a Juris Doctor degree from law school takes three years to complete after the bachelor’s degree program.

The first year is filled with structured course requirements and may include classes that cover torts, constitutional laws, contracts, property law, civil procedure, and criminal law. All students spend their second and third years in elective courses related to their career goals.

Step 4: Get Additional Specialty Training

Legal consultants often choose their field of specialty while still in law school, and many individuals learn about the laws associated with that specialty during their elective studies.

However, some specialties may require additional training outside of law school. For instance, professionals who want to work as legal nurse consultants may need to gain a better understanding of the nursing field, which could involve becoming a registered nurse.

Step 5: Pass the State Bar

Legal consultants are not necessarily required to pass state bar exams. However, employers do prefer applicants who have courtroom experience, and individuals interested in working for these types of employers would have to pass the necessary state bar exams.

Information from the BLS shows that lawyers become licensed to practice law by passing state bar exams in their states of employment.

What is a legal consultant in South Africa?

The terms ‘corporate counsel’ / ‘legal advisors’ / ‘corporate lawyers’ / ‘in-house counsel’ / legal counsel’ are used to describe practitioners who hold a legal degree/qualification and who are employed by companies and other organisations (public and private sector) for the purpose of providing in-house legal counsel,

How long does it take to become a legal advisor in South Africa?

Requirements: A 4-year Law degree (preferably with a Master’s degree in Law) with majors in Constitutional and administrative Law and Admission as an Advocate/Attorney of the High Court. Minimum 5 years’ post-admission experience as a Legal Adviser.

How much does a legal practitioner earn in South Africa?

The average tenure for legal professionals in South Africa is sitting at just over two years.

Here’s how much money lawyers earn in South Africa.

Private Practice2021 annual salary range
Newly QualifiedR550 000 – R620 000
PartnerR1 200 000 – R1 800 000
Senior AssociateR850 000 – R1 200 000
Senior PartnerR2 000 000 – R3 500 000

How much does a legal advisor earn per month in South Africa?

In South Africa a legal advisor with 1-3 years of experience can expect to earn between R350 – 550k whilst a qualified lawyer with over 10 years experience would earn R1. 1m+.

How do I start a consulting business in South Africa?

Start a legal consulting firm by following these 10 steps:

STEP 1: Plan your business.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity.

STEP 3: Register for taxes.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses.

STEP 7: Get business insurance.

What is the qualification for legal advisor in South Africa ?

To work as a legal advisor in the SA, the candidates should have the following: They should have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field. They should qualify for the LSAT exam to get admission into the law school. They should join a law school and complete their bachelor’s in Juris doctor of legal studies.

What is a legal consultant job description in South Africa?

A legal consultant uses legal practice knowledge to enhance a law company’s efficiency and profitability. Other than negotiating, drafting, and reviewing legal documents, legal consultants also conduct legal research and analyze the right securities, insurance, and retirement plans.

Can you be a legal consultant without a law degree in South Africa ?

Talintyre says it’s almost impossible to work in legal recruiting without a law degree. “You need to know what you’re talking about, in order to be relevant and recognize what the candidate or firm wants,” she says.

Is a lawyer a consultant in South Africa ?

A lawyer may also call themselves a ‘costs consultant’ or ‘costs clerk’. A person who is not a lawyer may also work in the area of legal costs, but by law must not call themselves a ‘costs lawyer’. Instead, most would call themselves a ‘costs consultant’.

How long does it take to become a legal consultant in South Africa ?

Earn a law degree

Once you get into law school, you will work toward earning your Juris Doctor to become a legal consultant. Earning this degree typically takes three years.

Is legal consultant same as lawyer in South Africa ?

The ultimate difference between a legal consultant and lawyer is that the legal consultant acts as an advisor, while the lawyer can also offer representation before a judge. The legal consultant ensures that their clients are acting within laws.

Do you need to be a lawyer to be a consultant in South Africa ?

Aside from a law degree and experience working as an attorney, consultants typically have foundational knowledge in one or more specialized areas. Some consultants in the corporate world also have a master’s of business administration.