Webster defines an advocate as a person who pleads another’s cause, or who speaks or writes in support of something. A lawyer is an advocate when he represents his client in a courtroom.
A case manager will advocate for her client by helping them to access services, such as food, housing, and medical care.
Below is How To Become An Advocate In South Africa
Requirements to become an advocate.
The basic requirement for admission as an advocate is an LLB degree from any South African University. Having obtained this, the next step is to apply to the High Court to be admitted as an advocate and be included on the “roll of advocates”, kept by the Department of Justice.
To do this, the applicant and aspiring advocate must satisfy the High Court that he or she is both qualified and able (in the sense of being a fit and proper person) to become a member of the profession. Once the applicant is admitted as an advocate, he or she will be entitled to practise as an advocate anywhere in South Africa and to appear in any court. After admission, however, it is customary to join one of the Bars to benefit from the strong collective spirit and experience of the legal fraternity in a Society of Advocates.
This custom is expressed by saying that an advocate is called to the Bar: the profession of advocate is not the mere pursuit of an occupation but a calling, and practising at the Bar becomes a way of life.
In order to become a member of the Bar, the advocate has to serve an apprenticeship (called a pupillage) of one year.
During this year the Bar provides training and learning opportunities to the advocate, preparing him or her for the rigours of practice and informing the advocate about the professional standards and conduct among practising advocates, and the code of ethical conduct and of professional integrity to which all advocates are required to adhere.
After such a year of pupillage, the advocate will then have to pass the National Bar Examination of the General Council of the Bar before becoming a member of the Bar.
General Council of the Bar.
The General Council of the Bar is in effect an association of all the Bars in South Africa. The members thereof are not individual advocates but the various Societies of Advocates from the major centres in South Africa.
This is the main body representing and regulating the advocates’ profession on a national level.
General remarks. This overview concentrated on the profession of practising advocates and members of the Bar in the private sector. Some advocates elect to practise without becoming members of a Bar but then they do not have access to all the privileges, support and fraternity available for members within a Bar.
There are also advocates in the private sector who do not practise in the courts but are mostly employed as legal advisors in firms or companies. In the public sector, State Advocates are employed as public prosecutors by the National Prosecuting Authority and some advocates are also employed as advisors in various organs of state or state departments.
How long does it take to become an advocate in South Africa?
The standard requirement before one can practice as a lawyer is completing an LLB degree which takes 4 years.
Alternatively, some students choose to first study a BCom or BA which takes 3 years, and then study another 2 years to complete their LLB.
How much does an advocate earn in South Africa?
| In-house – Commerce and Industry | 2020 Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 3-6 years’ post-qualified experience | R750 000 – R950 000 |
| 1-3 years’ post-qualified experience | R500 000 – R750 000 |