What is Law Firm?
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law.
The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities.
Top Corporate Law Firms In South Africa
Bowmans
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, trading as ENSafrica
Webber Wentzel in alliance with Linklaters
Werksmans
Is corporate law in demand in South Africa?
In South Africa, the vast majority of attorneys focus on corporate law.
How much do corporate lawyers make in South Africa?
The average lawyer’s salary in South Africa is R 732 000 per year or R 375 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 259 500 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 6 780 000 per year.
What do you need to become a corporate lawyer?
To become a corporate lawyer, one needs to get a degree in law by taking up a five-year Bachelor of Law(B.A. LL.B)
degree course after completing their higher secondary education(Class 12), or by pursuing the three-year B.A. LL. B after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
How do you become a Corporate Lawyer in South Africa?
Below are steps to Become A Corporate Lawyer in South Africa
Understand what a corporate lawyer does.
Corporate lawyers serve only one client – the corporation they work for. As a corporate lawyer, you will be called upon to handle a variety of legal tasks including corporate taxes, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structure issues, employment law, and government reporting.
Get an undergraduate degree.
Becoming a lawyer is a long process involving many years of study and training. Before you go to law school you will need to complete an undergraduate degree.
There is no fixed subject you are required to study, but you should consider the kinds of skills that lawyers need to possess when choosing your course.
You will need excellent writing and comprehension skills.
You will need to be able to critically analyze an issue and clearly articulate your position with adequate supporting evidence.
Gain some experience while you study.
It’s a good idea to think about your time studying as an opportunity to gain some useful experience as well as qualifications.
Think about the chances to develop your skills in practice by working in student government, debating societies, or writing for the student newspaper.
Look for internship possibilities with local law firms.
Consider a part-time job at a local firm to help support you while you study, most law schools already offer this opportunity during the summer, as this will give you the experience of working in law.
Take the law school admission test.
Before you near the end of your undergraduate studies you need to be already thinking about the next step. In most instances, you will need to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) well before you plan to actually go to law school.
At the beginning of your final year of undergraduate studies, look for LSAT dates and locations local to you.
The LSAT is a standardized test, which is administered four times a year at designated sites across the world.
Go to law school.
Once you have passed the LSAT you can go and apply for law school. This can be a long and arduous process, so it’s important that you have some patience and are committed to your career choice.
Apply to study for a Juris Doctor (JD) degree at American Bar Association-approved law schools.
The law school application process is very competitive, so don’t only apply for your first choice.