You are considering embarking on a journey where you study legal jargon. You may be thinking about what a fruitful career you may have if you become a lawyer.
Congratulations on picking a lucrative career field!
To further nudge you in the right direction and help you set sight on where you could possibly complete an internship after you complete your degree, we thought we would give you a list of South African law firms to look into.
Are you already studying law?
If you are studying law and looking at settling into a law career soon, you should have already started doing your research on companies that you could be interested in working for once you complete your degree. To become an attorney in South Africa, you need to do an internship with a practising attorney for at least 2 years.
We all wish that walking into the office as an intern could feel like how it is made to look on the hit law drama, “Suits,” but this will never be the case in the real world.
However, there is no need to stop pondering about what you would like to achieve in your law career.
If you want to broaden your career possibilities beyond the South African shores, you should be looking up renowned international law firms as well.
Still struggling with the idea of forking out the cash to pay your way through law school, think about getting a law scholarship.
In this article, we aim to give you the necessary details of South Africa’s top law firms, however, we leave the decision-making in your court. You need to choose a law firm that you feel will be the best for you.
Bowmans
An award-winning law directory is Bowmans. One of the reasons that Bowmans is recognised is because of the most innovative services that the company offers to its clients who are in search of the best law firms across the country. Bowmans also offer law firms the best services too. While Bowmans work to help law firms, there are many established law firms that get the attention of law students with or without a referral from Bowmans.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer
The company found in 1853, has established branches in Sandton, Cape Town, and Stellenbosch. The company wishes to provide agile and authentic service to the South African public. The reason why we feel that Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer (CDH) will appeal to law graduates is that they offer possible careers for law graduates. The firm believes in partnering with law graduates at the beginning of their law journey.
CDH tends to offer practical vocational training for new graduates to assist them to become ready for the world of work. If a focal point for you is skills development, you need to consider applying for the new graduate programme with CDH.
If you would like to take up an internship at a big law firm, make sure that you are well-versed with law terms. Also think about working with a law tutor who may help you get in with these great firms!
ENS
ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnebergs Candidate Attorneys) was established in 1905. Since its establishment, it has earned the title of being Africa’s largest law firm that is highly capable of delivering on business requirements across all major business industries throughout Africa.
Practitioners at ENS are specialists in everything from Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) to international arbitration.
With over 200 years of experience, the company knows that client relationships are at the core of every successful law firm. It is from companies such as ENS that you can learn many lessons on professionalism. Yes, ENS offers a programme for trainees as well.
WERKSMANS Attorneys
This corporate and commercial law firm realises that it has big shoes to fill each day and it works to maintain its status daily. At WERKSMANS Attorneys, the lawyers go beyond the application of law and partner with each client trying to develop focused solutions with the best outcome. While the law may seem like an all too complex matter, at WERKSMANS Attorneys, the focus is on providing simple solutions.
In the year 1917, it was Nathan Werksman who actually founded the law firm. Decade after decade, the firm grew from strength to strength embracing modern innovations but holding core law principles close. The firm is over 100 years old now.
One reason why WERKSMANS Attorneys stands out among all others is because of the constant pro bono work that the firm undertakes. Pro bono services are not carried out for the public good but are also done because of the company’s desire to help those who cannot afford legal advice.
If you are interested in reading more about pro bono work, read all about the pro bono lawyer.
Should I Study Law?
Stats show that we have over 27 200 attorneys and 7 000 candidate attorneys in South Africa.
Perhaps the number of qualified attorneys served as a rude awakening to the reality that awaits you should you choose to study law. With so many practising attorneys in the country, you need to make sure to knock the nail on the head with your studies and become someone big in the law firm.
Check out for law classes online on Superprof.
Perhaps you are dreaming about following in the footsteps of Nathan Werksman and opening your own law firm that will withstand the tale of time. If you are planning your legal future from now, you may have the willpower and ambition needed to become a top attorney or even a big shot advocate in South Africa.
Are you a female looking to become an advocate? Well, we have some good news for you!
According to Best Lawyer, over the last 5 years, the law industry has shown greater gender diversity in the field. In fact, female law nominees have risen considerably since the year 2017.
You would also be pleased if you live in Johannesburg too. Johannesburg was seen to be the city with the most lawyers being recognised by Best Lawyer South Africa in partnership with Business Day.
That should provide you with some motivation to pursue law. If that is not motivation enough, let’s look at Norton Rose Fulbright.
Get a law tutor on Superprof.
Norton Rose Fulbright
Norton Rose Fulbright provides business law services and is recognised for providing services across all industries including financial institutions, energy, mining, transport, technology, and innovation.
A key point to note about Norton Rose Fulbright is that the company has more than 3 700 lawyers based in the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Other than having an office in Johannesburg, Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in over 50 other cities worldwide.
Look into the graduate and high school programme offered by the company. If you felt that after studying for four years to complete your LLB degree, you would end up being stuck practising law in South Africa only, you may have thought wrong.
Getting your foot in the door at companies like Norton Rose Fulbright could mean a much brighter future as a lawyer internationally too.
Every law firm has many different kinds of lawyers that are all ready to take on different types of clientele and all the different types of cases that may arise.
Fields of Law in South Africa
“Lord, grant that I may be able in argument, accurate in analysis, strict in study, candid with clients, and honest with adversaries. Stand beside me in court, so that today I shall not in order to win a point lose my soul.” - St. Thomas Moore
The abovementioned prayer is called the lawyer's prayer. Irrespective of which field of law you wish to pursue the prayer may come in handy.
Another prayer that should resonate on your lips is the prayer to let a higher power guide you choose the right field of law for you. If you are interested in dealing with divorce and custody cases, it may become possible for you to engage in the family law field.
Remember studying LLB is only one part of your battle. You also need to secure a position at a top law firm which will grant you the opportunity to take on some pro-bono cases.
Engage the services of a law tutor today.
Study Law in South Africa
“I chose to go to law school because I thought that someday, somehow I’d make a difference.” Christopher Darden
There are over 2 000 lawyers in South Africa that take on cases of corporate law, employment, taxation, real estate, and dispute resolution on a daily basis. Studying law could open the door of opportunity for you to tackle issues or tort as well.
Taking a firm interest in all things law-related from a young age is surely a sign that you may very well be fit to be a South African lawyer.
You can choose to take on an LLB degree at one of the leading university institutions in South Africa or you may even choose to complete a distance law degree via the University of South Africa (UNISA). After 4 years of studying LLB, you can choose to further specialise or you can start your internship at one of the leading South African law firms.
Does reading about the different law firms across the country, increase your urgency to obtain a law degree? Have you decided that law school is for you?
If not, I’m sure that watching “Legally Blonde” again will guide you towards making the right decision.
Remember law tutors are ready to assist you while you perfect Latin legal terms at a law school.
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