Average Advocate In South Africa

What is Advocate ?

An advocate is more of a specialist practitioner and provides his or her services by way of specialised expertise in various areas of the law – sometimes by providing an opinion on a legal issue but especially in the presentation of cases in court.

Salary of South African lawyers

The Legal Profession is undoubtedly a noble and well-respected profession in every part of the world. According to the Law Society of South Africa, there are over 27,500 practicing attorneys in South Africa.

These Attorneys contribute positively to Society by providing Legal Solutions to the Legal problems of Individuals, groups, organizations, and governments. Hence, making Lawyers in high demand in South Africa.

This Article examines the Legal Profession in South Africa and the Salary of Lawyers therein. I encourage every young lawyer and law student in the country to carefully go through this article in order to understand the salary structure of south African lawyers currently

Salary: Salary is a fixed regular payment from an Employer to an Employee, usually Specified in your Contract of Employment and paid on a periodic basis, typically on a Monthly or Annual basis

In Simpler Words, Salary is the periodic payment made to a person for the Work such a person had done.

Salary of South African Lawyers

The Salary of a Legal Professional in South Africa varies depending on your level of experience as a Lawyer, as in the following cases:

Junior Attorney

A Junior Attorney is an Entry-level Lawyer, most especially one who was recently called to the bar in South Africa or has 2-6 years of Professional experience.

A Junior Attorney in South Africa usually earns an average salary of R 15,922 per month.

Senior Attorney

A Senior Attorney is higher in level than a Junior Attorney, having 4- 10 years of professional experience. Hence, their Salary is usually higher with an estimated Average Salary of R 30,000 per month.

Associate

Associates in a Law firm are usually committed to Supervising and developing Junior Lawyers. They also work closely with the Partners and other Associates to deliver exceptional legal services to clients.

They usually earn an average salary of R 300,000 per year, divisible into a Monthly Salary.

General Counsel

A General Counsel is the main Attorney and Primary Source of Legal advice in a Law firm. They are involved in handling Legal issues for every department in the Law firm.

General Counsel usually earns an Average Salary of R 730,000 per year.

Partner

A Partner is a Lawyer who is a Joint Owner and Operator of the Law firm. They could either be Equity or Non-Equity Partners.

Equity Partners have Ownership in the firm. Hence, they share the profits of the Firm. Non-Equity Partners on the other hand are Partners generally paid a Fixed annual Salary.

Most Partners in South Africa are Non-Equity Partners, and they usually earn an average salary of R 1,000,000 or more depending on the productivity of the Law firm.

Managing Partner/Partners

Managing Partners Sit at the top of the hierarchy of the Law firm. They assume management responsibilities of the firm in addition to maintaining a Full-time Law practice in the Firm.

A Managing Partner usually earns over R 1,200,000 per annum depending on the type, structure, and Profits of the Law firm.

How much money do advocates make in South Africa?

A Junior Attorney in South Africa usually earns an average salary of R 15,922 per month. A Senior Attorney is higher in level than a Junior Attorney, having 4- 10 years of professional experience. Hence, their Salary is usually higher with an estimated Average Salary of R 30,000 per month.

How much do junior advocates earn in South Africa?

An entry-level Entry-Level Attorney with less than 1-year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of R117,459 based on 48 salaries.

Is there a demand for advocates in South Africa?

Lawyers that are in the litigation sector are known to always be in high demand in South Africa. Therefore, lawyers that are experienced in areas like complex civil litigation, commercial litigation, insurance defense, labor and employment, and other related niches are always in high demand in the country.

How long does it take to become an advocate in South Africa?

A person who wants to practice as a lawyer, either as an attorney or an advocate, must undergo one year of vocational training before being permitted to practice as an independent professional lawyer.

How much do Labour lawyers earn in South Africa?

R340,250 (ZAR)/yr.

Are lawyers rich in South Africa?

According to recruitment company Robert Walters Group, the lowest-paid lawyers (junior counsels) take home an average of R400,000 annually, with the top paid taking home in excess of R3 million. That is obviously an average figure.