A state advocate is someone who has been admitted as an advocate of a High Court. He/she acts as a “public prosecutor” in a High Court. A state advocate’s work is also done in court, although more preparation and research on cases is necessary.
Who is considered an advocate?
Advocate, in law, a person who is professionally qualified to plead the cause of another in a court of law. As a technical term, advocate is used mainly in those legal systems that derived from the Roman law. In Scotland the word refers particularly to a member of the bar of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates.
What is the role of advocate?
An advocate is essentially an adviser to his client. The role of advocates as officers of the Court is to assist the Court in the administration of justice. Lawyers collect materials relating to a case and thereby assist the Court in arriving at a correct judgment.
Why do we need advocate?
An independent advocate may be helpful if there is any disagreement between you, your health or social care professionals or even family members about a decision that needs to be made. An independent advocate should represent your wishes without judging or giving a personal opinion.
Below is How To Become A State Advocate In South Africa
The State Advocate
Advocates are primary experts in the art of presenting and arguing cases in court. The State Advocate acts in the capacity of a “public prosecutor” in a High Court. They are accordingly appointed by the National Prosecuting Authority and are attached to the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The basic requirement is an LLB degree from any South African university, having achieved this, the next step is to apply to the High Court of the respective jurisdiction to be included on the ‘roll’ of advocates. To do this, an applicant must satisfy the court that he/she is both qualified and able to be a member of the profession.
The applicant will then be able to practice as an advocate in South Africa. Once admitted, it is customary to join one of the ‘Bars’ (the representative body of the advocates’ profession).Professional training to become an advocate is provided by the constituent ‘Societies of Advocates’ of the General Council of the Bar of South Africa.
A period of one year’s apprenticeship (‘pupillage’) including an examination is a pre-requisite to join the Bar, a person will also have to pass the National Bar Examination of the General Council of the Bar, which is a test of the person’s practical ability.
During pupilage, a pupil advocate will be paired with an experienced advocate to
see how work is carried out in chambers and in the courts, pupilage is a learning experience, not a job, and is unpaid.
Once you have been admitted as an advocate depending on the appropriate levels of expertise and experience, one can then apply directly the National Prosecuting Authority for a position as a State Advocate
Below are steps to Become A State Advocate In South Africa
Step 1: Learn About Legal Jobs and Careers
Someone contemplating a career as a lawyer should conduct research on the legal field to gauge whether he or she would enjoy life as a lawyer, attorneys suggest.
One valuable resource is the “Discover Law” portal on the Law School Admission Council website, which includes a lot of information about what it is like to be a lawyer and the contributions someone with a law degree can make to society.
Step 2: Cultivate Communication and Reasoning Skills and Develop a Strong Work Ethic
Once a person has determined that the legal profession is a good fit, he or she should start seeking out academic and extracurricular experiences that will prepare him or her to be a great lawyer.
Aspiring lawyers should take classes that involve extensive reading and writing so that they can become better readers and writers, since those skills are critical to most legal jobs, according to law school professors.
Step 3: Decide if You’ll Attend Law School or Read the Law as a Legal Apprentice
Though most S.A states require licensed attorneys to have a law degree, there are states such as South Africa and Vermont where it is possible to become a lawyer without attending law school if the person spends several years working and training under the supervision of a practicing attorney.
This is known as “reading the law” and is rare for aspiring attorneys to do nowadays, though it used to be a common practice
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 do state advocates earn in South Africa?
State advocates at the entry level will be paid R483 915 while grade 2 advocates will earn R570 021. Special investigators salaries vary from R180 000 up to R726 330. The new salaries were drawn up after consultation with the national director of public prosecutions and the public service and administration minister.
How long does it take to become a advocate?
Before law school, students must complete a Bachelor’s degree in any subject (law isn’t an undergraduate degree), which takes four years. Then, students complete their Juris Doctor (JD) degree over the next three years. In total, law students in the United States are in school for at least seven years.
Is an advocate higher than a lawyer?
An advocate is a specialist lawyer who represents clients in a court of law. Unlike an attorney, an advocate does not deal directly with the client – the attorney refers the client to an advocate when the situation requires it.
How much do advocates earn in South Africa per month?
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 does a senior advocate earn in South Africa?
A mid-career Senior Counsel with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of R816,061 based on 12 salaries. An experienced Senior Counsel with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R1,094,983 based on 7 salaries.
How do advocates get paid?
Advocates are typically paid on a salary basis. The median annual salary in the United States is $33,634.