Career Guide to the Legal Profession
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It should be noted that the qualifications and entry requirements in respect of all the
above institutions differ: Further that, in addition to career opportunities in these fields,
there are a wide variety of opportunities available for law graduates as legal academics
and as legal advisers in the commercial, public service and non government service
sectors.
2. THE LEGAL PROFESSION
The legal profession in South Africa offers a variety of career possibilities to the person
interested in the field of law. Before embarking on this exciting and rewarding career, it
is, however, necessary to know what the academic requirements, the nature of work and
the promotion possibilities are for each of the careers available within the legal
profession. All people who earn their living by practicing the law are called lawyers,
including judges, magistrates, advocates, attorneys, and university lecturers.
The transformation of the legal profession in South Africa is currently a ‘hot’ debate,
with professional legal practitioners’ (ie attorneys’ and advocates’) designated fields of
work and statutory oversight bodies possibly being changed in the future – see the Legal
Practice Bill. There is a strong drive, from some parties, for the legal profession to be
more ‘service-orientated’ than what it currently is. In doing so, however, the Law
Society of South Africa is striving for independence of the legal profession to be left
unscathed.
Since people with legal qualifications are found in almost all sectors of employment, it
will be impossible to discuss ALL the career possibilities available to them. However,
the current state of the economy and the high rate of unemployment have also had an
effect on the careers available to law graduates. This guide is, therefore, limited to the
following careers available in the legal profession: the attorneys' profession, the
advocates' profession, the legal adviser and positions available in the Department of
Justice.