In this blog, we explain to aspiring legal professionals how to become an attorney in South Africa in the shortest amount of time.
Understanding your career path and what it takes to become a top attorney is of vital importance. This will also guide you through your career. If you are currently somewhere on this path, bookmark this blog as a guide and refer to it when you are ready for the next step.
The steps of becoming an attorney are as follows.
1. Passing matric with the right marks
You have to pass matric with the right subjects. To be admitted to UP’s Undergraduate LLB programme, you need an APS of at least 32. You will also have to pass English home language or first additional language with 60-69%.
However, to get admitted to the UNISA LLB programme, you only need an APS of 20 or higher. Additionally, you need to have achieved at least a 50% mark in the language you will study in.
Your matric can be completed at any high school in the world that qualifies for a national senior certificate or similar.
2. Studying LLB
Doing your LLB degree at any South African university can be done right after passing matric and meeting the admission requirements of the university.
An LLB at UP takes at least four years to complete. However, it may take you longer if you struggle to pass all of your subjects. We recommend that you study hard and try your best to pass within four years. This will help you continue to the next phase of becoming an attorney in South Africa.
When studying through UNISA, it also takes at least four years to complete. However, you may take up to 10 years to complete your degree. As most students at UNISA study part-time, it usually takes more than four years to complete.
It is also possible to complete a two-year LLB after a three-year BA in Law or BCom Law degree. This means that your studies will take five years.
3. Doing vacation work at a registered law firm
Most law firms offer vacation work to aspiring attorneys in South Africa. However, most law firms only offer vacation work to third- and fourth-year students.
Doing vacation work during the July and December holidays will separate you from your peers. It will give you real-world experience. This will look good on your resume, which will help you get a job after graduation.
4. Doing your legal articles
This has to be done at a registered law firm in South Africa. During this time, you will work under the supervision of a registered attorney.
You need to have completed your LLB degree to start working as a candidate attorney (candidate legal practitioner) and do your articles of clerkship. However, we recommend that you apply to these firms while you are studying to avoid wasting time.
5. Practical vocational training (PVT or law school)
Nowadays, an LLB graduate has more options available when pursuing admission as a legal practitioner. One of these beneficial options is a 400-hour practical vocational training programme, which enables a candidate attorney to shorten their legal articles and/or apply for admission and enrolment as an attorney earlier.
This blog explains the different practical vocational training options available to LLB graduates and candidate attorneys in South Africa.
6. Preparing for the competency-based exams (board exams)
Completing the board exams is the next step in being admitted as an attorney. You may start to prepare for these exams while you are still a candidate attorney.
The board exams currently consist of four papers that you need to complete, including:
- Paper 1 - Court Procedures
- Paper 2 - Administration of Estates
- Paper 3 - Attorney's Practice (also known as the Ethics paper)
- Paper 4 - Accounting
From 2027 onwards, candidates will need to pass five papers, which will be subdivided as follows:
- Paper 1: Court Practice and Procedures
- Paper 2: Criminal Court Practice and Information and Communications Technology Law
- Paper 3: Wills, Estates and Matrimonial Law
- Paper 4: Legal Ethics, Constitutional Practice, Labour Dispute Resolution, and Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Paper 5: Attorneys' bookkeeping, Legal Costs, and Practice Management
Gawie le Roux’s Attorneys’ admission exam courses will help you prepare for each of the exam papers in full, with recordings and study notes.
Passing these examinations is of the utmost importance.
You will need to register to write the exams at the lpc.org.za. Past exam papers are also available online at no charge.
7. Admission as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
Admission is the final step of becoming an attorney in South Africa. First, complete your articles with a registered law firm, pass your board exams, and complete a programme of structured course work. Then you may apply to the court to be admitted as an attorney.
This is how you can get your application in order.
You have to actually launch an ex parte high court application. A notice of motion together with a founding affidavit must be drafted by the candidate legal practitioner, and the pleadings will then be issued by the court. Additionally, an advocate can be briefed to move forward with the admission.
You also need to be at least 21 years of age and a South African citizen or hold permanent residency.
8. Working as an attorney
Now that you have passed all the requirements and you are admitted as an attorney in South Africa, you can practice law.
Here is a list of different types of lawyers:
- Divorce lawyer
- Family lawyer
- Immigration lawyer
- Commercial lawyer
- Criminal lawyer
- Accident and personal injury lawyer
- Business and corporate lawyer
- Bankruptcy lawyer
- Labour lawyer
- Environmental lawyer
Other tips for becoming an attorney
CV and cover letter
Setting up a good quality CV with all of your experience, high school marks, and achievements, and your work experience is important. It will help you secure vacation work during your studies. Additionally, it will help you to get a job as a candidate attorney.
A cover letter is a vital document that accompanies your CV when applying for work. However, a cover letter needs to be unique for every firm that you apply to as a student, graduate, or attorney.
Interview skills
When prospective employers have looked at your resume, they might invite you to an interview. Competition in the legal market is fierce. Therefore, ensure you learn and practice these interviewing skills.
Additionally, practice answering common interview questions with your fellow students or your family. This will help you to prepare for your vacation work and articles.
People also ask
How long does it take to become a lawyer in South Africa?
It takes at least four years to become a lawyer in South Africa. However, if you would like to become an attorney, you will need to complete a four-year LLB degree and one (if you complete a 400-hour PVT programme) or two years of articles. That’s a total of at least six years.
What are the requirements for becoming a lawyer?
To become an attorney in South Africa, you will need to complete an LLB degree, articles, complete a PVT programme, pass the LPC’s competency-based exams, and be admitted as an attorney by the High Court of South Africa.
How much does an attorney earn in South Africa?
An attorney can earn anything from R400 000 as a junior attorney to R3 500 000 as a senior partner at one of the Big Five law firms in South Africa.
Last updated on 23 June 2026.