The legal field has a reputation for being one of the most lucrative career paths in South Africa. While this can be true it is only one of the wonders this field has to offer. A career in law can be challenging but also rewarding as legal professionals often help people in their darkest moments.
If you have found a passion for the intricacies and beauty of the law and you wish to begin a career in the field, there are many options available in the field beyond becoming a lawyer or a judge. One of the best places to start your career in law is as a paralegal.
Being a paralegal is a good career in South Africa with the demand for qualified practitioners growing every day. It can also be quite a lucrative career with the average salary for a paralegal being about R18,500 per month. Additionally, it offers an introduction to the field of law with hands-on practical experience. That is why we decided to take a look at how to become a paralegal in South Africa.
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal, also known as a legal assistant or legal secretary, is a vital member of a legal team who assists with administrative and legal work in a legal team. While they are not qualified lawyers they work with lawyers and other legal professionals, by helping them with supportive tasks. They do whatever they can to support the legal professionals they work with to execute their duties.
The duties of a paralegal
A paralegal performs many duties within a legal office to assist the legal professionals they work for. These duties will vary depending on the office they work in, but can include the following:
- Legal research: Most legal cases require a substantial amount of research into the relevant laws and precedents surrounding the case. This work is often given to paralegals as they possess the legal knowledge to thoroughly investigate the case.
- Administrative support: Paralegals often perform administrative work in a law firm. This can include office filling, but also paperwork for legal proceedings, like court filings.
- Drafting documents: Paralegals are also often responsible for drafting legal documentation. These can include contracts like deeds, wills, trusts and many more depending on the qualifications of the paralegal.
- Negotiations: Paralegals are often involved in negotiations between parties in a legal dispute. This can include mediation proceedings which are now mandatory before litigation can commence in South Africa.
- Client liaison: Another important role of a paralegal is communication with clients. This can include setting up appointments, meeting with clients to take their statements, and communicating information about their cases with them.
These are just some of the duties a paralegal will be expected to perform. As you can see they play a vital role in any legal team, freeing up precious time for the other legal professionals.
Are you suited to become a paralegal?
Before we look at how to become a paralegal in South Africa, you may be wondering if you are suited to this career. To succeed as a paralegal it is important that you possess the following qualities:
- Passion for the law: Above all else, it is important that you are passionate about the law. This is important as being a paralegal can be challenging at times with long hours and little appreciation. Being passionate about the law will help you to push through challenging times to succeed.
- Organised: It is important to be organised as a paralegal as you will handle appointments and other administrative tasks for your legal team.
- Analytical: Law is a complex field that can be difficult to understand. An analytical mind can help to understand the complex beauty of the law, while also assisting you in legal research.
- Communicative: As a client liaison, it is important that you can effectively communicate across mediums. This includes email, telephonically, and in-person communication skills.
How to become a paralegal in South Africa
Now that you have a better understanding of what a paralegal is and what they do, we are ready to look at how to become a paralegal in South Africa. While you don’t need a law degree to become a paralegal you will need an understanding of the South African legal system. These include the following topics:
- Legal practice: A paralegal must have an understanding of how a legal practice works. This includes the court structure, the legal profession, and an attorney’s office.
- South African law: Knowledge of South African law is also vital for a paralegal. This includes the law itself, its sources (how laws are made), classification, and history. All of this is necessary to effectively work in the legal profession.
- Practical legal skills: There are also several practical legal skills you will need. These include legal conduct, file management, wills and testaments, civil procedure, correspondence and more.
In order to obtain all of these skills you will need to complete a paralegal qualification. These qualifications can be a higher certificate, which is entry-level, or a diploma which is the preferred qualification.
While there are many paralegal courses available, one of the best is offered by the Gawie le Roux Institute of Law. This general course for paralegals consists of three modules that provide fundamental knowledge of the law and the formal legal environment in South Africa. This acts as a foundation upon which you can build your legal career. The course awards a certificate upon completion of each of the three modules, which will set you apart from your peers. Once you possess your qualification you can begin your exciting career as a paralegal.
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