As law graduates, we often hear stories about graduates who have searched for legal articles for years, only to be met with rejection and disappointment. One way to secure legal articles in South Africa involves drafting an excellent curriculum vitae (CV), motivation letter, and cover email.
You’ll also have to research various law firms and email the abovementioned documents to these law firms individually. Let’s have a look at all the steps.
Curriculum vitae
Ensure that your CV is error-free and contains the following details:
1. Your personal details.
2. A list of relevant skills you possess.
3. The qualifications you have obtained and any achievements related thereto.
4. Your employment history, including job shadowing and volunteer work, and a short list of duties and skills you have obtained from each job.
5. References.
Click here for a free CV template.
Motivation letter
Your letter of motivation should be less than two pages and contain your contact details.
Your first paragraph should be used to state your qualifications and your relevant work experience.
The following paragraphs should state which skills you have obtained while obtaining your qualifications and carrying out your duties in your previous employment positions and how those skills will assist you in carrying out your duties as a candidate attorney.
End your letter by thanking the reader for perusing it and asking them to contact you if they need further documentation and/or information.
Click here for a free example of a motivation letter.
Researching law firms
When researching law firms, try to do so by city, for example, search, “law firms in Cape Town”. Write down the names and email addresses of all the law firms in the area. You should, thereafter, Google each firm and ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I want to work at this firm?
2. Why do I want to work at this firm?
Once you have answered these questions, determine which firms you want to apply to.
Click here for a list of over 200 established law firms operating in South Africa.
Drafting and sending application emails
Draft a standard email to send to the firms you have identified. Your email should be broken down into the following parts:
1. An introduction, which explains that you want to apply for a position as a candidate attorney.
2. A section which states your qualifications and relevant work experience.
3. A section which states why you want to work at this particular firm and how you can add value to the firm. This is the only section of the email which will change according to the firm you are applying to.
4. A conclusion that thanks the reader for perusing the email and states that you have attached your CV and motivation letter for their consideration.
It is best to choose about five to ten firms to send emails to each day. Some candidates send dozens of emails before receiving positive responses. Remember to keep your emails brief.
Click here for a free example of a cover email.
Feedback from a law firm
If a firm replies to your email and informs you that they do not have a vacancy, respond to the email by thanking them for reverting.
If a law firm contacts you, informing you that you have been selected for an interview, you should thank them and thoroughly prepare for the interview. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind while preparing for the interview:
1. Peruse all the information on the firm’s website (and/or social media pages) and take note of the areas of law in which they specialise.
2. Brush up on your basic knowledge of that area of law.
3. Google common interview questions and prepare answers to these questions.
Issues prospective candidates might face
Not having a driving licence and/or car
If you do not have a licence or your own car*, it is best to disclose this in the interview. When disclosing this, you should explain how you will perform the duties of a candidate attorney efficiently, without a licence and/or car. If you are planning on using services such as Uber or Bolt to get around, tell the interviewer and assure them that you will never be late when carrying out your duties as a candidate attorney.
*By law, having a licence or your own vehicle may not be a requirement for candidate attorney positions (refer to Rule 22.1.11.1 of the Legal Practice Council (LPC) rules). However, many firms still consider this.
Your work experience does not fit the job description
Many law graduates omit certain positions which they have held in the past, believing that their experience is not relevant. You should always consider the transferable skills you have gained in your previous positions and include them in your CV and motivation letter.
Medical conditions and being neurodivergent
Disclosing your diagnosis is optional. However, I recommend disclosing it, especially if you need reasonable accommodations. If you choose to disclose it, do so during the interview. You need to assure the interviewer that you are managing your diagnosis well and that it will not affect your work negatively.
Conclusion
Although the market is saturated, it is possible to secure legal articles. You must ensure that your CV, motivation letter, and cover email are error-free and appealing. Then thoroughly research law firms and send personalised emails to these firms, requesting a position as a candidate attorney. Thoroughly prepare for any interviews.
Lastly, do not allow personal obstacles to deter you from applying for positions.
About the author
Jamie-Lee Links is a Candidate Attorney at Lowe & Petersen Attorneys.
Disclaimer: Although the abovementioned method of securing legal articles has worked for some, there is no guarantee that it will work for all applicants in an oversaturated market. These guidelines and templates were designed by the author after having secured articles herself.
Last updated on 21 January 2025