A legal career is an appealing prospect for many people, as it can be lucrative and rewarding. However, many people fail to account for how challenging it can be to become a lawyer, attorney, or advocate. As for any of these professions, you will need an LLB degree, which takes at least three years to obtain.
You may consider a paralegal career as an alternative to becoming a lawyer, attorney, advocate, or any other legal professional. As a paralegal, you will still be able to work in law and earn a decent income. That is why we decided to take a look at this alternative and the different types of paralegals, allowing you to find the right alternative career for you.
Lawyer, attorney, and advocate
Before we can take a look at a paralegal career as an alternative to becoming a lawyer, attorney, or advocate, we must first understand the difference between these positions.
- Lawyer: A lawyer is any person working in the legal profession with an LLB degree.
- Attorney: An attorney is a legal professional who has an LLB degree, has completed their articles and has written and passed their board exams before being admitted as an attorney in the High Court of South Africa.
- Advocate: An advocate specialises in representing clients in court; however, they don't deal directly with clients.
What is a paralegal?
Paralegals are often known as legal assistants. This is because they assist lawyers, attorneys, and advocates with many of their duties. This can include drafting legal documents, legal research, administrative work, communicating with clients and more. They serve a vital role in helping legal professionals work more efficiently. These duties will also depend on what field the paralegal specialises in.
A paralegal career as an alternative to becoming a lawyer
To become a lawyer, you must complete your LLB qualification, which can be challenging. This is why a great alternative if you still want to work within the legal space is becoming a paralegal. To become a paralegal in South Africa, you only need to complete a diploma qualification. This will equip you with the knowledge and skills you will need to work in a law firm as a paralegal. A paralegal working in a law firm assists with the legal matters that the law firm handles. This includes administrative tasks, but also legal research and taking statements. This type of paralegal earns, on average, R14 793 per month according to Payscale. With years of experience, this can increase to R29 833 per month, meaning it can be a lucrative career.
A paralegal career as an alternative to becoming an attorney
If you are an LLB graduate, you may want to consider a paralegal career as an alternative to becoming a lawyer, attorney, or advocate. This is because there has been a decrease in demand for attorneys in the past few years as law firms are hiring fewer in-house attorneys. This has caused many LLB graduates to seek other career options, and one of the best alternatives is as a paralegal.
As an LLB graduate, you already possess the foundational knowledge of the law you will need to be a paralegal. Additionally, you can begin working as a paralegal without needing to complete articles, which you would have to do to become an attorney. Working as a paralegal will allow you to use the knowledge you gained completing your LLB and still practise within the legal field you love.
If you want a paralegal career as an alternative to becoming an attorney, one of the best options is to become a corporate paralegal. This type of paralegal is hired by corporations to provide assistance to their legal counsel. They are also often responsible for drafting and preparing legal contracts and can be utilised for training and compliance awareness in the place of legal counsel. Corporate paralegals are amongst the most in-demand at the moment, as many corporations and businesses keep a well-staffed in-house legal team.
A paralegal career as an alternative to becoming an advocate
No paralegal position allows you to directly represent a client in court. However, there is the option of becoming a litigation paralegal.
Litigation paralegals work closely with advocates and assist them in court proceedings. This can include preparing their legal strategy, completing the relevant court filings, and often depositions.
Conclusion
As you can see, a paralegal career as an alternative to becoming a lawyer, attorney, or advocate is quite viable. The qualification requirements are substantially less, making it easier to gain entry to the legal field. Additionally, it can be a lucrative career depending on your level of experience, all while allowing you to still work in the legal field, which is perfect for those with a passion for the law.
The Gawie le Roux Institute of Law offers various general and specialised practical paralegal training that will set you apart from your peers. Enrol today!
This blog was last updated on 15/08/2025