Does anyone know whether on has to convert a JD (US law degree) to an LLM to practice in SA.? If one must either convert or simply start over, how long a course would it be?

The Attorney's Act, which is the Act that governs attorney's practicing in SA, states specifically that you must have either an LLB or equivalent or superior degree from a foreign jurisdiction. So, I think a JD would be at least equivalent, from my understanding of the American system. Further from that, before you can be admitted as an attorney in SA, you must undergo articles of clerkship for a period of two years, at which time you will be called a Candidate Attorney. During that two years, you write 4 exams and if you pass those, you will be admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of SA. Which means you practice in a firm of attorneys, though you generally do not appear in High Court, because advocates do that, and that's a whole other story.

Hope this helps.

The Attorney's Act, which is the Act that governs attorney's practicing in SA, states specifically that you must have either an LLB or equivalent or superior degree from a foreign jurisdiction. So, I think a JD would be at least equivalent, from my understanding of the American system. Further from that, before you can be admitted as an attorney in SA, you must undergo articles of clerkship for a period of two years, at which time you will be called a Candidate Attorney. During that two years, you write 4 exams and if you pass those, you will be admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of SA. Which means you practice in a firm of attorneys, though you generally do not appear in High Court, because advocates do that, and that's a whole other story.

Hope this helps.

Hi aplli, from my interpretation of the Act, which is a notoriously ambiguous piece of legislation, a UK LLB, becuase it is at least equivalent to our LLB, which can be a 5 -year post-grad degree or 4-year undergrad degree, would suffice for you to just enter into practice and start doing your articles. But please note that that is not an official view. If you can, phone the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, that is the Law Society that governs attorneys practising in Johannesburg and Pretoria, they should have a quick answer for you.

And note further that I do not know what requirements you would have to meet in terms of a work permit and so on, but I am pretty certain that a UK LLB would be enough for you to start articles and two years later, voila, you're an attorney in SA.