I am soon to complete my LLB at a Scottish university and I wondered if anybody could provide me with any information regarding the possibility of working in South Africa. I wondered if anyone had any practical advice on the matter i.e. whether it is a complete non starter or an idea of the costs or other potentially mammoth pitfalls. I would welcome any advice or hints as I seem to have hit a brick wall! Thanks

Snudger:I had made the point in an earlier post that my reading of the Attorney's Act (the Act governing attorney's practice in SA) is that you need to have an LLB degree or its equivalent in order to enter articles of clerkship, or what is now called being a candidate attorney. You serve your articles for two years, during which time you write 4 exams and then you should get admitted as an attorney (what the Brits call a Solicitor). Please note that you also need to be a citizen or resident of SA in order to be admitted as an attorney. I'm honestly not sure on what the requirements are to attain residency, but I know it is a problem for a lot of people (there's actually a case in one of the SA High Courts right now dealing with this). Maybe speak to the South African Embassy in Scotland and ask them, they should tell you the requirements.

But if you have an LLB, especially from a common law country, that's half the problem dealt with. I hope that helps. If you want to be an advocate, what the Brits call a barrister, there's a whole different procedure: it is a less popular option as you serve your pupilage for I think a year, and you don't get paid in that period, whereas whilst doing articles, you get paid and your salary should double upon being admitted as an attorney.

Anyhow, a South African interpretation given to what was originally the Queen's system. Hope it helps.