This is how much money lawyers get paid in South Africa

 ·16 Feb 2023

The legal profession in South Africa offers one of the highest-paying and most lucrative careers in the country, with many legacy and emerging fields requiring highly skilled individuals to make sure affairs are in order.

According to two salary reviews by professional services and recruitment firms, Michael Page and Robert Walters, it is evident that these professional skills come with salaries to match.

South Africa’s legal sector faces a shortage of skilled specialists, with Michael Page noting a growing gap in the market over the last few years due to attractive international opportunities drawing many local legal professionals to emigrate.

Specifically, specialist lawyers within the banking, finance and mergers & acquisition space are in big demand in South Africa, especially catering to tech law, legal compliance and African experience.

“South Africa is considered a major commercial hub in setting a favourable landscape in support of the exponential growth of the fintech sector, both locally and across the African continent. Lawyers who possess the necessary skills and experience within the fintech / IT and ICT sectors are in high demand during this growth phase,” Michael Page said.

Meanwhile, there has been a notable increase in the need for compliance professionals as companies are expected to comply with relevant legislation and regulations to mitigate business risk and operate in an ethical manner.

“Knowledge and implementation of the POPI Act have been of special interest since companies have had to be fully compliant since mid-2021,” the firm said.

Given the local constraints on available skills, however, the group said that companies will have to regularly evaluate their attraction and retention strategies of specialist hires in order to remain competitive and be considered as a compelling employer of choice in the current market.

“Clearly defined growth and succession plans, lucrative salaries and incentive structures, exposure to top quality work and a progressive work culture are some of the main considerations.”

Salaries

When it comes to salaries then, it is clear why legal professionals are drawing premium earnings.

Based on Michale Page’s salary data, even support staff within legal firms, such as legal secretaries who draw the smallest salary of between R300,000 and R550,000 per year (R25,000 to R46,000 a month) still out-earn the average salary in the country.

Those who have the mettle to stick it out and soar up the ranks of top law firms, meanwhile, can end up earning over R5 million a year as a senior partner (over R415,000 a month).

Fresh graduates, operating as candidate attorneys, also start out at R25,000 a month.

Robert Walters’ data shows an even bigger salary range for entry-level lawyers, with associates earning R600,000 a year.

The tables below outline the minimum and maximum estimates for legal sector salaries from both recruitment firms.

Michael Page

Job Function From To
Senior Partner Top Local and International Practice R1 800 000 R5 000 000 +
General Counsel / Head of Legal In-house R1 700 000 R3 500 000
Chief Compliance Officer / Head of Compliance Legal Compliance R1 700 000 R2 500 000
Group Company Secretary Company Secretary R1 500 000 R2 200 000
Junior Partner Top Local and International Practice R1 400 000 R1 750 000
Senior Counsel In-house R1 200 000 R1 600 000
Senior Compliance Manager Legal Compliance R1 200 000 R1 600 000
Company Secretary Company Secretary R1 000 000 R1 500 000
Senior Associate Top Local and International Practice R900 000 R1 300 000
Legal Counsel In-house R750 000 R1 100 000
Compliance Manager Legal Compliance R750 000 R1 100 000
Assistant Company Secretary Company Secretary R700 000 R1 000 000
Associate Top Local and International Practice R600 000 R800 000
Junior Counsel In-house R550 000 R700 000
Paralegal Support Staff R450 000 R680 000
Candidate Attorney Top Local and International Practice R300 000 R420 000
Legal Secretary Support Staff R300 000 R550 000

Robert Walters

Job Function From To
General Counsel In-house – Commerce & Industry R2 500 000 R2 500 000
General Counsel In-house – Financial Services R2 500 000 R2 500 000
Equity Director / Senior Director Private Practice (Large Firm) R2 000 000 R2 000 000
Head of Legal In-house – Commerce & Industry R1 500 000 R2 500 000
Head of Legal In-house – Financial Services R1 500 000 R2 500 000
Junior Director/ Salaried Director Private Practice (Large Firm) R1 300 000 R1 900 000
Equity Director / Senior Director Private Practice (Boutique Firm) R1 200 000 R1 200 000
Senior Legal Advisor/Counsel In-house – Commerce & Industry R1 000 000 R1 500 000
Senior Legal Advisor/Counsel In-house – Financial Services R1 000 000 R1 500 000
Senior Associate Private Practice (Large Firm) R900 000 R1 300 000
Junior Director / Salaried Director Private Practice (Boutique Firm) R900 000 R1 200 000
Associate Private Practice (Large Firm) R900 000 R900 000
Legal Advisor/Counsel In-house – Financial Services R750 000 R1 000 000
Junior Legal Advisor/Counsel In-house – Financial Services R750 000 R750 000
Legal Advisor/Counsel In-house – Commerce & Industry R700 000 R1 000 000
Junior Legal Advisor/Counsel In-house – Commerce & Industry R700 000 R700 000
Senior Associate Private Practice (Boutique Firm) R600 000 R900 000
Associate Private Practice (Boutique Firm) R600 000 R600 000

Read: Some CEOs in South Africa are paid up to 700 times more than their workers

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