Specialist professional recruitment firm Robert Walters has published its annual salary survey for 2021.<\/p>\n
Jason Grundy,\u00a0 managing director of Robert Walters for the Middle East & Africa, said that the\u00a0pandemic and global crisis naturally resulted in an immediate downturn in hiring, with a shift from functions promoting growth and expansion, towards functions supporting stability, cash flow, and essential services.<\/p>\n
“Cost-saving measures, reallocation of current resources and critical hires, which promote the streamlining of business operations have been evident,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We anticipate businesses to continue to be conservative when it comes to salary increases. Overall salaries are to remain static and in certain areas, reduced.”<\/p>\n
Grundy added that professionals looking to increase their earnings most likely would need to seek new opportunities, however, new starters should still expect conservative salary increases when moving roles.<\/p>\n
“In addition, we expect reduced bonuses in line with company performance and their need to maintain a strong cash position.<\/p>\n
“We foresee organisations taking a flexible approach to benefits packages as a way of retaining top talent. These benefits would likely include measures to support the new operating model, such as work from home.”<\/p>\n
Legal jobs in South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n The most in-demand jobs in South Africa\u2019s legal sector include associates specialising in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance and legal advisors.<\/p>\n Legal professionals are also proving to be highly mobile, with 19% surveyed being open to new job offers \u2013 mainly looking for a pay rise or career progression.<\/p>\n The average tenure for legal professionals in South Africa is sitting at just over two years.<\/p>\n The table below outline the salaries legal minds can expect to earn in South Africa, based on their job type.<\/p>\n These figures exclude bonuses, and regional variations may apply for Cape Town or Durban.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n
\n In-house – Commerce and Industry<\/th>\n 2021 annual salary range<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n General Counsel<\/td>\n R1 500 000\u00a0 – R3 500 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Junior Counsel<\/td>\n R400 000 – R550 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Legal Counsel<\/td>\n R600 000 – R850 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Senior Legal Counsel<\/td>\n R900 000 – R1 400 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n
\n In-house – Financial Services<\/th>\n 2021 annual salary range<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n General Counsel<\/td>\n R1 500 000\u00a0 – R3 500 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Junior Counsel<\/td>\n R400,000 – R600,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Legal Counsel<\/td>\n R650,000 – R950,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Senior Legal Counsel<\/td>\n R1 000 000 – R1 400 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\n
\n Private Practice<\/th>\n 2021 annual salary range<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n \n Associate<\/td>\n R650 000 – R850 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Newly Qualified<\/td>\n R550 000 – R620 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Partner<\/td>\n R1 200 000 – R1 800 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Senior Associate<\/td>\n R850 000 – R1 200 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Senior Partner<\/td>\n R2 000 000 – R3 500 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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