Legal consultancy is a way to use your law knowledge to help businesses and people, if you have a law degree but don’t want to spend all your time in court. But you should know what the job is all about and how to get started.
Here’s a simple guide to becoming a legal consultant in South Africa:
What Does a Legal Consultant Do?
Legal consultants are like legal experts who give advice in a specific area of law. Unlike regular lawyers, they don’t go to court to represent people. Instead, they help clients understand the legal rules, write contracts, and make sure they’re following all the laws.
They give advice to organizations and support for complex regulations and risk management, offering expertise to help them with legal matters. They help companies to operate in alignment with new laws. They also do the following:
- They give legal opinions on contracts and agreements;
- Advise businesses on how to follow the rules;
- Help with solving disagreements and making deals;
- Check and write legal documents; and give advice on things like employment law, property law, and taxes. For example, legal consultants help their clients to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements;
- They help organizations create or revise policies to align with current legal standards and best practices;
- They provide legal opinions on policies; and they offer guidance on intellectual property law.
- Some also work inside companies, giving legal advice on how to follow the rules, negotiate contracts, and create policies.
What’s the difference between a Legal Consultant and a Lawyer?
Legal Consultants offer assistance without court representation; Lawyers offer full legal services, including going to court.
What are the responsibilities of a Legal Consultant?
They create and review documents, assist organizations in creating policies, provide legal opinions, advise businesses on governance, assist with dispute resolution, and offer guidance on employment law.
What does a Legal Advisor do?
A Legal Advisor provides legal services, advice, analyses information, and assists the Manager with legal matters.
What does a Legal team at Standard Bank do?
A Legal team at Standard Bank delivers sustainable value to stakeholders and clients, achieves strategic objectives and goals, and follows a collaborative approach by sourcing the required expertise across the Legal function.
Educational Requirements
To become a legal consultant in South Africa, you need a good education in law. Here’s what you’ll likely need:
- Get a Law Degree (LLB): You’ll need a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognized South African university.
- Practical Training (Optional): Some consultants do an internship or “articles” to get experience, but it’s not always needed. You also need to undergo practical vocational training and a legal practice management course.
- Specialize: You might need extra qualifications or certifications depending on what area of law you want to focus on, like corporate law or tax law.
- Stay Up-to-Date: It’s important to keep learning about changes in the law to stay competitive.
Skills Needed for Legal Consultants
To be a good legal consultant, you need more than just a law degree. You’ll need to be able to think analytically, understand risks and find solutions, pay attention to details, communicate clearly, negotiate well, and understand how businesses work.
Career Paths and Specializations
You can specialize in different areas as a legal consultant:
- Corporate Law: Helping businesses follow the rules and create contracts.
- Employment Law: Helping companies with workplace issues and labor laws.
- Intellectual Property: Helping clients protect their patents and copyrights.
- Tax Law: Giving advice on tax rules and regulations.
- Real Estate Law: Helping with buying, selling, and renting property.
Where Legal Consultants Can Work
Legal consultants can work in places like:
- Law Firms: Giving advice on a contract basis.
- Corporations: Working as legal advisors inside companies.
- Government & NGOs: Helping with policies and legal compliance.
- Freelance Consulting: Running your own business and working with different clients.
How to Become a Freelance Legal Consultant
To become a freelance legal consultant, you need to start your own business and advertise your services online. Before opening a law practice, an attorney must be admitted as such by the High Court; be enrolled to practice by the South African Legal Practice Council (LPC); operate a trust account; and have a Fidelity Fund certificate.
Salary Expectations in South Africa
How much you earn depends on your experience and specialization. Here’s a general idea:
- Starting Out: R250,000 – R400,000 per year (0-3 years of experience)
- Mid-Level: R450,000 – R750,000 per year (4-7 years of experience)
- Experienced: R800,000+ per year (8+ years of experience)
Freelance consultants can sometimes earn more.
How to Start Your Career
- Get Experience: Work at a law firm to learn the ropes.
- Specialize: Pick an area of law to focus on.
- Network: Meet people in the legal industry.
- Get Certified: Consider getting extra certifications to show you’re qualified.
Becoming a legal consultant can be a good choice for law graduates who want to give legal advice without going to court. If you have the right skills and a good business plan, you can have a successful career.