There are no formal personality requirements for studying law or being admitted as a legal practitioner in South Africa. Admission to an LLB turns on academic results, and admission to practise turns on qualifications, practical vocational training and a fit and proper assessment.
The fit and proper requirement is the closest thing to a character test, and it is real. It concerns honesty and integrity rather than personality, and a history of dishonesty can bar admission regardless of academic record.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
The attributes legal practice consistently demands include the following.
- Precision in reading and writing, since the discipline turns on exact language
- The ability to construct and test an argument rather than assert a position
- Tolerance for detail and volume of documentation
- Composure under adversarial pressure, particularly in litigation
- Discretion, since the work involves confidential information
- Honesty and integrity, which are formally assessed for admission
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Formally, entry requires a bachelor pass and the subject and points requirements each law faculty sets. See law requirements for the academic requirements.
Admission as a legal practitioner requires that you be a fit and proper person, assessed by the court on application. This concerns honesty and integrity, and criminal convictions involving dishonesty are a serious obstacle.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
No school subject assesses temperament. Language subjects at a high level matter most academically, since the discipline rests on precise reading and argument.
Debating, mooting and any activity requiring you to argue a position you may not hold are genuinely useful preparation, and they also tell you whether the work suits you.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Law is a broad profession, and the attributes that suit litigation differ from those that suit corporate, academic or public interest work. Disliking adversarial argument does not exclude you from law.
If you are weighing whether law suits you, arrange to observe court proceedings or spend time in a legal practice. Both are accessible and informative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there formal personality requirements for law?
No. Admission to study turns on academic results. Admission to practise requires that you be a fit and proper person, which concerns honesty and integrity.
What does fit and proper mean?
It is a character assessment made by the court on admission, concerning honesty and integrity. Convictions involving dishonesty are a serious obstacle.
Do I need to enjoy arguing?
Not necessarily. Litigation is adversarial, but corporate, academic and public interest law suit different temperaments.
How do I know if law suits me?
Observe court proceedings or spend time in a legal practice. Both are accessible and informative.
Confirm admission requirements with each law faculty and fit and proper requirements with the Legal Practice Council. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.