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Conversion frm JD to LLM

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Pawulo

Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Conversion frm JD to LLM
Fri Feb 09, 2007 08:54 PM
Does anyone know whether on has to convert a JD (US law degree) to an LLM to practice in SA.? If one must either convert or simply start over, how long a course would it be?
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Lit

Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 65
Conversion frm JD to LLM
Wed Mar 07, 2007 06:11 AM
The Attorney's Act, which is the Act that governs attorney's practicing in SA, states specifically that you must have either an LLB or equivalent or superior degree from a foreign jurisdiction. So, I think a JD would be at least equivalent, from my understanding of the American system. Further from that, before you can be admitted as an attorney in SA, you must undergo articles of clerkship for a period of two years, at which time you will be called a Candidate Attorney. During that two years, you write 4 exams and if you pass those, you will be admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of SA. Which means you practice in a firm of attorneys, though you generally do not appear in High Court, because advocates do that, and that's a whole other story.

Hope this helps.
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aplli1

Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 8
Conversion frm JD to LLM
Thu Apr 05, 2007 09:19 AM
The Attorney's Act, which is the Act that governs attorney's practicing in SA, states specifically that you must have either an LLB or equivalent or superior degree from a foreign jurisdiction. So, I think a JD would be at least equivalent, from my understanding of the American system. Further from that, before you can be admitted as an attorney in SA, you must undergo articles of clerkship for a period of two years, at which time you will be called a Candidate Attorney. During that two years, you write 4 exams and if you pass those, you will be admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of SA. Which means you practice in a firm of attorneys, though you generally do not appear in High Court, because advocates do that, and that's a whole other story.

Hope this helps.


Hi so to clarify, one can still practise as an attorney in SA even with a foreign (in my case UK) LLB degree? I have been trying to get my head around the legislation that governs this area but I'm still unclear as to whether I will need to do another LLB from an SA institution in order to practise.

Further claification would be much appreciated!
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Lit

Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 65
Conversion frm JD to LLM
Fri Apr 20, 2007 08:16 AM
Hi aplli, from my interpretation of the Act, which is a notoriously ambiguous piece of legislation, a UK LLB, becuase it is at least equivalent to our LLB, which can be a 5 -year post-grad degree or 4-year undergrad degree, would suffice for you to just enter into practice and start doing your articles. But please note that that is not an official view. If you can, phone the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, that is the Law Society that governs attorneys practising in Johannesburg and Pretoria, they should have a quick answer for you.

And note further that I do not know what requirements you would have to meet in terms of a work permit and so on, but I am pretty certain that a UK LLB would be enough for you to start articles and two years later, voila, you're an attorney in SA.
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