How Long Does it Take to Become a Personal Injury Lawyer in South Africa?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Personal Injury Lawyer

It takes a minimum of 6 years to become a personal injury lawyer, including a 4-year law degree and 2 years of articles of clerkship. After completing the degree and articles, you must pass the board exams and be admitted by the High Court to practice law. You must first qualify as a lawyer (attorney) and then specialize in personal injury law. That process generally takes about 6-8 years from start to finish.

Check out the full timeline:

Step 1: LLB Degree — 4 Years

• You must earn a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited South African university.

• This gives you the academic foundation in law, including Law of Delict — the area that covers personal injury cases.

Duration: 4 years (or 2 years if you already have another bachelor’s degree)

Step 2: Practical Legal Training — 1 to 2 Years

After your LLB, you must complete practical legal training before you can be admitted as an attorney.

You have two options:

• Articles of Clerkship (2 years): Work under a practicing attorney to gain real-world experience.

• Law School (PLT) + Articles (1 year): Attend a 6-month Practical Legal Training (PLT) course at a School for Legal Practice and complete 1 year of articles.

Duration: 1–2 years total

Step 3: Pass the Attorneys’ Admission Exams — ~6 Months

You’ll need to pass four Legal Practice Council (LPC) exams covering:

1. Legal Practice

2. Civil & Criminal Procedure

3. Attorney’s Practice, Ethics & the Legal Profession

4. Wills & Estates

You can take these exams during or after your articles.

Duration: Around 6 months (often overlaps with your practical training)

Step 4: Admission as an Attorney — ~3 Months

After passing your exams and completing your articles or PLT, you’ll apply to the High Court to be admitted as an attorney.
This process takes a few months for approval and registration.

Duration: 3 months (approx.)

Step 5: Specialize in Personal Injury Law — 1 to 2 Years

Once admitted, you can specialize by:

• Joining a personal injury law firm (especially those dealing with Road Accident Fund or medical negligence claims).

• Taking short courses in Delict, Insurance Law, or Medical Negligence.

• Gaining courtroom and litigation experience in injury-related cases.

Duration: 1–2 years of focused experience and specialization.

Total Time: 6–8 Years