The Cabinet had approved a law that would create community service for legal graduates along similar lines to that of doctors, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said yesterday. Introducing his budget vote to the National Assembly, Radebe also announced a major reversal of the government’s position on the Superior Courts Bill.

The Council on Higher Education (CHE) is investigating the effectiveness of the South African LLB degree. The Council on Higher Education (CHE) is planning a large-scale survey of law professionals and those who employ law professionals as part of a project to investigate the effectiveness of the LLB degree in South Africa.

As the global recession bites, competition for articles at private firms is stiffer than ever. But there are many alternatives.   Most legal graduandi have their sights on a career in the private sector. For many it comes down to a choice between attorney and advocate.

Eric Levenstein, Werksmans Already hard-pressed for skills, the legal profession sent out distress signals recently as foreign law firms began offering local graduates salaries starting at US$160 000 a year.

For law students, their third year of study is crunch time. Law firms are already recruiting for 2007 and they can’t afford to wait until next year to start making career decisions. The good news for law students is that you’re spoilt for choice: you could join a law firm and do your articles; become a law advisor at one of the big corporates; go into the public service as a state prosecutor; stay on at university and become an academic; or even prepare for the big league as an advocate.