Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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This is the time of year when I get non-stop e-mails from candidate attorneys seeking employment at the firm. They are applying not for now, but in fact for 2014, although there are some that apply for immediate positions. In the past week alone we received over 20 applications – and we don’t even have a position available.
It is really a sign of a profession that has too many people in it already, and has bigger and bigger numbers of people trying to become attorneys each and every year. There is very little work for the vast majority of them to do, and while of course many of them will end up being very successful, a lot of them will not. A law degree is however a great tool for business and perhaps as many as 50% of them ultimately will not end up in law. What many people don’t understand however is that a firm can only take on three candidate attorneys per director of the firm and that is per director who has been a director for three years or more, so you cannot just appoint other people as directors and then take on more candidate attorneys – they need to have three years’ experience of being a director. Our three candidate attorney positions are full at the moment.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 12-Mar-13
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Comments
Nicolette said:
on Friday 05-Jul-13 08:22 PM
From a LLB graduate's perspective this is indeed a huge problem. However, the problem does not only lie with the graduates but with the firms or HR departments of the firms in not being able to recognise skill and dedication from a candidate's CV. I am a LLB graduate, with a B.Pharm and six years experience in the medical field. I am willing to give up an income of more or less R500 000 a year to follow my dream of becoming a specialist attorney. Not enough dedication or too many episodes of Law and Order you say? Please READ an applicant's CV before you make up your mind and miss out on an opportunity for you firm.
Lucretia said:
on Thursday 04-Apr-13 04:09 PM
Given the vast number of applications I have received, proves that it is a field many want to be in. However, the market is saturated as it is. What does one do in a matter like this though, do you approach the universities or do we continue turning out employee's that may not become employed at a later stage. Difficult and I would love a response to this.
sarah said:
on Thursday 14-Mar-13 09:07 AM
Young adults watch series like law and order and think that is how it is supposed to be , but in reality it is not and they land up begging for a job, all their time and effect is wasted.
Tans said:
on Thursday 14-Mar-13 06:04 AM
I think that a law degree is a still a post-graduate degree in other systems similar to ours. Maybe that is the problem? I am sure less people would finish law school if it required an undergraduate degree first like it used to be.
Juliet said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 02:05 PM
Most qualifications lead the degree holder down a lane ending with a dead end, however, this lane is generally longer than the lane those without a degree travel down....
Cherise said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 02:00 PM
I think being a lawyer Is not a job for everyone, but it is sad that you put all this time and effore into becomming a lawyer and half wont even end up doing what they wanted to do.
Julie said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 12:11 PM
I too have seen quite a few cv's coming through for candidate positions - and yet, every second person you speak to who is studying, is studying law. It is quite sad indeed that they have to go around begging attorneys seeking employment
Benita said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 12:09 PM
This is one of the reasons that I did not end up studying law
Jessica said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 11:43 AM
I think kids that study law think that it is quick easy money, where as it really isn't, all the work that has to get done in the process is allot and they should not be fooled. I really do think that too many people are studying law.
Yolandi P said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 11:37 AM
I have concidered obtaining my law degree just to have that extra advantage in my chosen fields. combining law, criminology and psychology makes it easier to work in the field of victimology or trauma counselling. Just an idea though...
Angelique said:
on Tuesday 12-Mar-13 08:48 AM
Its sad that most jobs in law are already taken and there is really not a big demand. I agree its a good degree to still have so I for one would still study law as one would still benefit from having a law degree even if its not directly in a law firm.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
