Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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It is quite interesting to go through the statistics of the Law Society of South Africa in terms of the articles registered and the number of attorneys admitted each year. The profession has changed quite considerably, so whereas for example in 1998 29% of all attorneys admitted were black, by 2012 that had grown to 52% or the majority of those being admitted. In 2012 48% of those admitted as attorneys were white and 47% were male. If one goes back to 1998, 63% of those being admitted to the legal profession as attorneys were male and only 37% were female and over the years the number of females being admitted to the profession has climbed steadily, peaking in 2009 and although the percentage was down for 2012 at 53%, the legal profession is still now dominated by females entrants to the profession.
Graduates of University reflect the future of the profession, and in 2012 65% of graduates at University were black and 56% of them were female. That is University graduates. If we take the statistics another four years back and get to first year law students, the current statistics are that 22% of first year law students are currently white with 78% being black and 57% are female with 33% being male. In short, the profession has undergone a remarkable transformation in the last 10 years or so, and it will continue to do so with the vast majority of future attorneys being black and many more females than males. The issue that is not addressed however is what work all of those attorneys are going to do as with record numbers of graduates entering the profession there is not too much legal work available for all of them to do. There is no doubt that average salaries of attorneys will continue to fall further and further behind those of, for example, accountants, as well as medical specialists, because as a country we are producing far more legal graduates than we actually need. The people who need the most access to justice unfortunately also don’t have the money to pay for it and so producing more attorneys is not necessarily going to help us as a country in any event because there does not appear to be sufficient funds to provide actual access to justice for those who need it the most in the largely rural areas.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 14-Feb-14
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Comments
Elektra said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 04:48 PM
Kaylee makes some valid points. There may be more female graduates, but the majority at court is male. It is an unfortunate tale that the female race put their careers aside in order to have a family, should that time arise. While the men further their careers, I guess its just a wretched way of the circle of life.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 04:37 PM
Wow the percentage is growing
Kaylee said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 04:02 PM
Funny how there is an increase in female graduates but practicing law has made me realise how the industry is still incredibly male dominated. Just a day at court shows the ratio of men to woman. Perhaps, woman don't practice law for as long as men as often they choose to get married and have children and cannot work extensive hours, but there is definitely a huge difference between the number of men and woman practicing law. I also think that men are more willing to approach a male boss to discuss his salary than a female, perhaps that is the reason for the lower salaries.
Jade said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 01:53 PM
It is exciting to see the profession become a true reflection of our rainbow nation, as it should be.
Unfortunately, for us newly graduated it is an incredibly competitive field! Starting to think that perhaps I should have studied medicine or engineering instead.
On the positive side, so many that study law do not necessarily become attorneys but opt to go into business or academics instead,
I like to think that Anna is right, that hard work will always prevail.
Sorea said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 11:55 AM
I agree with Anna, your success in your profession is determined by the work you are prepared to put into it.
Anna said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 11:38 AM
Hard work will always prevail, whether you are female or not. Prove your worth and be determined to succeed and the sky will always be the limit.
Juliet said:
on Friday 14-Feb-14 09:46 AM
Law is an interesting profession but in the past most highly successful lawyers and advocates are/were male which is why you do not hear of many female SCs, you do not hear the surnames of females in the name of law firms in volumes like you do males' surnames etc. It is historically a male-dominated profession which is why the salaries were always high. Now that the number of females are increasing in the profession the salaries are dropping. Historically female dominated professions have always had lower salaries than professions dominated by males, take teaching for example. Another way of looking at it is that while women are busy desperately continuing to strive to prove that they are as strong as, and can do anything a man can do, by trying to infiltrate these male-dominated professions, the men with their innate drive to provide for their families are seeking out new avenues to secure higher incomes and leaving behind the traditional ways of making money which may no longer be working for them. And lets not even get started on how law really does demand the ferociousness of a man. Women by nature are nurturers. Females will always be disadvantaged when it comes to earning capacity. This is a man's world. I know many females may take offence to the above, but I think those who are secure in their professions and who disagree with me will not.
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!
