List of Best Law Schools in South Africa 2025-2026
A law school is an educational institution or department within a university that specializes in providing legal education and training to individuals who aspire to become legal professionals. Law schools offer programs that prepare students for a career in law, such as becoming a lawyer, judge, legal consultant, or legal researcher.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
University of South Africa (UNISA)
University of the Western Cape
University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg
Durban University of Technology
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Tshwane University of Technology
Which is the best law school in South Africa?
10 Best Law Universities in South Africa
- University of Pretoria.
- Stellenbosch University.
- University of Johannesburg.
- University of KwaZulu-Natal.
- Rhodes University.
- University of the Western Cape.
- University of the Free State.
- North-West University.
How long do you study to become a lawyer in South Africa?
The standard requirement before one can practice as a lawyer is completing an LLB degree which takes 4 years. Alternatively, some students choose to first study a BCom or BA which takes 3 years and then study another 2 years to complete their LLB.
Requirements to Study Law in South Africa
Four-year stream (LFA14)
APS 46+
English Home Language OR Additional First Language Level 6
Mathematics Level 4
Maths Literacy Level 6
Wait-listing: Students who come to Wits immediately after Matric may apply for the four-year LLB. Applicants with an APS of 40-45, as well as English 6 AND Mathematics 4 OR Maths Literacy 6, will be wait-listed, subject to place availability.
Three-year stream (LFA13)
No matric APS calculation.
Subject to assessment criteria as determined by the School of Law and place availability. Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree at an institution other than Wits are required to apply for the three-year LLB programme (select year of study 2). Applicants must have completed the degree within no more than the prescribed minimum period of study plus one year, and must have obtained an average of at least 65% in the final year of the undergraduate degree.
Wits applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree without Law modules are also required to apply for the three-year LLB. Applicants must have obtained an average of at least 65% in the final year of the undergraduate degree (select year of study 2).
Two-year stream (LFA12)
No matric APS calculation.
Subject to assessment criteria as determined by the School of Law and place availability. Wits students who have completed a BA Law or a BCom Law are eligible to apply for the two-year LLB (select year of study 3).
List of Law Courses Offered in South Africa
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Contract Law
- Property Law
- Administrative Law
- Family Law
- Company Law
- Labour Law
- Environmental Law
- International Law
- Human Rights Law
- Tax Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Banking Law
- Competition Law
- Media Law
- Cyber Law
- Insurance Law
- Land Law
- Trusts Law
Online Law Degree South Africa
The University of Cape Town has collaborated with GetSmarter to offer its esteemed education through online platforms. This partnership provides individuals with the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to comprehend and create legal contracts, enabling them to make well-informed business decisions by gaining fresh perspectives on the practices of South African law.
How much do lawyers earn in South Africa?
At the other end of the scale, candidate attorneys can expect to earn between R250,000 and R300,000 a year at top law firms. Below Business Tech looked at the full range of average salaries legal professionals can expect to earn in 2022. The averages represent annual salaries in thousands of rands (R’000).
Can I study LLB part-time?
YES. The UKZN LLB degree is offered on a part-time basis by the School of Law, via the Centre for Extended Legal Studies, both in Pietermaritzburg and in Durban (Howard College Campus) and provides a flexible option for individuals who are not able to attend lectures during working hours.
How much does a lawyer earn in South Africa per month?
The average salary for a Junior Lawyer is R 14 848 per month in South Africa. Lawyers who have just graduated from college earn as little as R30,000 per month while those who have worked in the industry for as long as 3 years earn in excess of R40,000 per month.
