Future Attorneys Recruitment Programme (Candidate Attorney) – Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an opening/closing date for Candidate Attorney applications?
Yes. The Legal Aid SA Future Attorneys Recruitment Programme reopens annually. The 2024 round of applications closed on 6 March 2024.
Where can I submit an application for the Future Attorneys Recruitment Programme?
Applications can only be submitted on the Legal Aid SA website, at this link: https://legal-aid.co.za/ca-online-application/
Who can submit an application for the Future Attorneys Recruitment Programme?
Legal Aid SA will only accept applications from LLB graduates. Applicants will need to attach their academic transcripts when applying.
What is the minimum degree mark average that Legal Aid SA considers?
Legal Aid SA accepts a minimum degree average of 60%.
When will successful applicants be expected to start?
2024 applications are for 2024 placement. Legal Aid SA fills CA positions as and when vacancies arise at our offices, so the recruitment process is usually ongoing throughout the year.
I submitted an application in (YEAR) and have not heard back from Legal Aid SA.
Please consider your application unsuccessful. You may reapply for this round of recruitment.
I applied in (YEAR) and had not finished my degree at the time. How do I update my application and documents now that I am a graduate?
Please reapply, including your degree transcript and CV.
When can I follow up on the status of my application?
If you have submitted an application and not heard from us within 3 months, you are welcome to follow up with Legal Aid SA by sending an email to the relevant Human Resources representative for the province you selected for placement. Please include your full name, ID number and email address.
Eastern Cape: Papama Flepu papamaf [at] legal-aid.co.za
Free State/North West: Christina Mphahlele christinam1 [at] legal-aid.co.za
Gauteng: Kedibone Thinda kedibonet [at] legal-aid.co.za
KwaZulu-Natal: Nombuso Mbhele nombusom1 [at] legal-aid.co.za
Limpopo/Mpumalanga: Mary Thobejane maryt [at] legal-aid.co.za
Northern Cape/Western Cape: Siphokazi S. Gcilitshana siphokazig [at] legal-aid.co.za
Do note that Legal Aid SA receives a large number of applications, and follows a stringent candidate screening and selection process.
I was invited to complete an assessment at a Legal Aid SA office and have not received any feedback following this. Should I assume that I was unsuccessful?
Please follow up with the Legal Aid SA Human Resources representative or the Provincial Office that invited you for an assessment.
How many Candidate Attorneys does Legal Aid SA hire each year?
Legal Aid SA hires 300 Candidate Attorneys each year.
Do I need to have completed my Practical Legal Training (PLT) before applying to be a Candidate Attorney?
No, applicants need not have completed their PLT before submitting an application. Applicants are able to indicate on their application that they wish to complete their PLT with Legal Aid SA while completing their articles.
Is it compulsory for Candidate Attorneys to have a driver’s licence?
No, a driver’s licence is not required, and applicants will not be penalised for not having a driver’s licence.
I am trying to attach my documents to my application, but they are not uploading.
Please ensure that your documents are in Word or PDF format, do not exceed 15Mb file size and that the document name contains no apostrophes or other special characters. If you still experience difficulties, please send an email to communications2 [at] legal-aid.co.za with a screenshot of the error message you receive.
I mistakenly uploaded the wrong document/s when applying. How can I fix this?
PLEASE NOTE: You can only amend your uploaded documents on your application during the time that applications are open.
You can send an email with your full name and ID number to communications2 [at] legal-aid.co.za and our Website Technical Team will delete your application from our database, so you can submit an application with the correct documents.
If you wish to amend your uploaded documents after applications have closed, please send an email to the relevant Human Resources representative for the province you selected for placement. Their details can be found above.