The LPA prescribes that pupillage will run for a period of 12 months. Pupils are to complete 400 hours of coursework over a period of no more than 6 months, must spend a further 6 months of practical vocational training under a senior advocate (mentor), and must complete the prescribed number of hours of community service.
Pupillage under the Pius Langa School of Advocacy is structured in three phases which incorporates the LPA requirement that pupils sit and pass exams in nine prescribed subjects: advocacy skills, civil and criminal procedure, professional conduct and ethics, legal drafting, african customary law, constitutional law, communication technology, and alternative dispute resolution. Classes will assume a basic knowledge of the subject and thus do not repeat the LLB curriculum, as such classes will focus on teaching practical applications of the prescribed subject.
On completion of the pupillage program the School of Advocacy will issue the pupil with a certificate confirming that they have met the requirements for admission as an advocate of the high court, and that they are eligible to be enrolled as an advocate with the Legal Practice Council.
The School is now accepting applications for pupillage, The application form is available on the website under Forms & Documents. Please read the application form carefully and take note of the documents that are to accompany the application. Applications received will be assessed and those applications shortlisted will be invited for an interview with the School of Advocacy’s pupillage committee.
- An electronically copy of the complete application must be emailed to pupillage@pabasa.co.za
The application process is rigorous and due to the number of applications received, the School of Advocacy is not in a position to accept all applicants next year. Due to the increased demand for limited spaces in the programme, we are unable to afford all applicants an interview. The process is highly competitive, in 2020 we were able to admit as pupils only 8% of the total number of applications received. We regret that we will not be in a position to contact individually the applicants who have not been shortlisted. Should you not be called for an interview, please regard your application as declined.
