Becoming an attorney: PVT, admission and LPC fees
The route from LLB to admitted attorney under the Legal Practice Act: practical vocational training options, the competency-based examination, admission, enrolment and LPC fees.
Attorneys and advocates are admitted by the High Court and enrolled with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) under the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014. Conveyancer and notary are separate admissions you add later.
The route
- Complete an LLB at a South African university.
- Register a practical vocational training contract as a candidate legal practitioner. There are two options: 24 months of uninterrupted service plus at least 150 notional hours of structured coursework, or 12 months of service if you completed 400 hours of compulsory coursework (over no more than six months) before registering the contract.
- Pass the LPC's competency-based examination for candidate attorneys.
- Apply to the High Court for admission and, at the same time, apply to the LPC through your provincial council to be enrolled.
- To practise for your own account and hold trust money, you also need a Fidelity Fund certificate.
LPC fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration of a PVT contract / examination fee | R 345 |
| Enrolment or re-enrolment of a legal practitioner (own request) | R 530 |
| Enrolment as a conveyancer or notary (each) | R 795 |
| Annual fee, practising 2 years or less | R 1 985 |
| Annual fee, practising legal practitioners | R 4 630 |
| Certificate of good standing | R 200 |
As listed on the LPC fees page. The page does not state the year; confirm with your provincial council before paying. Checked 02/10/2026.
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