Articles at Webber Wentzel
Webber Wentzel's Candidate Attorneys' Programme
We take graduate recruitment seriously at Webber Wentzel and believe in cultivating the knowledge and skills of our candidate attorneys to help them launch successful careers in law.
Candidate attorneys' experience with our firm extends beyond mere administrative functions ― we provide diverse development opportunities to help each candidate attorney become a valued member of our legal team.
Choosing the law firm where you wish to undertake your two-year contract of articles is the first step on the way to a successful legal career. If you are passionate about law and want a rewarding career as a lawyer, Webber Wentzel should be your first choice.
There are three major steps you have to take to be admitted as an attorney in South Africa:
- Serve a two-year period of articles at a law firm;
- Attend LEAD's Practical Legal Training (PLT) Programme in terms of the Attorneys Act; and
- Pass the attorneys' admission examinations.
Note that individuals may also be admitted as attorneys if they complete a recognised six-month law school course, the prerequisite examinations, and one year of articles. To maximise the level of experience each candidate attorney gains at our firm, however, Webber Wentzel only offers two-year programmes for aspirant attorneys.
Serve your two-year contract of articles at our firm
Webber Wentzel is well respected within the legal field and has been independently recognised as one of the leading law firms specialising in corporate law in Africa. As such, the opportunity to participate in our programme for candidate attorneys is a much sought-after one.
Once accepted as a candidate attorney at Webber Wentzel, you will participate in an orientation programme to integrate you into our firm. This will be followed by three rotations in various legal practice areas over the two-year period. During each rotation you will be assigned to a different practice group, exposing you to a wide range of legal disciplines from Mergers & Acquisitions to Dispute Resolution and Banking & Finance.
In addition to receiving invaluable legal training from top attorneys and respected legal practitioners while you work, you will also participate in Webber Wentzel's tailored in-house PLT Programme. These weekly lectures prepare you for the Attorneys' Admission Examinations, written twice each year.
As a candidate attorney, you are also given a laptop to use, have 24/7 email access, and can apply for the use of a company cellular phone.
Pass the attorneys admission examination
Webber Wentzel registers and pays for each candidate attorney at the firm to write his or her attorneys' admission examinations.
The firm also has an extensive legal library with facilities in both its Johannesburg and Cape Town offices. Staffed by a number of qualified librarians well versed in the Jutastat search software, the library contains almost 11,000 legal volumes. It is fully computerised with its own database.
Click here to view the testimonials of previous Webber Wentzel candidate attorneys.
Webber Wentzel also has a formally structured legal mentorship programme that will enable more experienced attorneys to impart their wisdom; share legal knowledge; support, guide and give feedback to each candidate attorney during his or her two-year journey.
There is no shallow end or glass ceiling at Webber Wentzel. We simply reward quality legal work and leadership with promotions. Our high retention of candidate attorneys is testament to this practice.
How to apply for articles at Webber Wentzel
Our online application process enables you to apply for articles and our vacation work programme with a single application. The entire process will take approximately 45 minutes.
Click here to start the process.
If you have any queries please contact Marisca du Toit, our Graduate Recruitment Manager, on +27 11 530 5000.