Are you a Perfect Fit?

We look for exceptional candidate attorneys - people with the potential to lead our firm into the future. We need people who are able to challenge conventional thought and offer unique perspectives.

If you are...

• Committed to building a successful career in commercial and litigation law?
• Looking for a long and mutually rewarding relationship with a firm?
• Dynamic, creative and a good communicator?
• A high performer with sound academic results?

Chances are we would like to hear from you!

The Role of the Candidate Attorney

You will start your tenure with us in the Litigation department. The focus is on professional development which will help you maximise your full potential. Most importantly you will be working alongside a highly competent team with a wealth of knowledge and experience to impart. The second year of your Articles will be spent in the Commercial department where you will be exposed to some of the country's most complex deals.

Why Us? Your Career in Action

The main reason people choose to build a career at Werksmans is because of the work we do and because we have many of South Africa's leading companies as our clients. What is more, the pace at which we work makes for a truly dynamic environment and a perfect platform from which to launch your legal career.

Our performance-focused culture makes it possible to advance swiftly through the firm, which is why many of our directors are in their thirties. As you succeed in your role, you will be rewarded with increased responsibility and opportunity. Training initiatives range from mandatory to individual-needs-based learning, and you will acquire first-class business experience in a very short space of time.

Unrivalled Skills Development

We hire the best people and then we help them to become even better. Our firm places great emphasis on skills development. We believe that it is important you spend an entire year in a specific practice area. This means you will have an opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of this area of the law, as well as enhanced learning benefits, which will leave you with a quantifiable sense of achievement and career direction.

We also have a training programme that will complement your day-to-day experience. This training provides practical insights into the various fields of law, and takes into account your interests. Training sessions include workshops, discussion groups, lectures and case study presentations – as well as Practical Legal Training (PLT) approved by the Law Society of South Africa. Prepare for a steep learning curve!

We have a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration. We make sure we are always available to our clients. Decisions are taken only when we are sure of the impact they’ll have on our clients’ business. Our collective skill helps us deliver upon the promise of ‘best advice’. A benefit of working with us is that specialised work is not concentrated in the hands of only one or two experts. Each practice area has highly skilled lawyers and teams, which makes it possible for us to ensure that clients benefit from a “best-fit” working relationship. It also means you will gain more exposure across our 15 practice areas as well as the ability to build market-relevant skills working with many of South Africa’s leading corporates who we are lucky enough to count as clients. You will also be able to find your passion working amongst some of South Africa’s most inspiring legal brains!

Mentorship Support

Each candidate attorney is assigned a mentor as part of Werksmans' commitment to their professional development. Mentors guide and assist with ways of handling work-related issues, ensuring diverse exposure to various fields of law during your time with the firm. 

Performance Management

We know how important it is for candidate attorneys to receive regular feedback on their progress, so we have a Development Discussion Programme that we use to encourage interaction between our candidate attorneys and their principals. The aim of these discussions, which take place once a year, is to ensure that our candidate attorneys are never neglected. And what about representation and communication? Each year, our candidate attorneys elect a representative who liaises with directors and management and gives constructive feedback on anything that is of interest to the group. 

Compelling Reasons to Choose Werksmans

We are sure you don’t need any more convincing to choose to start your career with us, but we thought we should mention that as a candidate attorney you will….

• start your legal career at one of the leading law firms in Africa.
• be exposed to outstanding commercial and transactional experience, as well as some of the most prestigious law cases in South Africa.
• never be alone. Candidate attorneys are assigned a mentor to guide and assist with ways of handling work-related issues, ensuring diverse exposure to various fields of law.
• receive regular feedback on your progress. We have a Development Discussion Programme that encourages interaction between you and your principal.
• have your registration, board and PLT fees paid for by us.
• belong to a Provident Fund and Medical Aid Scheme.
• have access to our state-of-the-art library, seminar and training centre, as well as a fully equipped gymnasium in our Johannesburg office.

Remuneration packages are tailored to meet candidate attorneys' needs and are carefully structured. All candidate attorneys belong to a Provident Fund and Medical Aid Scheme. You will also have access to impressive office facilities including our state-of-the-art library, seminar and training centre, as well as a fully equipped gymnasium.

Please note, if you're selected to join us as a candidate attorney, we will pay you R1,500 per month for the last 10 months of your final year of study (i.e. February to November).

Sign up! You're Invited to Keep Us Close.

Step outside. You’ll notice that the pace at which we do business is picking up, fuelling an even greater need for competent people with the will to fast-track their careers and ability to deliver cutting-edge legal solutions to clients. That’s where you come in…

Interested? Please ensure you apply before 31 August (each year). Please note, you must apply for a candidate attorney position with Werksmans in your penultimate year of study. We finalise our full complement of candidate attorneys a full year and a half in advance of when they join us.

Unfortunately, we can only consider South African citizens for candidate attorney positions.

Click here to apply

• CVs are screened and suitable applicants are short-listed.
• Telephonic screening is conducted to allow HR to get a better feel for applicants. This also reduces the shortlist.
• Applicants on the final shortlist are invited to an interview at our offices.
• If interested, Werksmans will prepare an offer.
• And if you are selected, your challenging career at with us begins.

• A covering letter
• Proof of leadership skills and additional experience that relates to the position
• Supporting documents, like copies of your ID and certified academic transcripts

Most importantly market yourself to us! Why should we consider you above all others?

Firstly, is it…

• Concise?
• Professional?
• Presentable?
• Relevant?

Does it include relevant personal information, everything we need to know about your educational background and details of your hobbies and interests? Now, you are ready to present your best ‘face’ to us!

If you excel during your articles at Werksmans, you may be invited to stay on as an Associate following your admission as an attorney. This is based on the availability of the right position for you. Please be aware that the prospects for advancement are excellent, but these rely largely on your performance while with us.