A lawyer advises clients on the law, prepares and reviews legal documents, and represents clients in disputes and transactions. In South Africa the profession is regulated under the Legal Practice Act, and legal practitioners are admitted and enrolled as attorneys or advocates, each with duties to the client, to the court and to the profession.
This guide describes lawyer duties and responsibilities in occupational terms, the shape of the working day, and how the work differs by area of practice. It sits in the IT Finance Professional duties and responsibilities cluster, part of the wider job duties guide.
What Does a Lawyer Do?
A lawyer takes a client’s problem, works out what the law says about it, and advises on the options. From there the work splits into drafting, negotiating and, where a matter cannot be settled, litigating. Most legal work is written and preparatory rather than spent in court.
The duties that define the profession sit alongside the technical work: acting in the client’s best interests, keeping client information confidential, avoiding conflicts of interest, handling client money strictly according to the rules, and being honest with the court even where that does not suit the client’s case.
Key Lawyer Duties and Responsibilities
- Consulting with clients to establish the facts and the outcome they are seeking.
- Researching the applicable law, precedent and procedure.
- Advising clients on their legal position, options, risks and likely costs.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts, agreements and other legal documents.
- Preparing pleadings, notices, affidavits and other court documents.
- Gathering evidence, consulting witnesses and preparing matters for hearing.
- Negotiating settlements and appearing in court or before tribunals where entitled to do so.
- Managing files, deadlines and prescription periods.
- Keeping clients informed of progress and of anything that changes their position.
- Handling client funds in accordance with the trust account rules.
- Identifying and managing conflicts of interest before accepting instructions.
- Maintaining confidentiality and legal professional privilege.
- Recording time, billing and complying with fee disclosure requirements.
Daily Tasks of a Lawyer
- Start of day: review the diary for court dates and deadlines, triage urgent correspondence.
- Morning: court appearances or client consultations, depending on the practice.
- Midday: drafting: pleadings, agreements, opinions and correspondence.
- Afternoon: research, file management, instructing counsel or experts, negotiating with the other side.
- End of day: record time, update file notes and diarise the next steps and deadlines.
Lawyer Skills and Competencies
- Legal research and analysis: finding the applicable law and applying it to messy facts.
- Drafting: precise writing where an ambiguous clause creates a dispute years later.
- Attention to deadlines: missed time limits and prescription are among the most serious errors in practice.
- Client communication: explaining a legal position in terms the client can act on.
- Negotiation: most matters settle, and settling well is a distinct skill from arguing well.
- Ethics and judgement: recognising a conflict or a professional duty problem before it becomes one.
Lawyer Duties by Workplace or Industry
Litigation
Duties centre on pleadings, discovery, witness preparation, court appearances and settlement negotiation, all governed by court rules and strict time limits.
Commercial and Corporate
Transactional work: drafting and negotiating agreements, due diligence, company and regulatory filings, and advising on compliance. Deadlines are driven by deal timetables rather than court rolls.
Conveyancing and Estates
Property transfers, bond registration, deeds office requirements, wills and the administration of deceased estates. Trust account handling and document accuracy are central.
In-House Legal
Advising one employer rather than many clients: contract review, regulatory compliance, managing external attorneys, and supporting the business on risk. Duties lean towards prevention rather than dispute resolution.
Lawyer Duties for a CV
Give practice area, matter types, admission status and file load. Use the duties for a CV guide for the method.
- Managed a litigation file load of 45 active matters in the magistrates and high courts.
- Drafted pleadings, notices and affidavits and prepared matters for trial and settlement negotiation.
- Reviewed and negotiated commercial agreements including supply, service and lease contracts.
- Maintained file deadlines and prescription diaries with no missed time limits.
Related Job Roles and Responsibilities
- Bookkeeper duties and responsibilities: for the financial record keeping side of a legal practice.
- Secretary duties and responsibilities: legal secretarial support to practitioners.
- IT, finance, HR and professional duties: the full directory of roles in this cluster.
- Job description duties and responsibilities: for firms writing up legal roles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lawyer Duties
What are the duties of a lawyer?
Consulting clients, researching the law, advising on options and risks, drafting contracts and court documents, gathering evidence, negotiating settlements, appearing in court where entitled, managing deadlines, handling client funds correctly, avoiding conflicts of interest, and maintaining confidentiality.
What is a lawyer’s duty to the court?
Legal practitioners owe duties to the court alongside their duties to the client, including not misleading the court. Where the two appear to conflict, the professional rules and the applicable law govern the position, and practitioners should consult those sources and their professional body.
What is the difference between an attorney and an advocate?
Both are legal practitioners under the Legal Practice Act. Attorneys generally deal directly with clients and handle a wide range of legal work, while advocates specialise in litigation and appearing in court, traditionally on referral. The current rules on briefing and rights of appearance should be checked directly.
How do you become a lawyer in South Africa?
The usual route is an LLB degree, followed by practical vocational training such as articles or pupillage, the required admission examinations, and admission and enrolment as a legal practitioner. Requirements are set under the Legal Practice Act and change from time to time, so confirm the current position with the Legal Practice Council.
This page describes the occupation for employment and CV purposes. It is not legal advice and it is not a statement of professional obligations. The Legal Practice Act, the professional rules and the Legal Practice Council govern this role and take precedence over this guide.
Last reviewed: 1 September 2026