On this page you we share with the wise students how to actually become a Medical Lawyer, as a South African student.
The term medical lawyer goes hand in hand with the term medical negligence. Medical Lawyers are the adversaries of Medical Doctors and Hospital Managers. Why? Because Medical Lawyers have the powers to shut the entire hospital and kick Doctors out of their dearly loved jobs. That happens if Medical Doctors have neglected patients – leading to the sickness worsening, or patients dying undeservingly.
So , if you want to become a highly paid professional true enemy of any Medical Doctor who comes close to you, I’ll show you how.
First thing first!
Grade 10 Subject Choices of a Medical Lawyer “Wanna be”
This journey starts at a very early age of around 15 -16 years when you choose your Grade 10 subjects. If you want to become a Medical Lawyer, you should choose the subjects that are required for Legal and Law studies, which are: English Home Language or First Additional Language, History, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, Business Studies, and any official South African Language.
Many students who want to become Medical Lawyers, wonder if Mathematical Literacy is accepted in to Law courses in South Africa. Law schools in South Africa are not strictly hunting for mathematicians to give solve for x law homework. They are looking for logic-driven individuals who have a potential to build and present a case, based on the civil rights and the South African constitution.
Now that you know which subjects to take towards a journey of becoming a Medical Lawyer, let’s move into what courses to study at the university level.
What Courses to Study to Become a Medical Lawyer
If you want to become a Lawyer, you should aim for an LLB Degree, which is offered at South African universities such as UJ, UFS, UL, UKZN, UCT, and Wits. In your first and second years of LLB studies, you will be doing general modules with the rest of LLB students. Only when you reach a third year (fourth year in other universities), you will be required to select a specialisation subject.
LLB degree has many options for specialisation, including: Medical Law / Health Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, Labour Law, Tax Law, and many others.
For you to become a Medical Lawyer, you will need to choose Medical Law or Health Law, specifically. That’s where you will learn a -z about “medical negligence”, ethics and patients rights.
Below are the recommended places to study LLB with an intention to become a Medical Lawyer in South Africa:
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
- University of Cape Town (UCT) – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
- University of Pretoria (UP) – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
- University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
- Stellenbosch University – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
- University of Johannesburg (UJ) – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
- University of the Western Cape (UWC) – LLB Medical Law Specialisation Degree Offered
If you want to become the best in this field, it would help you to continue your LLB studies into an LLM degree, which is a master’s equivalent Law degree. While doing your LLM degree, you may also consider enrolling for a short medical related certificate course, so that you have a better understanding of a human body than an average lawyer from varsity.
After LLB varsity studies, whats next?
Serve Articles with a Law Firm
After completing your LLB course, you need to serve articles with a law firm. These are called Articles of Clerkship, which are done in 2 years time period under the supervision of a qualified attorney in a law firm. After 2 years, you are required to write and pass the LPC Board Examinations.
Once you have passed the LPC exam, you are now officially qualified to practice as a Medical Lawyer.
For you to become the best Medical Lawyer, you should look for your first job at a law firm that specialises in medical law related cases, so that you gain experience in the field.
Thank you. All the best with your Medical Law career journey. Don’t forget the word “medical negligence” 😁