Law

Careers overview
The legal profession offers a considerable variety of career opportunities.

What do people do in this profession?
The legal profession in Zimbabwe used to be divided into two branches, viz. ?attorneys and advocates, but in recent years the two branches were unified into one body whose qualified members are now called “legal practitioners?”? - all entitled to represent a plaintiff or a defendant in any of the country's courts of law.

However, there is still a de facto separation of legal practitioners into those who usually see and advise clients in the earlier stages of legal proceedings and those who appear at the bar in court.

In fact, the legal practitioners who used to be known as “attorneys?” still tend to brief their colleagues of the “advocate?”? type who will present a case in court, particularly in the higher courts.

Legal practitioners? (formerly attorneys?) ?handle a large variety of affairs for individuals, companies and associations.

There are those who specialize in either commercial or criminal cases, or who focus on litigation, estate planning or tax-related matters.

By taking further examinations, these practitioners may qualify as conveyancers and/or public notaries.

Legal practitioners? (formerly advocates?) ?are experts in the art of presenting and arguing cases in court.

They also give legal advice and help with the drafting of legal documents.

The legal adviser?
The term? "?legal adviser?" ?is used to describe lawyers employed by big companies and other organisations to provide legal advice and services to their employees.

The public prosecutor?
Public prosecutors are employed by the Ministry of Justice to act as prosecutors on behalf of the State, in criminal cases in the magistrate's court.

The state “advocate?”?
The Ministry of Justice also employs legal practitioners who appear in the High Court on behalf of the State in criminal trials and their duties and responsibilities are basically the same as those of the public prosecutor.

The only difference in their work is that they appear mainly in the High Court and occasionally for important cases in the Magistrate's Court.

The state “attorney?”?
A Division of the Ministry of Justice functions like an ordinary firm of Legal practitioners? (formerly attorneys?)?, except that its clients are the different departments of the government and not private individuals.


Their major function is to protect the interests of the State by acting for all government departments and administrations in civil cases and for officials sued in their official capacity.

Magistrates
Magistrates are expected to preside in criminal, civil and family? (maintenance, children and family violence?) ?matters.

Criminal court magistrates hear criminal cases.

They listen to all the evidence and arguments of the State and the defence of the accused person, and then pronounce judgment.

When an accused person is convicted, it is also the duty of the magistrates to impose an appropriate sentence.

Magistrates may hear any criminal cases except for murder, rape and certain other cases.

Civil magistrates hear civil cases. ?They also preside over applications and motions.

State law advisors
State law advisors are excellent legal researchers who provide the State with legal advice and are entrusted with the drafting and revision of legislation.

Registrars of the High Court?
Registrars can also be described as the? "?secretaries?" ?of the High Court.

It is their duty to ensure that everything runs smoothly in court.

The functions of registrars are mainly administrative.

What kinds of people are suitable for these careers?
Apart from ambition, dedication and a disciplined approach, prospective lawyers need to possess special characteristics like impeccable honesty, decisiveness, objectivity and confidence.

They must also be able to handle stress and pressure, and gain the trust and respect of their clients and colleagues.

Because of their constant interaction with people, they should have exceptional communication skills and be able to explain difficult legal concepts in easy terms.

Finally the most important characteristic is a well-developed sense of fairness and justice.

What qualifications are needed?
The basic qualifications are the BL? (Bachelor of Law?) ?and LLB? (Bachelor of Laws?) ?degrees.