careers

career opportunities

We're ambitious, aiming to be the leading law firm in Africa. This strategic drive into the rest of Africa presents exciting challenges and professional growth opportunities. We are unsurpassed in the make-up of our client-base and the nature of work we do. One of our greatest strengths is that Bowman Gilfillan's culture is congenial and informal.

For those who work at Bowman Gilfillan it is not simply their place of work, it is also the place where professional experience is developed and lasting relationships are formed.

We offer a supportive culture with the operational freedom to mould your own success where you can work with leaders in their fields of expertise.

• Corporate (Tax, Competition, Banking/Finance)
• Litigation
• Employment
• Property / Conveyancing
• Intellectual Property
• Maritime

who do we look for?

You may be asking what kind of future could I build if I joined Bowman Gilfillan? At Bowman Gilfillan we look for people with the four fundamentals grit, drive, depth and passion. We want people with drive and ambition who want to be part of a challenging environment that enables them to build a rewarding successful career.

recruitment

students / candidate attorneys

As a student or graduate at Bowman Gilfillan you will gain exposure to a range of practice areas across the business. You will work with and learn from leading lawyers in different fields of expertise. You will also be provided with effective training and development that will allow you to realise your full potential.

• In keeping with our ambitions to be the leading law firm in Africa we have recently introduced a comprehensive selection process that will enable us to select the very best candidates.
• We recognise that you are more than your CV or a forty minute interview. You have worked hard to achieve success and would like to prove yourself. With this in mind we have designed a selection process that runs over two days and includes a number of legal exercises, group exercises, interviews and a chance to engage with the partners of Bowman Gilfillan socially.
• This process is not intended to replace our Vacation programmes which are still available and an excellent way for you to come and experience working life and develop a clear idea of whether we are the type of firm you would like to work for.
• We will run these selection days on a number of occasions during the course of the year in both our Cape Town and Sandton offices. You cannot apply for the selection day but if we believe you have what it takes (no matter what year of study you are busy with) we will invite you to join us.

• The goal of our vacation programme, which is run for a period of one week in both the summer and winter vacations, is to introduce law students to the firm, its lawyers and practice, with as realistic an experience in a major law firm as possible. We put a lot of effort into involving students in our legal work.
• Students will be exposed to a series of talks and discussions. Opportunities exist for both the vacation student and the firm to learn more about each other, through working together and social events which are organized. Posters advertising the vacation programme will appear on campus.
• The summer programme is usually in December/January and the winter programme is usually in June/July. It is advisable to have at least 1 year's academic results to be eligible for consideration.

• The transition from student to professional life can be challenging: new rules, a new culture and new expectations. As a Candidate Attorney (CA) at Bowman Gilfillan, you will take part in a Personal Development Programme that supports you and equips you with the skills to face the challenges of being a young professional – from professional etiquette, personality in the workplace, work-life balance and getting the most out of your career.
• Of course your legal training is critical. You will move through different areas of the firm's practice in six-month rotations. Corporate department training prepares you for practice, and covers taking instructions, drafting opinions and contracts, corporate entities and tax. Comprising weekly lectures over ten months, the informal and interactive course serves as a forum where you can discuss work with your fellow CAs.
• You will also take part in an eight-week litigation skills training module, presented by our Litigation department directors over one-hour sessions. Covering insolvency litigation as well as the practical and strategic aspects of Magistrates' and High Court, the module is designed to give you access to our senior practitioners' wealth of experience prior to the attorney's admission exams. Should you choose to practice litigation, this module will give you the confidence to tackle real-life litigation and dispute resolution from the outset. In our Cape Town offices, you will be trained in Maritime & Transport.
• For CAs and associates in the Employment Law department, there is an opportunity every week to research, prepare and present a topic for discussion – usually on a recent development in the law. These meetings are as inclusive as possible, and encourage discussion on matters in which people are involved to obtain input and advice from members of the department.

experienced lawyers

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other professionals

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