2027 Legal Internship Opportunities

2027 Legal Internship Opportunities – Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape

The Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Divisions of the High Court, as well as the Land Court, in partnership with the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT), are running a twelve-month (12) internship programme for law graduates.

Successful applicants will be employed by UCT on a twelve-month contract and seconded to either the Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, or Pietermaritzburg High Court, the Land Court seated in Johannesburg, or the South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI) for the duration of the internship, depending on which court or position they applied for.

Legal research interns will work in person at the respective courts.

We are looking for 23 interns who will fill the following vacancies:

Five interns for Pretoria, five interns for Johannesburg, six interns for Cape Town, two interns for Pietermaritzburg, two interns for Durban, two interns for the Land Court and one intern for SAJEI in 2027.

REQUIREMENTS

• An LLB or four-year recognised legal qualification accredited by SAQA.
• Knowledge of Electronic Information Resources and online retrieval (Westlaw, LexisNexis, Jutastat, and Sabinet), as well as law library resources.
• For the Land Court, applicants should have an interest in land reform, governance, or public interest litigation.

APPLICATION PROCESS

It is essential that you state which court/position you are applying to in the subject of your email. If you do not include this, we will not consider your application. 

Interested parties should submit a cover letter, CV and complete transcript of academic performance by 27 September, Sunday, 2026 to dgruapplications@uct.ac.za.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the end of October, and successful candidates will commence duties from 4 January 2027 to 31 December 2027.

Ensure that all documents are attached in PDF format in one email. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Preference will be given to applicants who are already based in the Gauteng region for Pretoria High Court, Johannesburg High Court and the Land Court placements, those already based in the Cape Town area for the Western Cape High Court, and those who are already based in Durban and Pietermaritzburg for the KZN High Court placements.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Excellent research skills, including the ability to integrate knowledge from diverse sources.
• Report writing and editing skills.
• Good communication skills (written and verbal).
• Problem analysis, solving and planning skills.
• Decision-making skills.
• Time management skills.
• Creative and analytical thinking.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and to work under pressure.
• Confidentiality and the ability to work both as part of a team or independently
• Flexibility to complete various duties within the court setting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications, particularly Excel for Land Court applicants.

DUTIES

• Perform all legal research duties for Judges to prepare judgments (without using AI such as ChatGPT).
• Research and retrieve material from reliable, verifiable sources, in both hard copy and electronic formats, on legal issues, as instructed by Judges and Court Researchers.
• Read relevant materials and analyse them thoroughly.
• Attend court proceedings at the Judge’s request.
• Proofread judgments and prepare comprehensive memoranda on research outcomes.
• Assist in drafting speeches, legal articles, reports, and conference papers on legal issues as requested by a Judge or Court Researcher.
• Manage and prioritise tasks efficiently to ensure swift turnaround times on assignments and projects.
• Assist the Law Research Unit in carrying out its functions, which may include providing summaries of reportable judgments upon request.
• This role demands strong time management skills to meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
• Co-operate with Judges and supervisors as necessary to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the court.
• In the Western Cape High Court, interns will also be expected to rotate through the Office of the Registrar and assist with various administrative and support duties for the Judiciary.
• In the Land Court, interns will also be expected to provide administrative support to the court, including the Historical Cases Project and the Court’s case management functions.

REMUNERATION

Interns will receive a stipend of R9 000 per month.

TRAINING

All successful candidates will be expected to complete an online legal research training course before commencing their duties in January.

The DGRU reserves the right not to make any appointment(s) arising from this advertisement.