Legal Research Internship

PLEASE NOTE:
The below application is on hold, until further notice.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Gauteng Division of the High Court, in partnership with the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT), is running a ten-month (10) internship programme for young graduates. Successful applicants will be employed by UCT on a ten-month contract and seconded to the Johannesburg High Court and Pretoria High Court for the period of the internship.

The legal research interns will be working in-person at the respective courts.

We are looking for seven (7) interns for 2024.

REQUIREMENTS
– An LLB or four (4) years recognised legal qualification recognised by SAQA.
– Knowledge of Electronic Information Resource and online retrieval (Westlaw, LexisNexis, Jutastat, and Sabinet) and law library resources.

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 skills.
– Ability to meet strict deadlines and to work under pressure.
– Confidentiality and the ability to work as part of a team.

DUTIES
– Perform all legal research duties for the Judges to prepare judgements.
– Research and retrieve all material from all sources in both hard copy and electronic formats on legal issues, per Judges instructions.
– Read all the relevant material and analyse thoroughly.
– Attend court proceedings upon request of the Judge.
– Proofread and prepare comprehensive memorandums on the outcome of the research.
– Assist in the drafting of speeches, legal articles, and conference papers on legal issues as requested by a Judge.
– The successful candidate will be responsible for efficiently managing and prioritising tasks to ensure swift turnaround times on assignments and projects.

This role demands strong time management skills, enabling the individual to meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.

REMUNERATION
Interns will receive a stipend of R8 666,67 per month.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested parties to provide a cover letter; CV and transcript of academic performance by Friday, 2 February 2024 to dgruapplications@uct.ac.za, vuyani.ndzishe@uct.ac.za, and dima.nchodu@uct.ac.za.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Monday, 5 February 2024 and successful candidates will commence duties on the Monday, 4 March 2024.

Preference for applicants who are already based in the Gauteng region for Johannesburg High Court and Pretoria High Court.

DOWNLOAD DGRU INTERNSHIP APPLICATION HERE