Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) is recruiting 23 law graduates for South Africa’s 2027 court internship programme.
About Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU)
The Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) is based in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT). For the 2027 programme, DGRU is partnering with the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Divisions of the High Court, the Land Court, and the South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI).
The partnership provides law graduates with practical exposure to legal research, judgment preparation, court processes and the day-to-day work of judges and court researchers.
About the Opportunity
DGRU is recruiting 23 legal interns for placements connected with the South African courts, the Land Court and SAJEI. Successful applicants will be employed by UCT on a 12-month contract and seconded to the court or institution associated with the position for which they applied.
The South Africa legal internship programme is intended for law graduates who want first-hand experience working alongside judges and court researchers. Legal research interns will work in person at their respective locations.
Placements
- 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
- One intern for SAJEI in Johannesburg
Duration
The internship will run for 12 months.
Start Date
Successful interns will commence duties on January 4, 2027, and continue until December 31, 2027.
Mode
Legal research interns will work in person at the respective court or institutional placement.
Stipend
Interns will receive a stipend of R9,000 per month.
Eligibility Criteria
- An LLB or a recognised four-year legal qualification accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
- Knowledge of electronic information resources and online retrieval tools, including Westlaw, LexisNexis, Jutastat and Sabinet, as well as law library resources.
- Applicants for the Land Court should have an interest in land reform, governance or public interest litigation.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent legal research skills and the ability to integrate knowledge from diverse sources.
- Report writing, editing and communication skills.
- Problem analysis, planning and decision-making skills.
- Time management and the ability to meet strict deadlines while working under pressure.
- Creative and analytical thinking, flexibility, confidentiality and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel for Land Court applicants.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Perform legal research duties for judges in preparation for judgments, without using AI tools such as ChatGPT.
- Research and retrieve reliable, verifiable material in hard copy and electronic formats on legal issues assigned by judges and court researchers.
- Read relevant materials and analyse them thoroughly.
- Attend court proceedings at a 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.
- Manage and prioritise assignments and assist the Law Research Unit with its functions.
- Co-operate with judges and supervisors to support the efficient operation of the court.
- Assist with registrar, administrative, historical cases and case management work where required by the placement.
Training
All successful candidates must complete an online legal research training course before commencing duties in January.
Contact
Applications and related communication may be directed to DGRU at dgruapplications@uct.ac.za.
For the programme notice and updates, visit the Judges Matter website.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates may apply through the following:
Send a cover letter, CV and complete transcript of academic performance to dgruapplications@uct.ac.za.
The email subject must clearly state the court or position for which the candidate is applying. All documents must be attached in PDF format in one email. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Applications close on September 27, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the end of October.
Preference will be given to candidates already based in the relevant region for the Pretoria, Johannesburg, Land Court, Cape Town, Durban and Pietermaritzburg placements.
