Vacancies

FOR STUDENTS:

Legal Intern

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is looking for interns to work in our offices in Johannesburg, South Africa. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but applicants are encouraged to get their application in as soon as possible, indicating dates of availability. Interns will work at the SALC offices under the supervision of one of SALC’s programme lawyers. Responsibilities may include legal research and writing, including international and comparative law research; factual research on specific legal cases; bluebooking and fact-checking legal filings; assisting in maintaining SALC’s website; and assisting staff in organising conferences and seminars. Please note that the position is unpaid.

Requirements

  • Interest in human rights issues;
  • Basic knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
  • Experience working in or focusing on southern Africa preferred;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; Portuguese or French is highly  desirable;
  • Excellent research skills including online sources;
  • Well-organised, self-motivated and reliable.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, a detailed CV and an unedited writing sample to Pamela Timburwa, pamelat@salc.org.za. 

Legal Extern

SALC is looking for externs – full time students who can dedicate approximately 10 hours per week to research and general assistance to SALC. Externs will work from home, with occasional meetings with SALC lawyers when necessary. This work may include legal research and writing, including international and comparative law research; and factual research on specific legal cases.

Externships are designed to give students practical experience of working in human rights litigation, without the time and financial difficulties full time internships create. Working with SALC provides students with exposure to litigation at domestic courts as well as to regional and international human rights mechanisms, and will help broaden your understanding of the strategies lawyers involved in such cases adopt. However, our externships require dedication and hard work, and we expect high standards of work from our externs.

Preferred applicants:

  • All law students who already have an undergraduate degree;
  • Interest in human rights issues;
  • Basic knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
  • Experience working in or focusing on southern Africa preferred;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
  • Portuguese or French is highly  desirable;
  • Excellent research skills including online sources;
  • Well-organised, self-motivated and reliable.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, a detailed CV, an unedited writing sample and a 2 page answer to the research question to Pamela Timburwa: pamelat@salc.org.za

Research Question: In your opinion how effective is the  individual complaints mechanism of African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights? In particular, consider the enforcement of African Commission decisions and whether the mechanisms offers effective remedies of human rights violations.