Law and Human Rights work experience in South Africa

Our Law and Human Rights placements in South Africa are based in the varied and bustling city of Cape Town. South African law is an advanced and westernised system that allows volunteers on a law internship here to get a fantastic view of how the law is implemented, while simultaneously working alongside a number of humanitarian law organisations.

Volunteers on a law project in South Africa could find themselves working with the Legal Aid Board, or a number of other smaller non-profit legal organisations. The collective mission of these organisations is to provide good quality, independent legal representation to the poor and vulnerable, ensuring effective access to justice for all South Africans, especially the Black and Cape Coloured communities so appallingly mistreated during apartheid. With its brutal history of apartheid and colonialism, there can be few better places than South Africa to get involved in campaigning for human rights. Our Human Rights projects in Cape Town offer volunteers the unique opportunity to get involved at grass roots level, raising awareness of human rights in a variety of marginalised communities or at risk groups such as prisoners, children, women, or those in rural communities throughout the Western Cape.

All of our Law and Human Rights projects are located in the heart of the central business district in Cape Town City Bowl. This area has numerous coffee shops, snack bars and lots of street traders, together with infamous Cape Town landmarks such as the Dutch East India Trading Company’s famous botanical gardens and the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. In the same area dancers, drummers, choirs and painters add a certain buzz to the magnificent view of Table Mountain standing constant guard in the background. A voluntary placement in Cape Town could be a valuable addition to your CV in this notoriously competitive profession, and might just secure you that lucrative first job once you graduate.

In South Africa you can choose to work on a criminal law project, or a human rights project. Some of our law placements and human rights placements are open to all, while others require you to commit to at least three months on the placement, have some law experience, and provide additional references in support of your application. Please contact our staff if you would like further information on which placements you qualify for. Volunteering on a Law Internship in South Africa
Despite it's emergence as a developed nation, South Africa still has high levels of poverty and widespread endemic social problems such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and exploitation. Since the end of apartheid, many South Africans are keen to know their rights, and demand fair and just treatment. The majority of cases you will be involved with centre around evictions, fraudulence, and domestic violence against women and children. 90% of cases are tried in English, with translators provided whenever a case is to be heard in one of South Africa’s ten other national languages, so you can be sure of learning a lot and being able to have real impact during your internship here. You will be able to witness civil cases played out in court, research criminal law precedents, sit in on legal advice sessions for "walk in" cases, visit holding cells and be responsible for taking testimonies.

To apply for one of our Law in South Africa placements you do not need to have any legal experience, though if you are qualified or part-way through a legal qualification that would be a bonus. We have a variety of placements suitable for all abilities. All volunteers will be expected to speak fluent English, and have an interest in law – the more questions you ask and the more you get involved, the more you’ll gain from your internship in Cape Town.

Volunteering on a Human Rights Internship in South Africa
We offer an expanding range of Human Rights projects in Cape Town to volunteers interested in human rights and social issues in the developing world. Placements in Cape Town could see you working with an organisation that specialises in one of the following areas;

• Children's rights and prevention of child abuse
• Prison conditions and Prisoners Rights
• Election monitoring and Participatory Governance
• Development and human rights in rural communities
• Women’s rights

The schemes are there to help ordinary South Africans understand their rights, to empower people to speak out when their rights are infringed, and to give them the skills and knowledge necessary to do so. Your role in this might involve various activities such as:

• Researching and generating media features
• Conducting interviews and receiving complaints of human rights violations
• Raising awareness in rural and urban communities
• Preparing training materials and conducting workshops
• Providing free legal advice
• Preparing parliamentary submissions

Typically your placement will involve several elements. You might be producing information resources, such as research reports or questionnaires. You'll also be encouraged to make good use of the local media by writing articles on social themes, or even appearing in radio debates! At other times you might visit community groups to give advice on specific civil-rights aspects. There is plenty for you to become involved with and you will definitely be kept busy! Your precise role will be determined by your background and level of interest in specific areas. Placements are ideal if you are a law student or graduate seeking practical experience in human rights. However, the work is also suitable if you're volunteering pre-university, or you only have a general interest in human rights.

If you have some legal experience and are able to commit to a minimum of three months, you may also be able to work for the South African Human Rights commission on a broader Human Rights placement, dealing with headline cases for one of the largest human rights organisations in Africa. This project consists of three main elements:

• Parliamentary unit
• Education and Training
• Legal Services

The parliamentary units are involved with legal reforms and lobbying the government to change unfair laws. The training and education arms exist to inform people about their rights, through tutorials and visits to townships and schools, as well as through the media by raising awareness of Human Rights issues in modern South African society. The final section, the legal services branch, deals with providing legal representation in cases of Human Rights violations, helping to monitor complaints against government and other bodies such as the police, and provide legal advice. South Africa has a fascinating political history and a tumultuous past – where better to get involved with a unique and worthwhile project ensuring equal opportunities for all, than a country that was until the early nineties, torn apart by the apartheid regime? Most placements are suitable for those with no legal experience; you just need to be flexible, communicate well and work hard. Placements are certainly demanding and must be taken seriously; you will be representing a professional organisation. You will sometimes have deadlines and you may be asked to represent these organisations at rallies, private interviews, government meetings and other events.

Both Law and Human Rights Interns should expect to work from 8am to 3pm from Monday to Friday, with the option of working longer hours if they choose, and the high court is open year round. All volunteers need to show a good level of initiative; all our Law and Human Rights placements are fast-paced, and volunteers who seek their own work, ask questions and make an impact on their supervisors will have a fantastic learning experience.

All Law and Human Rights volunteers live with host families around Cape Town. You will normally be living in a host with one other volunteer, travelling to work on public transport.