Legal Resource Centre Internships


Advertiser: Legal Resource Centre
Location: National

Since 1979, the LRC has welcomed visiting interns from all over the world. Over the years, interns have contributed to the growth of the LRC and to the achievement of the LRC’s goals and successes.

The LRC accepts applications from students who have completed at least one year (though preferably two years) of their legal studies, from lawyers and from other suitably qualified professionals.

Interns who apply for and are granted an internship from outside South Africa are considered to be volunteers. The LRC does not pay a stipend or remunerate interns in any way. Medical insurance and / or travel insurance should be obtained prior to the intern’s departure for South Africa. The LRC does not provide any medical benefits or insurance to interns.

The work that an intern is typically involved in during their time at the LRC ranges from legal research, drafting legal memoranda, providing legal opinions, interviewing clients and assisting the LRC in preparing applications and actions.

Should you consider applying for an internship we urge you to access the information available on the LRC website. You may wish to read the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and other publications of which the Autobiography of President Nelson Mandela is a good example.

To apply for a legal internship at one of the LRC offices, please send the below information to Delysia at interninfo@lrc.org.za

- Curriculum Vitae no longer than three (3) pages
- A cover letter motivating appointment. Cover letter to include a) the regional office you would like to intern in, b) your available dates (indicating start and end dates) and c) what citizenship status you hold
- Any other supporting document(s)

The duration of an internship will typically be a minimum of eight weeks and not exceed six months in duration. To the extent possible, applications are strongly encouraged to be submitted at least six months in advance of the date on which you would like to start the internship.

Interns are encouraged to make prior arrangements for accommodation and transport for the duration of their stay in South Africa. You may obtain more information from the respective LRC regional office should you be accepted.

Closing date: Not indicated in advert

Definitions:

Internship:

There are basically two types of internships:

  • The Undergraduate Internship: Usually with bigger organisations that pick undergraduates to attend the internship. It often takes places during the holidays and the average durations is a few weeks. In most cases the intern will receive some sort of stipend or salary and this type of internship may lead to a job offer to the intern once he / she is finished with their studies.
  • The Graduate Internship: This type of internship could be paid or unpaid and it is to gain practical work experience after the qualification has been completed and in a job related to the qualification. It could be from a few weeks or even one or two years long. This type of internship could also lead to permanent employment.

Learnerships:

A learnership is an occupational qualification and it consists of theory and work-based experience and practical skills, with formal assessment and a qualification. At the end of the learnership the candidate may be offered permanent employment.

In-service training:

In-service training is to gain practical work experience during studies. It usually takes place after a few years of theory has been successfully completed. It is essential work experience that is part of the qualification and the in-service training is necessary to achieve the qualification. It could be paid or unpaid.