Legal Internship Scholarship 2027 is a twelve-month internship programme for law graduates run by the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) at the University of Cape Town in partnership with the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Divisions of the High Court, the Land Court, and SAJEI. Successful applicants are employed by UCT on a twelve-month contract and seconded to courts or SAJEI.
The programme is hosted by the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in partnership with the High Court divisions, the Land Court and the South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI). Interns will be placed in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, or Pietermaritzburg and will work in person at the assigned locations.
Legal Internship Benefits
- Successful applicants will be employed by UCT on a twelve-month contract and seconded to courts or SAJEI.
- Interns will receive a stipend of R9 000 per month.
- All successful candidates will be expected to complete an online legal research training course before commencing their duties in January.
Legal Internship Eligibility Criteria
- An LLB or four-year recognised legal qualification accredited by SAQA.
- Knowledge of Electronic Information Resources and online retrieval (Westlaw, LexisNexis, Jutastat, and Sabinet), as well as law library resources.
- For the Land Court, applicants should have an interest in land reform, governance, or public interest litigation.
How to Apply for Legal Internship?
- It is essential that you state which court/position you are applying to in the subject of your email.
- Interested parties should submit a cover letter, CV and complete transcript of academic performance by 27 September, Sunday, 2026 to [email protected].
- Ensure that all documents are attached in PDF format in one email. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Legal Internship 2027 in South Africa. These answers cover eligibility, placements, stipend, deadlines, and how to apply based on the official announcement.
Who runs the Legal Internship 2027 programme?
The Legal Internship programme is run by the Democratic Governance and Rights Unit (DGRU) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in partnership with the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape Divisions of the High Court, the Land Court and the South African Judicial Education Institute (SAJEI).
What are the minimum eligibility requirements?
Applicants must hold an LLB or a four-year recognised legal qualification accredited by SAQA. They should also have knowledge of electronic information resources and online retrieval systems such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, Jutastat and Sabinet, and be familiar with law library resources.
How long is the internship and where are placements available?
The internship runs for twelve months, from 4 January 2027 to 31 December 2027. Placements are available in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, the Land Court in Johannesburg, and at SAJEI.
Is the internship paid and what is the remuneration?
Yes. Interns will receive a stipend of R9 000 per month, as stated under the remuneration section of the official announcement.
What is the application deadline and how should I apply?
The application deadline is 27 September 2026. Interested applicants should email a cover letter, CV and complete academic transcript in PDF format, in one email, to [email protected] and must state the court/position applied for in the email subject.
Are there any training requirements for successful candidates?
All successful candidates are required to complete an online legal research training course before commencing their duties in January, according to the announcement.
Will interns work remotely or in person?
Legal research interns will work in person at their assigned court or SAJEI location as specified in the official information.
How many internship vacancies are available for 2027?
The announcement states that 23 interns will be recruited: five for Pretoria, five for Johannesburg, six for Cape Town, two for Pietermaritzburg, two for Durban, two for the Land Court and one for SAJEI.
When will shortlisted and successful candidates be notified?
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the end of October, and successful candidates will commence duties from 4 January 2027, as indicated in the programme details.
Are there any placement preferences based on current residence?
Yes. Preference will be given to applicants who are already based in the relevant region for each placement: Gauteng for Pretoria, Johannesburg and Land Court; Cape Town for Western Cape; and Durban or Pietermaritzburg for KZN placements.
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