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 success.  The LRC accepts applications from students who have completed at least 2 (two) years of their studies, from lawyers and occasionally from other suitable qualified professionals. To apply for an internship at one of the LRC offices please contact the office of your choice directly or alternatively address and application to the national office. Contact details are available on the LRC website. The duration of an internship will typically be between 8 (eight) weeks and 6 (six) months in duration. Internships do not exceed 6 (six) months.

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.

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. Once you have been accepted to an office for an internship we urge you to get more location specific information from the regional director and/or interns in that office.

Your responsibility:
Should you accept an internship you will be responsible for the following:

• The required passport, visa and/or travel documents needed for entry and your stay in South Africa
• Your own travel costs to and from an airport in the city in which you will serve your internship
• Your own accommodation and meals for the duration of your stay
• Transport to and from you place of work
• An overview of your time with the LRC upon your departure.

The LRC’s responsibility:
In offering you an internship, the LRC will be responsible for:

• Providing you with a letter of invitation required to secure your travel documents and/or visas
• Making a work space and a mentor available to facilitate a successful internship
• Reimburse you for appropriately authorized expenses incurred in the line of your “duties” on behalf of the LRC
• Assisting you with finding accommodation
• Providing you with the information required to orientate you to the city in which you will stay and to South Africa in general

What you will need:

Medical insurance and/or travel insurance should be obtained prior to the intern’s departure for South Africa. The LRC does not provide medical benefits or insurance to interns.

What our interns have to say

My name is Emma van Leusden and I graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada in 2005. After being called to the Bar in Toronto in 2006, I embarked on my six-month internship with the LRC in Grahamstown from September 2006 until March 2007,  which was funded by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and administered by the Canadian Bar Association. This was my first professional experience as a fully qualified lawyer.

During my internship, I developed a great professional and personal relationship with my fellow colleagues at the Legal Resources Centre. We work well as a team on a professional level as well as friends in a casual setting. The LRC has made every effort to integrate me into the office and the community, which has made my internship a once-in-a-lifetime unforgettable experience. Outside of work, I have also developed great relationships with the community of Grahamstown. In my opinion, community integration is crucial for any intern to feel established and able to live and work efficiently in a foreign country for six months.

I have enjoyed the work in which I was involved with at the LRC. Every effort at my involvement in most files was made by my supervisor which has familiarized me with a wide range of issues (i.e. social justice work, land claims, right to education, right to housing) and type of work (i.e. memoranda, letters of demand, funding proposals, reports and drafting affidavits).

The work at the LRC is very "hands-on" and I have been able to see considerable progress in some files at the office, despite my being here for only six months.  Furthermore, my work as an intern at the LRC has greatly enhanced my skills as a lawyer and has made me grow professionally and personally. On a personal level, I find that I have become more mature and self-confident lawyer. On a professional level, I have noticed that my research, organization, and administrative skills have improved greatly. The experiences I have had in the office also boosted confidence in my ability to be self-sufficient and resourceful.  I feel like I have evolved into a competent and skilled attorney who has a lot to offer any legal community. I also feel that I have made a postiive contribution to the Legal Resources Centre and will have a great deal to contribute to the legal community in Canada upon my return.

This internship has been the most valuable and memorable experience in my journey to becoming a human rights lawyer. It has bolstered my knowledge of law generally, a foreign legal system and my self-confidence as a lawyer. In addition to this, it has provided me with the opportunity to travel to another country, immerse myself in a unique culture, and grow significantly in my career and professional life. In addition to working at the LRC, working and living abroad generally for six months has been a great learning experience. I have met many professional and personal contacts with whom I shall maintain contact with after my internship ends."