The Justices of the Constitutional Court of South Africa are pleased to invite applications from outstanding recent law graduates and young lawyers interested in serving as foreign law
clerks. Candidates may be appointed to start as soon as 1 April 2015.
Background
South Africa continues to be regarded as one of the most intriguing and compelling examples of constitutionalism in the transition to democracy. Its Constitution is viewed as one of the world’s most progressive founding charters. The Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court, is the guardian of that promise. It has, in a range of ground-breaking decisions, given content to the Constitution’s guarantees by, for instance, ruling the death penalty unconstitutional; upholding full equality for gay and lesbian people; declaring that resident non-citizens are entitled to social benefits; and ordering the government to make anti-retroviral treatment available to pregnant mothers living with HIV/AIDS.
A highly respected commentator, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court, stated the following in the context of a discussion of new democracies:
“I would not look to the U.S. Constitution, if I were drafting a Constitution in the year 2012. I might look at the Constitution of South Africa. That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights [and] had an independent judiciary. . . . It really is, I think, a great piece of work that was done.”
About the Position of a Foreign Law Clerk
Each year, 15 to 20 young lawyers from around the world serve as foreign law clerks to the Constitutional Court. Working alongside two South African law clerks, foreign law clerks assist a specific judge in performing his or her duties. The responsibilities of foreign law clerks are essentially the same as those of their South African counterparts and similar to judicial clerks elsewhere in the common law world. These include extensive legal research and writing, as well as the formulation, drafting, and editing of judgments. The Court itself is highly collaborative, allowing for substantial engagement among clerks from all chambers. Foreign clerks are usually only appointed to serve one six-month term. However, some may serve for longer subject to agreement and, at times, in more than one Chambers.
Foreign law clerks are not remunerated by the Court. Therefore, it is essential that they seek their own funding to cover their expenses, including food, accommodation, travel to and from South Africa, visas and travel to and from work daily.
Requirements
Foreign law clerk applicants must be in possession of an LLB degree or an equivalent degree (such as a JD) or in the final year of study for such a degree. Further, they must be fluent in
English, the primary language of the Court. Applicants should also demonstrate an interest in constitutional, comparative and international law. Academic excellence, relevant research experience, and one to two years of work experience (especially clerking for another court) are all preferred. Substantial knowledge of South African law is not a prerequisite, but familiarity with South
Africa’s history and contemporary affairs is highly valued.
Application Process
Applications for foreign clerks will be considered on a rolling basis subject to some important deadlines. Applications for the first round of 2015 hiring will be accepted from 1 February to
31 March 2015. Applicants should propose start dates that would begin prior to December 2016. The Court will also accept applications during a second round of hiring from 1 July to 31 August 2015, at which time existing applicants are welcome to revise or supplement their applications. Due to the high number of applications, the Court will only
respond to successful applicants.
Applications must include the following: (1) a cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in the Court’s work that must specify a proposed start date (or range of start dates) for which
he or she would like to be considered; (2) a full curriculum vitae; (3) copies of all postsecondary academic records (unofficial transcripts are permitted); (4) a legal writing sample of approximately 6-12 pages; and (5) at least two reference letters (at least one academic and one professional). Please note that applicants may either have references send the letters directly to the Court or applicants may compile the letters and send a complete application to the Court themselves.
Applications should be submitted to Mr Mosala Sello in the Chambers of Justice Johann van der Westhuizen, who will respond with an email in due course acknowledging receipt of each application:
Post
Constitutional Court of South Africa
Attn: Mr Mosala Sello
Private Bag X1
Braamfontein
2017
Email
Mr Mosala Sello
sello@concourt.org.za
Further details on the programme may be found on the Constitutional Court website: www.constitutionalcourt.org.za.
Applicants requiring additional information are welcome to contact Mr Sello via email (sello@concourt.org.za) or telephone (+27 11 359 7427).
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