Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

The Centre for Environmental Rights, in collaboration with WWF South Africa’s Environmental Leaders Programme, is now calling for applications for candidate attorneys and/or legal interns for 2015, commencing in April 2015. We are looking for bright young law graduates from previously disadvantaged groups who are either currently completing an LLM part-time, or have completed an LLM – preferably in environmental law, though we will also consider other fields of specialisation.

Location

Based in Cape Town

Qualifications, skills and experience

• An LLB or equivalent qualification, and candidates with an LLM in environmental law will be preferred.
• If you seek articles, prior completion of the full-time School for Legal Practice would be an advantage.
• A sound understanding of legal and procedural requirements for environmental decision-making and legal challenges.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, good presentation skills and attention to detail.
• Computer literacy, with specific competence in MS Office, and excellent legal research skills.
• A commitment to high quality client service, and a passion for social and environmental justice.

Key responsibilities

• Providing assistance to and, where appropriate, providing hands-on expert legal advice and support to the Centre’s clients, which include communities and civil society organisations.
• Providing support to litigation brought on behalf of the Centre’s clients and brought against the Centre’s clients, including researching, writing and filing pleadings, motions, briefs, and other court documents.
• Doing legal research as required, and facilitating the upload of available resources onto the Virtual Environmental Law Library and other news items on the CER’s website, as well as its social networking sites on Facebook and Twitter.
• Providing expert input into draft environmental policies and legislation on mining, water and related matters.
• Assisting in achieving the deliverables and reporting on those deliverables as set out in terms of the Centre’s funding agreements.
• Assisting with reporting to funders, and fundraising for future projects, as required.
• Assisting with the recording and sharing of learning for systemic change, as well as monitoring performance against indicators.
• Generally supporting the effective operation of the Centre’s programmes.