Law Internships in Cape Town

My time with VACorps was nothing short of transformative. Cape Town became a home away from home, and the people I met quickly began to feel like family. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and supported. Between my internship, the culture series, weekly adventures, and everything in between, VACorps helped me experience and understand South Africa in a way I never expected. I also really appreciated how much our safety and wellbeing were prioritized throughout the program.

During my internship with a legal organization, one of my main goals was to absorb as much as possible about the South African legal system and approach every experience with an open mind. I learned so much and left with a much deeper understanding of how law operates in South Africa and across the continent. I am incredibly grateful for these two months, the friendships I made, and everything I learned along the way. Cape Town will always have a place in my heart, and I know I’ll be back.

I chose Cape Town because I have been interested in South Africa and its history for a long time. As an African American, I also wanted the opportunity to visit Africa and connect with a part of the world that holds personal and historical significance for me. I wanted my internship to give me real-world experience in my field while also allowing me to contribute to work that helps people in need.

During my internship with a public interest legal organization, I helped connect individuals seeking free legal assistance with professionals who could support them. Through this work, I gained a better understanding of South Africa’s legal system while strengthening my administrative and communication skills. The experience also helped me become more independent and confident in a professional environment. Having now worked in my field and contributed to meaningful work, I feel much more prepared for what comes next.

Spending my summer in South Africa was one of the most rewarding decisions I have made in my academic journey. I grew in ways I never expected and left Cape Town feeling more ambitious, culturally aware, and excited about a future focused on helping others. VACorps placed me in an internship that closely reflected my goals, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

Some of my favorite memories include learning about South Africa with a local university professor, going on safari in the Eastern Cape, and attempting to finish an entire Gatsby in one sitting. What I will miss most, however, are the people and the relationships I built during my stay. Cape Town is unlike anywhere else, and my biggest advice would be to appreciate every moment, the mountains, the people, and every experience in between. I already know I will want to return one day.

I am grateful every day that I took a leap of faith and moved to Cape Town. My internship at the Legal Resources Centre has strengthened my commitment to using law as a tool to secure justice and create systemic change. It was a privilege to assist attorneys with case and policy research on issues such as refugee protections, LGBTQ rights, and public housing. I hope to carry forward not only the skills I gained, but also the ethos of advocating for society’s most vulnerable.

Throughout my internship, I gained extensive experience in research and memo writing. Some of my favorite projects included analyzing Department of Home Affairs regulations on citizenship application requirements and conducting cross-country research on how courts interpret constitutional guarantees to the right to food. Seeing the real-world impact of these issues on people’s lives reaffirmed my desire to pursue work that meaningfully improves access to justice.

VACorps did an excellent job facilitating an immersive experience—from managing day-to-day logistics to helping us build meaningful connections. Through the Culture Series, museum visits, and everyday conversations with locals, I gained valuable insight into a political and social landscape very different from my own, and one shaped by a recent democratic transition.

There were no dull moments during my 11 weeks here. Each sunset, hike, beach outing, trivia night, and winery visit has made this an incredibly memorable experience—and has made saying goodbye all the more bittersweet.

Interning in Cape Town through VACorps has been an incredibly rewarding professional experience. I had the opportunity to work in a placement that aligned with my professional goals and allowed me to expand my skill set, including adapting to a new legal and cultural context. This experience deepened my understanding of how the law intersects with social realities and provided invaluable exposure to international perspectives on justice, policy, and human rights. The mentorship I received, along with a variety of hands-on work, strengthened my skills and confidence beyond what could be attained in a traditional classroom or internship setting.

Beyond the work itself, Cape Town offered a vibrant and diverse backdrop for professional growth. Collaborating with local colleagues allowed me to witness resilience, innovation, and community-driven change in action. I will carry the lessons I learned here into every stage of my career. VACorps provided phenomenal support and engaging activities that made this not only a professional milestone but also a personally transformative chapter of my life.

I am very happy with my decision to come to Cape Town for my first internship experience within the field of human rights and public interest law. My decision was based on several reasons, but the main one was that the work being done in South Africa in the field of human rights was very inspiring to me. I felt this was the perfect place to observe how human rights issues were being addressed within an organization. Doing an internship in Cape Town with the human rights law internship allowed me to experience the type of work attorneys and candidate attorneys were involved in. I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, through the research, notes, and tasks assigned to me within the organization.

One of the most valuable experiences for me at the human rights law internship was getting to know the people who worked there and hearing their experiences. I also appreciated the chance to visit schools in different areas of Cape Town to understand the variations within the school systems. The organization had a very welcoming environment; everyone was open to talking with and getting to know the interns and allowed us to be part of their work. This was a great experience, and I would definitely recommend future interns take the opportunity to work there.

Living in Cape Town was also a wonderful experience. I met many amazing people and formed friendships that I believe will last a lifetime. I will miss everyone and the vibrant atmosphere that Cape Town offered. I stayed in Cape Town for about five weeks, and although I managed to experience many events, places, and cultures within the city, I would recommend future interns stay a bit longer to fully explore and enjoy everything they want to, as time flies by quickly!

The weekly activities offered by VACorps included a wide range of experiences, from surfing and visiting Seal Island to hiking and wine tasting. Combined with cultural nights where we learned about South African traditions such as beaded jewelry, food, and films, these experiences allowed me to get to know Cape Town in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to by just visiting as a tourist. I am grateful to the VACorps staff for being kind, fun, and welcoming, and for introducing me to amazing people and the city of Cape Town. I will never forget this experience!

My time in Cape Town with VACorps has been incredible. I've learned a lot through my internship and exploring South Africa over the last three months. I was placed in a law internship, working with an independent firm run by my internship boss. I've essentially functioned as a paralegal, working through child support, car seizure, and hijacking cases with his assistance. I've come away with a deeper understanding of the South African Constitution, and how it applies to societal functionings here. I've also had lots of time to hike, surf, visit beaches, and explore the city here in the Cape. I've met people and had experiences that I will never forget. I have made friendships that will last beyond my time here in Cape Town. I really cannot recommend this program and experience enough. I have gained so much perspective on life, people, law, and myself. I've grown to love South Africa and feel invested in the societal challenges and successes the country faces. I feel that I have grown a lot as a person throughout my time here and VACorps was a great facilitator of my experience.

I chose to come to Cape Town on a whim, which turned out to be one of the best whims I've ever had. I had the most amazing experience during my time in Cape Town. VACorps organized for me to intern with the incredible Justice Desk, which was an opportunity I simply wouldn't have been able to do without the support and organization of the VAC team. VACorps works hard to ensure that every week you have to opportunity to explore and engage with Cape Town's culture and experiences. One of the best parts about my choice to intern through the VACorp was meeting and getting to know the other interns, like-minded individuals from across the world who I connected with in Cape Town and who have become lifelong friends. I highly recommend this internship program for an ideal mix of work and play, individual exploration, and personal growth.