Volunteer Law & Human Rights Internships and International Work Experience in Ghana

Ghana is one of the most stable and well-governed African nations. Life in its capital city, Accra, might be far removed from any North American or European city but, as a former British colony, the Ghanaian legal system is based on English Common Law.

Volunteers

This means that if you are in training, or already practicing law in countries such as the UK, US, Canada or Australia, the experience of volunteering in a law firm in Ghana will be both interesting and, career-wise, invaluable.

The experiences that you will have while volunteering in Ghana look good on any résumé. This applies whether you are a gap-year student, an undergraduate or a law graduate looking to gain some unusual work experience. International experience is something that law firms will certainly be pleased to see when recruiting new junior partners.

In Ghana you can choose to work in a business and commercial law firm, or to join one of our exciting and ever-expanding human rights law placements.

Volunteering on a Business and Commercial Law Internship in Ghana

If you’re seeking business and commercial law experience, we'll place you with a respected law firm in Accra. The firm mainly focuses on Corporate Practice, Trade and Investment and Environmental law. You could be working on projects involving litigation, drafting commercial and tenancy agreements, points of criminal law or arbitration.

The law courts in accra

Mornings are usually spent in court, shadowing lawyers and observing or taking notes on sessions. Usually you will be at work by 8am, leaving for court by 8.30am. Afternoons are spent carrying out legal research, writing letters, drafting court documents or attending meetings.

Your supervisor will be a specialist in Corporate and Commercial practice, including negotiation of commercial and business contracts and other varied agreements. Your supervisor will take into consideration how much prior experience you have when setting your tasks. If you have an interest in a particular area, this can usually be accommodated.

You’ll be expected to take initiative in asking for work and asking to accompany lawyers to court. Don’t be afraid to make sure that you understand a task before you start something. The lawyers will not mind you seeking clarification from them.

The law courts close over the summer period from the start of July to the end of October. During this time volunteers on the Business and Commercial Law placement can take part in some of the Human Rights work in order to maintain a full workload.

Volunteering on a Human Rights Law Internship in Ghana

We offer an expanding range of human rights law schemes in Ghana, West Africa, to volunteers interested in human rights and social issues in the developing world.

Volunteer with local barrister

Even if your knowledge of practical law is limited, you’ll do far more than make the tea. You just need to be able to communicate well and work hard.

Law Internships at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) - based in Accra, Ghana's capital city - offer unique legal work and cultural experiences. You'll become involved in programs including:

  1. Children’s rights
  2. Prison conditions
  3. Election monitoring
  4. Police accountability and reform

The goal of the initiative is to help ordinary Ghanaians understand their rights, and what protections they are legally entitled to. Your role in this might involve various activities such as:

  1. Preparing media features
  2. Raising awareness in rural communities
  3. Providing free legal adviceRaising awareness in rural communities
  4. Preparing parliamentary submissions

CHRI is a major organization, working with the following projects, activities and tasks:

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
  1. Right to Information
  2. Constitutionalism
  3. Election Monitoring
  4. Women’s Rights
  5. Police Accountability
  6. Police Reform
  7. Prison Reform

Placements are demanding and must be taken seriously; in working for the CHRI, you are representing a professional organization. You will sometimes have deadlines and you may be asked to represent CHRI at meetings and other events.

Your precise role will be determined by your knowledge of law and level of interest in specific areas. Placements are ideal if you are a law student or graduate seeking practical experience in human rights. However, the work is also suitable if you’re a gap year or undergraduate volunteer and you have a general interest in human rights.

Typically your placement will involve several elements. You might sometimes attend court, where you could monitor and report on proceedings. You might also be producing information resources, such as research reports or questionnaires.

You’ll be encouraged to make good use of the local media by writing articles on social themes, or even appearing in radio debates! At other times you might visit community groups to give advice on specific civil-rights aspects. There is plenty for you to become involved with and you will definitely be kept busy!