Volunteer Abroad in Ghana, international experience in Teaching, Care, Culture & Community, Medicine, Journalism, Veterinary Medicine, Sports, Business and Law

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International Law & Human Rights Internships in Ghana

Ghana is one of the most stable and well governed African nations. Life in the capital city of Accra might be far removed from the likes of New York City or Toronto, but is still a bustling center for commerce and culture. As a former British colony, the Ghanaian legal system is based on English Common Law.

Volunteers

If you are training or already practicing law in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or Australia, the experience of interning abroad for a law firm in Ghana will be both interesting and an invaluable for your career.

The experiences you will have during your internship abroad in Ghana will be impressive for any resume. This applies whether you are a gap year student looking to study law at university or a law graduate looking to gain some thrilling international opportunities. International experience is something that law firms value when recruiting new junior partners.

In Ghana you can choose to intern at a business and commercial law firm or join one of our exciting human rights law internships.

Intern Abroad in Africa in Business or Commercial Law

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.

Volunteer

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 you 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 the Business and Commercial Law internship is not available. However, interns can take part in the Human Rights project.

Interning Overseas in Africa for a Human Rights Organization

We offer an expanding range of human rights schemes in Ghana for interns interested in human rights and social issues in Africa.

Volunteer working

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.

Based in the capital of Accra, internships at the Human Rights Advocacy Center offer unique legal work and cultural experiences. You'll be involved in programs including:

  1. Children’s rights
  2. Reproductive health
  3. Election monitoring
  4. Police accountability and reform

The schemes are there to help ordinary Ghanaians understand their rights and what protection 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 advice
  4. Preparing parliamentary submissions

The Human Rights Advocacy Center is working with the following projects, activities and tasks:

Child
  1. Right to Information
  2. Constitutionalism
  3. Election Monitoring
  4. Women’s Rights
  5. Police Accountability
  6. Police Reform

Internships are demanding and must be taken seriously; in working for the Human Rights Advocacy Center, you are representing a professional organization. You will sometimes have deadlines and you may be asked to represent Human Rights Advocacy Center at meetings, fact finding missions and other events.

Your precise role will be determined by your knowledge of law and level of interest in specific areas. Internships are ideal if you are a law student or graduate seeking practical experience in human rights. However, the work is suitable if you're interning abroad as a pre-university student or if you only have a general interest in human rights.

Typically your human rights internship will involve several elements. You may attend court sessions where you could monitor and report on proceedings. You may also be producing information resources, such as research reports or questionnaires.

You'll also be encouraged to make good use of the local media by writing articles on social themes or even appearing on 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!