criminal & civil law program
The Criminal and Civil Law Internship Program in Ghana is one of the most highly recognized legal internship opportunities in Africa. It has been described as one of the finest pre-law experiences available and has been consistently ranked as one of the most hands-on internship programs. The interns are assigned to either one or two attorneys in the trial division for whom they are to complete all investigative aspects of the assigned cases.
This internship opportunity will provide all legal and soliciting training relating to criminal and civil law adjudication in Ghana and Africa more broadly. Most of the law firms within which interns are placed have more than 30 years’ experience and expertise, and their lawyers are well known and reputable among the country on all aspects of the law. Their attorneys cater for problems notwithstanding any geographical location. This program provides an opportunity for students considering law school to work within a law firm, to observe what lawyers actually do in their daily activities, and to perform a variety of tasks that will help them determine if they have the desire, capabilities, and temperament that it takes to be a lawyer.
The specific tasks that students will perform will largely depend on the student’s/interns abilities and performance. These tasks may, however, may include:
Locating and interviewing witnesses, meeting with and interviewing clients, assisting attorneys by collecting, reviewing and assembling data for presentation to support cases and complainants, legal research, taking detailed witness statements, performing extensive criminal background checks, serving subpoenas, photographing and diagramming crime scenes, preparing courtroom exhibits, preparing memoranda regarding investigative activities, assisting with case development, and generally assisting the assigned attorney(s) in and out of court.
Qualifications: Oral and written communication skills in English.
Strong Interest in advocacy, criminal and civil justice
