[JOB OPPORTUNITY] SERI seeks to hire an In-House Counsel (10 November 2023).
The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) invites applications for the post of In-House Counsel/Advocate.
The SERI Law Clinic has a first-rate human rights practice, which encompasses constitutional and administrative law, criminal defence, defamation, labour law, property law, contract law (insofar as it involves consumer protection) and actions against the police and other delictual claims. SERI concentrates its work in South Africa’s townships, informal settlements, the Johannesburg inner city and other poor and marginalised communities. SERI’s practitioners appear regularly at all levels of the courts system, up to and including the Constitutional Court. SERI has an enviable track record in obtaining and enforcing ground-breaking judgments. You can find out more about SERI on www.seri-sa.org.
Reporting to the Director of Litigation, the advocate will be expected to develop a litigation practice across a wide range of work in all of SERI’s thematic areas, encompassing trial, motion and appeal work, including criminal, constitutional, administrative, labour, property and delictual matters.
He or she will be engaged in arguing and presenting cases in court on behalf of SERI and its clients and give legal opinions and help with drafting of legal documents related to SERI’s work or interest. He or she will also be expected to mentor and train SERI’s junior attorneys and candidate attorneys.
The requirements for the position are as follows –
- Admission as an advocate of the High Court of South Africa and membership of any Bar.
- Interest in, and prior engagement with, constitutional law and human rights, especially in the areas of work in which SERI is active.
- Excellent skills at legal drafting and in presenting and arguing cases in court.
- Experience of practice in the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court will be an added advantage.
- Experience in the training and mentorship of junior lawyers will be an added advantage.
- Fluency in one or more of South Africa’s indigenous languages will be an added advantage.
The salary for this post will be in the region of R500,000 per annum for employment on a 60% part-time basis (3 days per week). The appointment will be for a fixed term of 2 years.
If you are interested in this post, please send a CV, together with a covering letter to Princess Nkuna at
Generalised covering letters, which do not engage with SERI’s activities and purpose, will not be considered. The closing date for applications is 7 December 2023. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and will be expected to make themselves available for interview in December 2023 or early January 2024.
- Download a PDF version of the advert here.
On 26 October 2023, the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into the fire at the Usindiso Shelter in Marshalltown commenced. The fire on 31 August 2023 claimed the lives of over 70 people and left hundreds more injured and destitute.
On 30 September and 7 October, SERI participated in the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) training hosted Solidarity Center. The first session, conducted on 30 September, brought together approximately 50 physical attendees, with additional participants joining online. The session was attended by a number of government stakeholders. SERI was represented by Thulani Nkosi, Grace Gomba and Thando George. Notably, representatives from domestic workers unions, including Izwi Domestic Workers Union (Izwi), South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU), and United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA), also joined the event. 
