Deadline: Application is on-going
This is an annual international secondment programme where lawyers practising in various African jurisdictions are selected and sponsored on a 3-month secondment at highly reputed international law firms and corporations based in London, Paris, Lisbon and Dubai. Additionally, the programme provides an academic enrichment series that incorporates training modules on various topics relevant to the African legal sector. A wide variety of practice areas and sectors are covered as part of the training modules which take place in London in the first 2 weeks of the programme before the lawyers then go to the various host cities. Finally, the ILFA lawyers undergo seminars at the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The overall objective is to ‘educate, equip and empower’ African lawyers.
Advanced Training
Legal skills and professional development training are an essential part of the secondment programme. Ahead of candidates being placed with host firms, they are invited to attend a 2-week induction/advanced skills training which takes place in London. The training is delivered by ILFA in partnership with participating firms and corporations and a number of other ILFA advisors. Sessions are a mix of soft skills and technical training which cover a wide range of topics and practice areas relevant to the African legal sector. Topics vary from year to year but usually include hot topics like
- Introduction to project finance
- Improving the investment climate in Africa
- The role of Public Private Partnerships in African infrastructure development
- Best practice guidance on Oil & Gas projects
- Navigating dispute resolution and regulatory issues in Africa
- Sources of Public International Law
- International Commercial Arbitration
Eligibility for Flagship Programme
Applicants must:
- Have a distinguished academic background and in particular a degree in law
- Have a minimum of a second class upper division (2.1) or equivalent according to British undergraduate degree classification system) from a university with a reputable law faculty
- Be a qualified practising lawyer in any African jurisdiction with a minimum of three years post qualified experience (PQE)
- Have permanent residence and currently be working in an African country (in-house, private practice, government). Exceptions made for approved sabbaticals i.e studying abroad etc)
- Be aged between 18 and 35 (at the time of the programme)
- Be fluent in English. French, Portuguese, Arabic are desirable for certain placements
- Have a record of having performed high quality work which can be verified by strong referees familiar with the individual’s work
- A clear plan of returning to the home jurisdiction at the end of the secondment and a commitment to sharing the skills acquired on secondment with others
- Be committed to developing legal skills across a range of practice areas and to participating in all aspects of the secondment programme
Programme Information:
Secondees will be placed within one of ILFA’s sponsor firms and corporations . The expectation is that the secondee’s legal expertise matches the relevant practice(s) of the host firm e.g. corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution (arbitration, litigation and ADR), public international law, banking and finance etc.
Application Documents
All applicants must complete and submit an application online. The online application will allow you to enter data, upload documents, and register your reference writers.
- Biographical data
- Personal Statement
- References
- Transcript/Certificates
- Proof of eligibility to practice law
- Resume/CV
- Photo
Benefits
As part of the programme Flagship Secondees are provided with:
- Roundtrip airfare
- Appropriate accommodation in the host city
- Short term accommodation in London for the advanced training days & Gala dinner (for non London based secondees)
- Visa fee & visa application assistance
- Airport transportation and local transportation within the host city
- Weekly allowance
- Transportation to Oxford and Cambridge Universities for the enrichment days
- Attendance at the Annual Gala Dinner
- An ILFA mentor (buddy) within the host firm
At the end of the programme, ILFA hosts an Annual Gala dinner to celebrate the end of the programme. This also provides an important networking opportunity for law firms and corporate organisations who are involved in deal making across Africa. The event usually takes place at the UK Law Society.
Application is on-going
For more information and to apply, click here.
