What will the IFP entail?

The fellowship is aimed at providing young lawyers with:

• Access to partners in top-tier law firms with proficiency in technology law practice across Africa. Each fellow will be assigned to a partner in a top-tier law firm in Africa who will involve the fellow in his or her projects and act as a mentor during the fellow’s program. Partners from participating law firms will leverage their expertise in technology law practice and experience to guide fellows.
• Joint trainings on technology law transactions through biweekly masterclasses.

Commitments of Participating Law Firm

• Offer internship opportunities to fellows
• Provide feedback on fellows performance
• Assign tasks that will give fellows opportunities to learn
• Invite fellows to career advancement events revolving around technology law
• Invite and engage fellows in important client interactions, or non-confidential calls
• Discuss interpersonal and professional skills and inform fellows of platforms that offer such skills

Applicants must:

• Be aged between 18 and 35 (at the time of the application)
• Be a registered member of the Innovation Law Club Africa
• Have a distinguished academic background and in particular a degree in law.
• Be committed to developing legal skills across a range of technology and innovation law practice
• Have a minimum of a second-class upper division (2.1) undergraduate ( or graduate) degree from a university (or institution) 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)
• Have a record of having performed high quality work which can be verified by strong referees familiar with the individual’s work
• A commitment to sharing the skills acquired during the fellowship with others

Application Process and Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: 23 August 2021
• Decision: 30 August 2021 (Applicants will be updated on the success or otherwise of their applications.).
• Virtual Interviews (where necessary): 30 August 2021 – 10 September 2021
• Fellowship Resumption Date: 20 September 2021
• Duration of Fellowship: 5 weeks

*Please note the application form will take between 20-30 minutes to complete.

**IFP internship placement is very competitive. Successful candidates who are not offered internship placements, would automatically participate in the masterclasses.