Law Firm Internship in Accra, Ghana

This would be a great project for those on a law course, wishing to gain some practical experience. It’s also a great opportunity for people in the local industry and gain international experience. 

• Accommodation
• Breakfast and Dinner
• Arrival airport transfer & dropoff (Sat/Sun arrivals)
• 1 day orientation
• In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
• Fundraising support
• University course credits (where applicable)
• Certificate of Completion

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Daily transportation to the project (approx US $3-4 p/day)
• Tours, Souvenirs & spending money

On the day after your arrival you will be given a short orientation at the house and a city tour, either on the first or second day. Volunteering usually starts on day 3. 

Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.

A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Kotaka International Airport (ACC) on Sunday.

Please arrange your pickup with us in advance. 

Here is an example of a daily routine (this may vary):

• Breakfast served from 5am onwards. Volunteers and Interns start the day usually with breakfast. After breakfast, volunteers walk to the bus station which is a 15minute walk from the volunteer house. Volunteers can equally take a sharing taxi right in front of the volunteer house to the junction to join the trotro (name of the local bus transport system).
• Volunteers must be wary of heavy traffic in the city in the mornings. Depending on the traffic conditions, volunteers could spend an hour on the road before they get to the law firm. Once at the law firm, volunteers report to their departments and their work for the day is relayed to them.
• Consultation: Interns or Volunteers may consult with local staff members to discuss the day’s needs and activities. 
• Work: Attend court sessions, sit in for court cases and get a 1st hand view as to how the judicial system works in Ghana. The tasks will depend on the qualifications of the individual. The more qualified one is, the more tasks can be done and will be tailored to your prior experience.
• Lunch: Volunteers take a lunch break with other volunteers and local staff at 12 pm. 
• Closure: Volunteers usually finish their placement around 3- 4PM, depending on the days task. 
• Dinner: Served from 5:30pm onwards. Volunteers have dinner together with other volunteers/interns in the volunteer accommodation. All meals are freshly prepared by on onsite cook. 

Evening: Volunteers are free to plan their evenings. You can stay in or opt for a night out with other volunteers.  

PLEASE NOTE: The law internship routine can differ from the above. As you will meet clients, prepare for court, etc, the daily routine is created when you arrive at the chambers you will be practicing in. There may be times when the lawyer you are working with has cases out of Accra that you may have to go to, so please be flexible in your plans and expectations.

But usually, you will follow a similar routine as above. Breakfast, walk with the other volunteers to get to the projects, meet with the team to prepare and then to court or stay in the chambers. 

The project is aimed at interns (to learn and observe) and for volunteers (qualified individuals who can do more on their own with less supervision).

There are plenty of things to do on your days off- here are just a few!

Cape Coast

Cape Coast in Ghana has a colonial history, being the site at which many slaves were shipped over to the America’s. Michelle Obama is believed to have roots traced back here and herself and Barak Obama unveiled a plaque in their visit in 2009. Cape Cost is a fishing town, with a fort to look around and with an artsy vibe in the town centre. Many travellers use this location as a base to travel on to Kakum National Park.

Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park is a coastal rainforest covering an area of 357 kilometres. There are 40 species of monkey, 200 bird species and over 500 species of butterflies. The park is one of the most visited attractions in Ghana, with spectacular scenery and canopy walk for visitors.

Lake Volta

Lake Volta is a picturesque man-made lake, just North from Accra. The building of the Akosombo Dam resulted in lake Volta being formed. You can take a boat tour across the lake or even try kayaking over it.

Elmina Castle

Elmina Castle is situated in the Cape Coast region of Ghana and it has a dark past. During the height of the slave trade around 30,00 slaves were held here, before being shipped off and out of Ghana. Slaves were kept captive and tortured at Elmina Castle, which was built by the Portuguese. You can visit here with a guided tour, that will give you a better understanding of Ghana’s past history.

Manhyia Palace

Built by the British in 1925, Manhyia Palace was made to welcome back the ruler of the Asante state, after many years of banishment from the country. Rooms are still set up as they would have looked at the time, and you can book guided tours and watch a video presentation, explaining the palaces history. The small museum holds displays showing old royal objects, clothing, furniture and photographs.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

This is the site of the grave of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Situated in the downtown area of Accra, this impressive sculpture is made entirely from Italian marble. Inside, you can see items and photos from the president and information about his life story. The monument is surrounded by water and looks particularly picturesque at sunset.  

National Museum of Ghana

The National Museum has been open since 1957 and has three main display areas; art, archaeology and ethnography. The museum is located in Accra and has some interesting exhibits displaying Ghanaian culture and history.

Accra Mall

This is where you can go for all your shopping and clothing needs. Accra mall is a large shopping centre that has clothes shops, a supermarket, restaurants and a cinema.

Bojo Beach

A great day trip from the city is Bojo beach, a large scenic beach, just 5 kilometres from Accra. Getting to the beach requires hopping on to a small boat over a small patch of water. Once here, you can relax and dine at one of the beach cafes. You can also try water sports such as jet skiing!

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Set amongst 160 acres, the beautiful Aburi Botanical Gardens are defiantly worth a visit, particularly for nature lovers. Situated around a 45 minute drive out of Accra, the gardens have a cooler climate and provide a peaceful escape from the city.

Additional Requirements

Anyone travelling to Ghana MUST have a yellow fever vaccination and must obtain a certificate as proof. You may be asked to produce this certificate at the point of entry into Ghana and can be refused entry if you don’t have one. There may be other vaccine recommendations listed that you may want/need to get before starting, so please ask your doctor before travel.

You will need to provide a valid CRB check before starting this project.

– Copy of passport (photo page)
– Curriculum Vitae (in English)
– Letter of motivation (in English)
– Proof of international health insurance
– Language proficiency proof

Ghana is a multicultural country, situated in West Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the South and 3 other countries; Togo, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast. Ghana’s President runs as both the head of state and head of government. The economy here is now one of the strongest in Africa, utilizing a democratic political system, which has made Ghana a powerful country on the West side of Africa.

Ghana is known for its century old and lively culture, making it an exciting place to visit. Its diverse climate and ecosystem vary from coastal savannahs to tropical jungles. Once nicknamed as the gold coast, Ghana is the second largest producer of gold in Africa and today is also the second largest maker of coffee beans in the world.

Ghana is situated just a few degrees north of the Equator, making it a warm climate, but which is still relatively mild for its location There are two main seasons, however it’s generally hot and humid year-round. Rains usually last for a short time but can occasionally rain throughout the day. Temperatures on average are around 22-30°C.

Ghana has more than 100 ethnic groups living in the county. The largest are the Akan (45%), then Moshi-Dagbani (17%) and Ewe (14%). The Ashanti tribe of Akan are the largest tribe and one of the few groups in West Africa where ancestry is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors. The Ashanti tribe are known for their handicrafts, ceramics, weaving and wood carvings.

In Ghana, the family bond is very strong, with respect for elders being most important. The entire family will share in the joys, success, loss and honour of the family unit, making a collective culture. The oldest member of the family is the most respected and will be treated with honour, as well as those who have a position in the community, wealth or other status.

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