The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) is accepting applications for its CFJ Fellowship Programme 2027, a full-time, 12-month placement running from January to December 2027. Applications close on 20 October 2026 at 12 pm South African Standard Time (SAST). Only early-career women lawyers admitted to the bar in Malawi, South Africa, The Gambia or Kenya can apply.
At a glance
| Deadline | 20 October 2026, 12 pm SAST |
| Who can apply | Early-career women lawyers admitted to practise law in Malawi, South Africa, The Gambia or Kenya |
| Format | Full-time, January to December 2027, placed with a host organization |
| Focus | Strategic litigation and free legal aid on violence against women and children |
| Cost to apply | No application fee mentioned on the official page |
| Official page | CFJ Fellowship application |
Who can apply
The application page asks for early-career women lawyers who are admitted to practise law in the country of one of the host organizations: Malawi, South Africa, The Gambia or Kenya. You must also be free to take part full time from January to December 2027. Admission to the bar in any other country does not meet the stated rule.
That makes this a narrow call. Women lawyers in Francophone Africa and in other Anglophone countries will not qualify unless they are also admitted in one of the four host countries. If that is not you, the useful move is to pass it to a colleague who is.
What the fellowship involves
Fellows are placed with one of nine host organizations across the four countries. They include the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, Katiba Institute in Kenya, the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa in The Gambia and CHREAA in Malawi. The application page gives the full list. The work centres on free legal aid and strategic litigation on violence against women and children.
The programme page describes mentoring, training, access to leading human rights and justice experts, and entry to an alumni network. It also describes tasks such as legal research, drafting, client support and court representation. These descriptions are general and are not tied to the 2027 intake. The application page states no stipend amount, so confirm pay and conditions with the programme before you plan around them.
How to apply
- Open the official application page and read the host organization list.
- Prepare a CV as a PDF of no more than two pages (the file limit is 50 MB).
- Write your statement. It should cover your interest in the fellowship, your career goals and a proposed strategic litigation case.
- Line up two professional references and have their contact details ready.
- Submit the online form, with your personal and professional details, before 20 October 2026 at 12 pm SAST.
The page says references are contacted only if you are shortlisted.
Advice from the Africapreneurs team
- Confirm your bar admission before anything else. It is the first filter, and it is tied to one of four named countries.
- Treat the litigation case as the centre of your statement. The form asks for a proposed strategic litigation case, so choose one that fits the violence against women and children focus.
- Read the host list with your own country in mind. Placements sit in specific organizations, so show why you would fit one of them.
- Choose references who know your legal work. Two are required.
- Keep the CV to two pages and submit well before midday on the deadline. South Africa time applies.
FAQ
Is there a fee to apply?
The application page mentions no fee.
Can men or lawyers from other countries apply?
No. The call is for early-career women lawyers admitted to practise in Malawi, South Africa, The Gambia or Kenya.
Is the fellowship part time?
No. It is full time from January to December 2027.
Does the page state a stipend?
No amount is stated on the application page.
