LAW RESEARCHER

Office of the Chief Justice

Reference number: 2026/83/OCJ
Salary: R487 197 - R573 897.per annum (Level 09). The successful candidate will be required to sign a performance agreement.
Centre: Eastern Cape Division of The High Court: Makhanda
Province: Eastern Cape
Closing date: 7 August 2026
Circular: No 26 of 2026

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Requirements

Applicants should be in possession of an LLB Degree or a four-year recognised legal qualification as recognised by SAQA. A minimum of three (3) years’ legal research experience in the relevant field. Superior court or litigation experience and a valid driver’s license will serve as an added advantage. All shortlisted candidates shall undertake a pre-entry practical exercise as part of the assessment method to determine the candidate's suitability based on the post's technical and generic requirements. Knowledge and Skills: Knowledge of Electronic Information Resources and online retrieval (Westlaw, LexisNexis, Jutastat SAFLLI and Sabinet) Practice Manual of the Court, sound understanding of South African law and judicial system, Interpretation and application of the law, Batho Pele Principles, communication skills (verbal and written), problem solving and decision-making skills, excellent research and analytical skills, report writing and editing skills, analytical skills, presentation skills, planning and organising skills, computer literacy. communication and Information Management, accuracy and attention to detail. Diversity Management, managing interpersonal conflict, Project Management, ability to work under pressure and time management skills.

Duties

Provide support to legal research functions for the Judges and other Court officials: Provide support with legal research on various legal issues, statutes, rules, regulations, and case law, analyse and apply complex legal principles and provide summaries to the judges, provide research support to judges in the preparation of hearings and trials, carry out research and retrieve all material from all sources in both hard copy and electronic formats on legal issues, as requested by a Judge, provide analysis through studying all the relevant material, study all the relevant material and provide a thorough analysis thereof. Prepare and compile legal opinions: Provide support to the judges with legal arguments analysis submitted by litigants, evaluate merits of each argument, research supporting and opposing case law (precedent) and provide recommendations to the judges, review legal issues, arguments, and relevant case law in the form of legal memos, prepare a comprehensive memorandum on the outcome of the legal research. Provide support with drafting of clear, consistent and comprehensive judgments: Provide support to judges in reviewing and proofreading draft judgment(s) to ensure clarity and accuracy, proofread all judgments, articles, speeches and conference papers with respect to spelling and grammar, quality assure all references, full citation of judgments and footnotes in all draft judgments and legal articles against the original text to ensure correctness and accuracy, correct mistakes (typos) with the help of track changes so that judges can accept or decline any proposed changes. Ensure that Judges are up to date on recent developments in case law, practice directives and legislation: Quality assure the maintenance of knowledge of recent legal developments, new legislation, and relevant case law, provide support to the monitoring of legal journals, ensure that judges have access to the latest legal information, keep up breast with recent developments in relevant areas of law, such as legislative changes, new precedents, and emerging legal trends.

Where to send your application

Applications can be sent via email to 2026/83/OCJ@judiciary.org.za

Enquiries

Technical Related Enquiries: Ms. L Frazer Tel No: (046) 603 5000 HR Related Enquiries: Ms. Z Sulo at (087) 086 6929

Note

The Organisation will give preference to candidates in line with the Employment Equity goals.

Taken from Public Service Vacancy Circular 26 of 2026, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration on 24 July 2026. Open the PDF to check this post against the original. Last checked 30 July 2026.

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