Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Services
Our practice offers a range of free legal services to individuals, non-profit organisations and other entities engaged in human rights or public interest work. These services include:
- Advice and litigation services for vulnerable individuals.
- Public interest litigation.
- Education on the South African legal system.
- Constitutional law.
- Refugee law.
One of the ways CDH demonstrates our commitment to the transformation of our society is through our dedicated Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice. We provide pro bono representation of the highest standard to deserving individuals, communities, NGOs, and other organisations that promote human rights or the public interest.
This video highlights some of the cases and initiatives we have chosen to focus on in our newsletter which reflects some of the best of our year’s work. We hope you enjoy reflecting on our 2023 journey as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Click here to read more in our newsletter.
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Brochures
Pro Bono & Humans Rights Newsletter
Services
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Services
Our practice offers a range of free legal services to individuals, non-profit organisations and other entities engaged in human rights or public interest work. These services include:
- Advice and litigation services for vulnerable individuals.
- Public interest litigation.
- Education on the South African legal system.
- Constitutional law.
- Refugee law.
Video
One of the ways CDH demonstrates our commitment to the transformation of our society is through our dedicated Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice. We provide pro bono representation of the highest standard to deserving individuals, communities, NGOs, and other organisations that promote human rights or the public interest.
This video highlights some of the cases and initiatives we have chosen to focus on in our newsletter which reflects some of the best of our year’s work. We hope you enjoy reflecting on our 2023 journey as much as we enjoyed doing it.
Click here to read more in our newsletter.
Brochures
Pro Bono & Human Rights Law Brochures
Guidelines
Newsletters
Pro Bono & Humans Rights Newsletter
Pro Bono & Human Rights Lawyers
Our team has specialist expertise in the fields of constitutional and public law, migrant rights, access to information and a growing specialty in women’s rights.
Our Pro Bono & Human Rights LawyersPRACTICE HEAD
Pro Bono & Human Rights News
More newsMen as allies in the fight for women’s empowerment
As we commemorate Women’s Month, we reflect not only on the historic march of 1956 but also on the ongoing journey toward equality in our workplaces and communities.
Access Chapter 2 admitted as amicus curiae in landmark sex work decriminalisation case
In May 2024 in the Western Cape Division of the High Court, S.H. and The Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) launched a landmark legal challenge to decriminalise sex work in South Africa. In the application referred to as S.H. and Another v The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and Others , SWEAT is the second applicant and positions itself in support of the first applicant, S.H., who is a sex worker based in Cape Town. The founding affidavit is deposed to by S.H., and in it she chronicles the harassment, lack of protection, stigmatisation and discrimination that she endures as a sex worker. In this groundbreaking and historic application, both S.H. and SWEAT seek to have the legislation that criminalises sex work in South Africa declared unconstitutional and to, as a consequence, have sex work decriminalised.
Men as Allies in the Fight for Women’s Empowerment - The value of understanding others
We close out our Men as Allies series with a powerful conversation on why continuous learning, reflection, and empathy are crucial for achieving true inclusion in the workplace.
Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2021–2024 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 3.
- In 2020 and 2021 the Practice won Best Large Firm Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards.
- In 2017, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice won the Refugee Law Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards. The Practice also received a certificate in recognition of its contribution to the production of a Judicial Review Guide for Refugees as part of ProBono.Org’s launch of its Practitioners Guides to Refugee Law Project.
- In 2017, CDH won a Law Society Award for its outstanding pro bono contribution.
- In 2015, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice was shortlisted for the award for the most impactful case at the 2015 ProBono.Org awards for its contribution to the SAHA/R2K National Key Points matter.
- In 2012, CDH was awarded the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Award in recognition of its special contribution to achieving the vision of EWT.
Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2021–2024 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 3.
- In 2020 and 2021 the Practice won Best Large Firm Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards.
- In 2017, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice won the Refugee Law Award at the annual ProBono.Org awards. The Practice also received a certificate in recognition of its contribution to the production of a Judicial Review Guide for Refugees as part of ProBono.Org’s launch of its Practitioners Guides to Refugee Law Project.
- In 2017, CDH won a Law Society Award for its outstanding pro bono contribution.
- In 2015, our Pro Bono & Human Rights Practice was shortlisted for the award for the most impactful case at the 2015 ProBono.Org awards for its contribution to the SAHA/R2K National Key Points matter.
- In 2012, CDH was awarded the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) Cheetah Award in recognition of its special contribution to achieving the vision of EWT.
Happy Clients
“They have the ability to manage all our matters and take care in providing the best legal assistance to tend to the complexity of the matters.”
Chambers Global 2025
"They have the ability to manage all our matters and take care in providing the best legal assistance to tend to the complexity of the matters.”
Chambers Global 2025
"Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr provides effective communication and prompt responses.”
Chambers Global 2025