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.
During the week of 7-10 April, our Pro Bono & Human Rights practice (Pro Bono Practice) partnered with the University of Hertfordshire (Herts University), United Kingdom, Judge Stuart Wilson from the Johannesburg High Court, and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) to deliver an intensive and highly engaging practical advocacy workshop for public interest and human rights lawyers.
The training was facilitated by Simone Start and Stuart Lindsay, both Barristers and Principal Lecturers at the Department of Law, Criminology and Professional Legal Education, Herts University, with the assistance of Anne Marie de Vos SC, Jacquie Cassette, Head of our Pro Bono Practice, and lawyers from LHR. The primary purpose of the training was to equip the participants with practical litigation skills, with emphasis on developing their oral advocacy skills.
The participants included young attorneys from various public interest law organisations, including LHR, the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), the Centre for Child Law, AccessChapter2, Probono.Org, and Amnesty International, and pro bono practices in commercial law firms, as well as junior advocates.
We were privileged to be joined by Judge Seena Yacoob, Judge Elmien du Plessis, Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana, and Judge Richard Moultrie, who, together with Judge Stuart Wilson, imparted invaluable insights and guidance to the participants from the perspective of a judge.
The feedback received from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to rolling out further workshops going forward.
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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
During the week of 7-10 April, our Pro Bono & Human Rights practice (Pro Bono Practice) partnered with the University of Hertfordshire (Herts University), United Kingdom, Judge Stuart Wilson from the Johannesburg High Court, and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) to deliver an intensive and highly engaging practical advocacy workshop for public interest and human rights lawyers.
The training was facilitated by Simone Start and Stuart Lindsay, both Barristers and Principal Lecturers at the Department of Law, Criminology and Professional Legal Education, Herts University, with the assistance of Anne Marie de Vos SC, Jacquie Cassette, Head of our Pro Bono Practice, and lawyers from LHR. The primary purpose of the training was to equip the participants with practical litigation skills, with emphasis on developing their oral advocacy skills.
The participants included young attorneys from various public interest law organisations, including LHR, the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), the Centre for Child Law, AccessChapter2, Probono.Org, and Amnesty International, and pro bono practices in commercial law firms, as well as junior advocates.
We were privileged to be joined by Judge Seena Yacoob, Judge Elmien du Plessis, Judge Sandiswa Mfenyana, and Judge Richard Moultrie, who, together with Judge Stuart Wilson, imparted invaluable insights and guidance to the participants from the perspective of a judge.
The feedback received from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to rolling out further workshops going forward.
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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.
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Pro Bono & Human Rights News
More newsConstitutional Court clarifies the position on subsequent asylum applications
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In the South African context Chapter 9 institutions are indispensable
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Market recognition
- Chambers Global 2025 – 2026 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 2. From 2021-2024 in Band 3.
- Our Nairobi Office was awarded the Trust Law 2023 Pro Bono Regional Law Firm of the Year Award.
- 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 2025 – 2026 ranked our Administrative & Public Law team in Band 2. From 2021-2024 in Band 3.
- Our Nairobi Office was awarded the Trust Law 2023 Pro Bono Regional Law Firm of the Year Award.
- 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