Applications are open for the Clooney Foundation for Justice 2027 Fellowship: Paid Human Rights Fellowship for Early-Career African Women Lawyers, an annual legal fellowship designed to develop the next generation of women lawyers advancing justice for women and children across Africa.
The CFJ Fellowship Programme, formerly known as the Waging Justice for Women Fellowship Programme, provides early-career African women lawyers with practical experience, mentorship and specialized training in strategic litigation, legal representation and advocacy.
For the 2027 programme, the Clooney Foundation for Justice will fund and place 10 early-career women lawyers with human rights and justice organizations in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and The Gambia.
Fellows gain hands-on experience working on issues affecting women and children while developing practical legal skills in areas such as legal research, drafting, client support, advocacy and courtroom representation.
The programme also provides fellows with mentoring, professional training and access to leading African human rights experts, lawyers, judges, activists and academics.
About the CFJ Fellowship Programme
The CFJ Fellowship Programme is an initiative of the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ).
It was previously known as the Waging Justice for Women Fellowship Programme.
Beginning in August 2026, the programme was renamed the CFJ Fellowship Programme.
CFJ states that the change of name does not alter the recruitment process, eligibility requirements or application procedures.
The programme is administered in partnership with the Legal Empowerment Fund at the Fund for Global Human Rights.
Its central objective is to equip early-career African women lawyers with the skills and practical experience required to become future justice champions for women and children.
Ten Women Lawyers Will Be Selected
The 2027 programme will fund and place 10 early-career women lawyers.
Rather than functioning solely as a classroom-based legal training programme, the fellowship places participants directly with organizations involved in human rights and justice work.
These placements include organizations such as legal aid providers, universities operating legal aid clinics and government prosecution services.
Through these placements, fellows contribute directly to the provision of legal services for women and children at different stages of the justice process.
Where Will Fellows Be Based?
The CFJ Fellowship Programme places fellows with host organizations across four African countries:
Kenya
Malawi
South Africa
The Gambia
Applicants should therefore understand that this is not presented as a worldwide remote fellowship.
Fellows are placed with designated host organizations where they can obtain practical legal experience.
Candidates should review the individual host organizations and application requirements carefully when selecting or considering potential placements.
2027 Host Organizations
The Clooney Foundation for Justice has identified several organizations participating in the 2027 fellowship cycle.
Host organizations include:
Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) — Malawi
CHREAA works on human rights, access to justice, and legal empowerment.
Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria — South Africa
The Centre operates within the University of Pretoria and contributes to human rights education, research and advocacy.
Female Lawyers Association Gambia (FLAG) — The Gambia
FLAG provides a platform for women lawyers and contributes to legal and human rights work.
Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA) — The Gambia
IHRDA works on human rights protection and the implementation of African human rights standards.
Katiba Institute — Kenya
Katiba Institute works on constitutionalism and related public-interest legal issues.
Women Lawyers Association — Malawi
The organization brings together women lawyers and contributes to legal advocacy and access to justice.
Other 2027 host institutions listed by CFJ include the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Malawi, the Legal Aid Bureau in Malawi and the University of Malawi.
Applicants should consult the official fellowship application information for placement-specific requirements.
What Will Fellows Do?
The programme is strongly focused on practical legal experience.
Fellows may undertake responsibilities involving:
- Legal research
- Legal drafting
- Client support
- Legal representation
- Court-related work
- Human rights advocacy
- Strategic litigation
- Access-to-justice initiatives
Exact responsibilities can vary according to the host organization and its area of work.
The programme aims to expose fellows to real legal challenges affecting women and children while helping them strengthen the professional skills needed to respond effectively.
Strategic Litigation Experience
Strategic litigation is one of the core areas emphasized by the fellowship.
This approach uses legal cases not only to obtain remedies for individual clients but potentially to contribute to wider changes in law, policy or legal practice.
For early-career lawyers interested in human rights, gaining exposure to strategic litigation can provide important experience in connecting individual legal representation with broader justice objectives.
Fellows can learn from established organizations and professionals already working within African human rights systems.
Legal Representation and Client Support
Another important component of the fellowship is direct legal representation.
Fellows may support women and children navigating different stages of the justice system.
Depending on their placement and professional authorization, responsibilities can involve client support, legal research, drafting, and court representation.
Working directly with clients can help fellows understand the practical barriers people face when attempting to access justice.
It can also strengthen skills in legal communication, case preparation and ethical client representation.
Focus on Women and Children
The programme has a clear thematic focus on protecting the rights of women and children.
CFJ particularly highlights issues including child marriage and violence against women and children.
Fellows can therefore expect their work to involve legal and human rights challenges affecting populations who may face significant barriers to accessing justice.
The fellowship is particularly relevant to lawyers interested in women’s rights, children’s rights, gender justice and access to justice.
Human Rights Advocacy
The programme is not limited to courtroom litigation.
Advocacy is another major component.
Human rights lawyers often need to combine legal analysis with broader efforts to improve laws, policies and institutional practices.
Fellows can develop skills that help them communicate legal issues, work with relevant stakeholders and contribute to initiatives designed to strengthen protection for women and children.
The combination of litigation, representation and advocacy gives participants exposure to different approaches to advancing human rights.
Technology and Access to Justice
An increasingly distinctive element of the CFJ Fellowship Programme is its emphasis on technology.
CFJ has been exploring how technological tools can increase access to justice.
Through its technology-focused partnerships, CFJ fellows will receive training and will be encouraged to apply innovative technological tools to their legal work.
This provides fellows with exposure to emerging approaches at the intersection of law, human rights and technology.
For young lawyers, understanding how technology can support legal research, access to legal information and justice delivery may become increasingly important.
Mentorship and Professional Training
CFJ provides fellows with mentoring and training throughout the programme.
Participants also gain access to a network of leading professionals across Africa’s justice and human rights sectors.
These can include:
Human rights experts
Lawyers
Judges
Activists
Academics
This professional exposure is an important component of the fellowship because early-career lawyers can learn not only through their placements but also through interaction with experienced justice practitioners.
CFJ Fellowship Alumni Network
Professional support does not necessarily end when the placement concludes.
After completing the programme, fellows are inducted into the CFJ Fellowship Alumni Network.
The network is designed to support continued professional development, knowledge sharing and connections among former fellows.
For lawyers developing careers in human rights and public-interest law, such professional networks can be particularly valuable.
They can create opportunities to exchange knowledge, maintain professional relationships and collaborate on future justice initiatives.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is specifically designed for early-career African women lawyers.
Applicants should therefore have a legal background appropriate to the fellowship’s practical legal work.
Because fellows work with human rights and justice organizations, candidates should demonstrate a genuine commitment to advancing justice, particularly the rights of women and children.
Applicants interested in areas such as strategic litigation, gender justice, children’s rights, legal aid and human rights advocacy may find the programme particularly relevant.
Candidates should review the official 2027 application form for the complete eligibility requirements before submitting an application.
What Makes a Strong Candidate?
A competitive applicant should be able to demonstrate a clear commitment to justice.
Academic achievement can be valuable, but the nature of the fellowship means applicants should also explain how their legal training connects with real human rights challenges.
Candidates may strengthen their applications by demonstrating experience or interest involving:
Women’s rights.
Children’s rights.
Gender-based violence.
Child marriage.
Legal aid.
Human rights litigation.
Constitutional law.
Public-interest law.
Access to justice.
Legal advocacy.
Community legal education.
Candidates should use genuine examples from their own academic, professional, or community experience rather than making broad statements about being passionate about human rights.
Early-Career Lawyers
The fellowship is specifically intended to develop early-career lawyers.
This makes it a professional development opportunity rather than a senior legal appointment.
Participants receive practical experience intended to strengthen their ability to pursue careers in human rights and justice.
The supplied CFJ programme information does not specify one universal number of years of professional experience defining “early-career.”
Applicants should therefore rely on the current application instructions rather than assuming an unofficial experience threshold.
Fellowship Funding
CFJ states that the Fellowship Programme funds and places 10 early-career women lawyers with participating justice and human rights organizations.
However, the supplied programme information does not specify the exact stipend or salary amount for the 2027 fellowship.
Candidates should therefore be cautious about third-party websites claiming a particular monthly salary or fellowship stipend unless the figure can be confirmed through CFJ’s official application materials.
Similarly, the supplied information does not establish specific amounts for accommodation, relocation, airfare, visa costs, or other allowances.
Applicants should verify financial arrangements directly through the official fellowship materials.
Impact of the Fellowship
The CFJ Fellowship Programme has already contributed to substantial legal work since its launch in 2023.
According to CFJ, fellows have worked on more than 500 cases involving women’s and children’s rights.
The programme has also supported more than 2,000 women and children through legal assistance, advocacy and legal education.
Issues addressed through the programme have included:
Gender-based violence
Reproductive rights
Child marriage
These figures demonstrate that fellows participate in practical justice work with direct relevance to communities.
Why the Fellowship Matters
Women and children can face significant obstacles when attempting to access justice.
These barriers may include limited access to legal representation, financial constraints, discriminatory practices, or lack of information about legal rights.
Developing a new generation of women lawyers with specialized human rights experience can help strengthen legal services and advocacy.
The CFJ Fellowship Programme addresses this by combining practical placements, professional mentoring, training and long-term alumni engagement.
Rather than focusing only on theoretical knowledge, the programme gives fellows opportunities to work directly within organizations responding to justice challenges.
Application Process
Interested candidates should apply through the official CFJ Fellowship Programme application portal.
Applicants should carefully read the current application instructions before beginning their submission.
Because host organizations operate in different legal and institutional environments, candidates should pay particular attention to any placement-specific requirements.
Applicants should prepare their materials carefully and ensure that all information concerning qualifications, professional experience and legal background is accurate.
CFJ’s official application page should remain the primary source for application requirements.
Application Deadline
The supplied CFJ fellowship overview confirms that applications for the programme are available but does not provide a specific closing date for the 2027 cycle in the material supplied.
Applicants should therefore not rely on an unofficial deadline.
Candidates should check the official CFJ application page for the current deadline and submit their materials before the date specified there.
Applying early can also give candidates additional time to address any technical or documentation issues before applications close.
Is the Fellowship Remote?
The programme is structured around placements with participating human rights and justice organizations.
The supplied information does not describe the fellowship as a fully remote programme.
Host organizations for 2027 are located in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and The Gambia.
Candidates should therefore be prepared for the placement requirements associated with the relevant host institution.
Any remote or hybrid arrangements should only be assumed where specifically confirmed by CFJ or the host organization.
Does CFJ Pay for Relocation?
The supplied fellowship overview does not provide sufficient information to confirm a universal relocation package.
It does not specify whether airfare, visas, accommodation, or relocation costs are covered for every fellow.
Candidates who may need to move for a placement should verify these arrangements through CFJ before making financial or travel commitments.
The fact that a fellowship is funded should not automatically be interpreted as meaning every possible relocation expense is covered.
How to Prepare a Competitive Application
Applicants should begin by researching the CFJ Fellowship Programme and its human rights objectives.
They should also examine the work of the 2027 host organizations.
A strong application should explain why the candidate wants to build a career advancing justice for women and children.
Applicants can discuss relevant legal education, internships, professional work, volunteer experience, legal clinics, advocacy initiatives or research.
Candidates should also explain what they hope to learn from the fellowship and how they expect to use that experience after completing the programme.
Where possible, applicants should provide concrete examples demonstrating commitment to human rights rather than relying solely on general statements.
2027 Host Countries
The geographical spread of host organizations provides fellows with opportunities to gain experience in different African justice systems.
Kenya hosts Katiba Institute.
South Africa hosts the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria.
The Gambia hosts the Female Lawyers Association Gambia and the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa.
Malawi has several host institutions, including CHREAA, the Women Lawyers Association, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Legal Aid Bureau and the University of Malawi.
Candidates should carefully consider how the work of different host organizations aligns with their professional interests.
From Waging Justice for Women to the CFJ Fellowship Programme
Applicants who previously encountered the programme under the name Waging Justice for Women Fellowship Programme should note the branding change.
Beginning in August 2026, the programme became known as the CFJ Fellowship Programme.
CFJ states that the change does not affect recruitment, eligibility requirements or the application process.
Older information using the Waging Justice for Women name may therefore refer to the same fellowship initiative.
For the 2027 cycle, candidates should use the current CFJ Fellowship Programme terminology when possible.
Final Considerations
The Clooney Foundation for Justice 2027 Fellowship: Paid Human Rights Fellowship for Early-Career African Women Lawyers provides an important professional development opportunity for women lawyers seeking practical experience in human rights and access-to-justice work.
The programme will fund and place 10 early-career African women lawyers with human rights and justice organizations across Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and The Gambia.
Fellows gain hands-on experience in areas including legal research, drafting, client support, legal representation, strategic litigation and advocacy.
Participants also benefit from mentoring, training and access to leading African lawyers, judges, academics, activists and human rights professionals.
After completing the fellowship, participants join the CFJ Fellowship Alumni Network for continued support, professional development and knowledge sharing.
The programme has already demonstrated measurable impact. Since its launch in 2023, CFJ reports that fellows have contributed to more than 500 women’s and children’s rights cases and supported over 2,000 women and children through legal assistance, advocacy and education.
Early-career African women lawyers interested in gender justice, children’s rights, strategic litigation, legal aid and human rights advocacy should review the official 2027 application requirements and apply through CFJ’s official fellowship portal.
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