Judicial Institute for Africa

Register now for JIFA's Judgment Writing Course.

Participants will strengthen their ability to:

• Structure clear, well-reasoned judgments

• Apply plain language principles

• Assess evidence and credibility

• Manage complex legal reasoning

• Deliver concise extempore judgments

Course Dates: 14 – 17 September 2026

Location: In person (UCT Law)

Time: 09h00 – 17h00

Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Cost: R7 500 / $470

Convened by Dr Mathilda Twomey-Woods, Academic Director of JIFA, with contributions from senior members of the African judiciary and leading academics.

Register now: https://learningstore.uct.ac.za/product?catalog=Judgment-Writing

Newly appointed judicial officers face complex decisions every day.

JIFA’s Core Skills for Judicial Officers course provides hands-on training to strengthen the practical and ethical foundations required for judicial excellence.

Over four intensive days, participants will learn to:
• Apply the principles of the Rule of Law and judicial independence
• Navigate ethical dilemmas and recusal decisions
• Draft clear, well-structured judgments
• Improve case management and courtroom efficiency

Course commences: 22 June 2026

Location: In person (UCT Law)

Application Deadline: 29 May 2026

Participants receive a Certificate of Completion from the Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA), Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town.

Join a growing network of judicial officers committed to strengthening justice systems across Africa.
Apply now: https://learningstore.uct.ac.za/product?catalog=Core-Skills-Judicial-Officers

Strengthening judicial systems starts with investing in the people who lead and support them.

The Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA), based at the University of Cape Town , is offering a series of University-certified short courses in 2026 designed to build practical skills, deepen expertise, and strengthen the administration of justice across the continent.

Upcoming courses include:

🔹 Core Skills for Judicial Officers
22–26 June 2026 | In person
A foundational course equipping newly appointed judicial officers with essential bench skills, from ethics to case management and decision-making.

🔹 Judgment Writing
14–17 September 2026 | Online
A practical, case-based course focused on clarity, structure, and reasoning in judicial writing.

🔹 Senior Court Administrators Course
5–9 October 2026 | In person
A strategic programme for senior administrators to strengthen court performance, governance, and operational leadership.

🔹 Judicial Leadership Course
12–16 October 2026 | In person
An advanced leadership programme focused on building resilient, high-performing courts and driving lasting institutional change.

Each course is judge-led, practical, and grounded in real challenges faced within judicial systems - combining academic rigour with hands-on learning.

Explore the full range of courses and apply: https://learningstore.uct.ac.za/catalog?pagename=JIFA

JIFA offers University-certified training designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and leadership of judicial officers across Africa.

Our courses are practical, judge-led, and shaped by the real challenges faced on the bench and within judicial systems. From core judicial skills to leadership, judgment writing, and specialised areas of law, each programme is designed to support excellence, integrity, and effectiveness in the administration of justice.

Participants gain more than just a certificate. They leave with practical tools, strengthened professional networks, and ongoing access to resources that support their work long after the course ends.

Whether you are a sitting judicial officer, an aspiring judge, or part of the broader justice sector, JIFA provides a space for learning that is rigorous, relevant, and rooted in real-world experience.

View all our courses and find the right fit for your development:

Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA) Unleash your potential by completing one – or more – of UCT’s short courses and lifelong learning opportunities. Browse our catalogue covering business, technology, health sciences, law, engineering, humanities and more.

Judicial excellence starts with strong foundations.
The Core Skills for Judicial Officers course is an intensive programme designed to equip newly appointed judges and magistrates with the practical tools needed to succeed on the bench.
Participants will strengthen their skills in:
• Judicial ethics and independence
• Constitutional interpretation
• Judgment writing in plain language
• Case management and reducing backlogs
• Presiding over motions and applications
Course Dates: 22 – 26 June 2026 (5 days)
Location: In person (UCT Law)
Time: 09h00 – 17h00
Application Deadline: 29 May 2026
Cost: R20 000 / $1 300
Convened by Dr Mathilda Twomey, Academic Director of JIFA, with contributions from senior members of the African judiciary and leading academics.
If you are beginning your judicial career, this programme provides the tools to build clarity, confidence, and integrity on the bench.
Register now:

Continuing education | University of Cape Town Unleash your potential by completing one – or more – of UCT’s continuing education short courses, workshops, seminars, lectures and conferences. These are offered in collaboration with the following UCT units and partners.

If you work in judicial support, this course is a must for you.

Applications for the Essential Skills for Judicial Legal Researchers course are closing soon - and the programme begins 23 March 2026.

Join our 4-day intensive training designed for judicial legal researchers, law clerks, and aspiring judicial support professionals who want to elevate their impact.

The Essential Skills for Judicial Legal Researchers course strengthens the practical skills that drive high-quality judicial support. You will sharpen your legal research, judgment drafting, memorandum writing, speech preparation, and ethical decision-making - building the confidence and precision required to meet judicial expectations at the highest level and support the administration of justice with excellence.

Dates: 23 – 26 March 2026
Details: In-person & Online
Cost: R7 500
Accreditation: Accredited by the University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

To register email [email protected]
To find out more visit: https://law.uct.ac.za/jifa/essential-skills-judicial-legal-researchers

Judicial legal researchers play a critical role in upholding the quality, efficiency, and integrity of the courts.

The Essential Skills for Judicial Legal Researchers course offers hands-on, practice-based training to sharpen your research, drafting, and ethical decision-making skills.

Dates: 23 – 26 March 2026
Details: In-person & Online
Cost: R7 500
Accreditation: Accredited by the University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

Graduates consistently report increased confidence, clarity in their role, and immediately applicable drafting frameworks.

Join a growing African network of judicial professionals committed to excellence.
Register now by emailing [email protected]
To find out more visit: https://law.uct.ac.za/jifa/essential-skills-judicial-legal-researchers

Behind every well-reasoned judgment is rigorous research, ethical clarity, and careful drafting.

The Essential Skills for Judicial Legal Researchers course is a four-day intensive programme designed to strengthen the core competencies required in judicial support roles.

Dates: 23 – 26 March 2026
Details: In-person & Online
Cost: R7 500
To register email: [email protected]
To find out more: https://law.uct.ac.za/jifa/essential-skills-judicial-legal-researchers
Accreditation: Accredited by the University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

Participants will gain practical skills in:
• Judicial ethics and managing workplace conflict
• Advanced legal research techniques
• Judgment writing (first-instance and appellate)
• Speech writing for judicial engagements
• Clear, concise legal memorandum drafting

If you are a judicial legal researcher, law clerk, or aspiring judicial support professional, this programme is designed for you.

Register now. Space is limited!

Across Africa, judges and decision makers play a vital role in upholding the rights and dignity of people forced to flee their homes.

The Introduction to International Refugee Law for Judicial Officers course equips judicial officers and first-instance decision makers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to apply refugee law fairly and consistently.

Registration closes 29 January 2026
Course begins 2 February 2026
Certified by the University of Cape Town

Developed by JIFA and University of Cape Town in partnership with IARMJ Africa Chapter.

Sponsored by UNHCR Southern Africa and funded by the EU in South Africa .

Find out more and register: https://law.uct.ac.za/jifa/introduction-refugee-law-judicial-officers-1