Legal Intern

SmartStart is a social franchise working to ensure that every child in South Africa has access to quality early learning. Our Legal function supports the organisation's contracts, compliance, and regulatory obligations, and plays a critical role in keeping SmartStart's operations well-governed and protected.

We are looking for a Legal Intern to support the Legal Manager with contract administration, document management, and general legal and compliance tasks. This is a structured, practical internship designed to give you real exposure to legal work in a mission-driven organisation, while helping the Legal team run more efficiently.

You will assist with drafting, organising, and tracking legal documentation; support POPIA-related administration; help maintain contract registers and filing systems; and provide general administrative and research support to the Legal function.

This is a paid, 12-month fixed-term internship based in Johannesburg on a hybrid working arrangement.

Requirements

• Currently studying towards or have completed a Higher Certificate, diploma or degree in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, Law, Business Administration, or a related field.
  
• Good written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear and professional documents and correspondence.
  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Basic understanding of contracts and legal documents, with a willingness to develop this knowledge further.
  
• Comfort with document management, filing systems, and working with templates and registers.
  
• Highly organised and detail-oriented.
  
• Proactive and reliable, able to manage tasks independently and follow through on deadlines.
  
• Professional, discreet, and able to maintain strict confidentiality.
  
• Genuine interest in legal and compliance work and alignment with SmartStart's mission.
  
• Prior exposure to contracts, legal documentation, or policy administration is advantageous, even at the entry level.