Discover UCT-certified short courses designed for judicial officers, delivered both online and in person. From core judicial skills to human rights, environmental law, and leadership, our programmes provide practical training for a new era of judicial officers.

JIFA offers a range of UCT-certified short courses developed by judges and designed for practical application. Courses are based on experiential and interactive learning methods, including small group work, hypothetical case studies, and engagement with lawyers, academic experts, civil society organisations, and other specialists where relevant. 

Each course accommodates a maximum of 30 participants and includes a University of Cape Town certificate on completion, e-resources, and ongoing support.

Core Skills for Judicial Officers

Dates: 22 June to 26 June 2026
Cost: R20 000 (includes course materials, tea and lunch every day and a certificate, excludes flights and accommodation)
Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 4 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by:  University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers newly appointed judicial officers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the foundational principles and practical skills essential for judicial excellence.
Drawing on African and global perspectives, it combines constitutional theory with hands-on practical exercises to strengthen judicial reasoning, integrity, case management, and effectiveness in the administration of justice.

Participants will explore their role in a constitutional democracy, tackle real-world ethical dilemmas, and develop robust tools for judgment writing, case management, and presiding over motions and applications.

Find out more about the course.

Essential Skills for Judicial Legal Researchers

Dates: 23 – 26 March 2026
Cost: R7 500
Delivery Mode: In-person/Online
Duration: 4 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by:  University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers judicial legal researchers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the core competencies required to excel in a judicial support role.

Drawing on practical experience and established best practices, it combines ethical guidance with hands-on training in legal research, judgment writing, and speech writing to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial support system.

Participants will develop the critical skills needed to meet judicial expectations, navigate ethical challenges, and produce high-quality legal drafts and memoranda.

Find out more about the course.

Foundations of Environmental Law for the Judiciary

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 3 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by:  University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course equips judicial officers, legal practitioners, and justice sector professionals with a deeper understanding of the principles, sources, and application of environmental law within African and global contexts.

Combining theoretical foundations with practical, scenario-based learning, it strengthens judicial reasoning in cases involving sustainability, human rights, and environmental governance. Participants develop tools to navigate complex issues such as legal pluralism, enforcement, and competing interests in environmental disputes.

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Introduction to International Refugee Law for Judicial Officers

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: Three months (online, part-time)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

Across Africa, judges and decision makers play a vital role in upholding the rights and dignity of people forced to flee their homes. Understanding refugee law is not only a legal necessity, it is a humanitarian imperative.

Developed by the Africa Chapter of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ Africa) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in partnership with the Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA) at the University of Cape Town, this certified short course equips judicial officers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to apply international refugee law fairly and consistently in their courts.

Find out more about the course.

Judgment Writing

Dates: 14 - 17 September 2026
Cost: R7 500
Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 4 days Intensive programme/Online
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers judicial officers, aspiring judicial officers and justice sector professionals the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the principles and practice of effective judgment writing.

Drawing on African and global perspectives, it combines practical case-based learning with academic insight to strengthen judicial reasoning, integrity, and effectiveness in the administration of justice.

Participants will explore real-world challenges and develop tools to enhance the clarity, structure, and delivery of their judgments, reinforcing their leadership and adherence to the rule of law.

Find out more about the course.

Judicial Leadership

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 5 days (Intensive programme) for each year
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This two-year judicial leadership programme is designed for senior judicial officers preparing for or already serving in leadership roles. The foundational Year I course focuses on the internal dimensions of leadership, exploring integrity, self-awareness, moral reasoning, and leadership psychology to strengthen personal leadership capacity and resilience within the judiciary.

The advanced Year II course builds on this foundation by focusing on the practical application of leadership in a judicial context, including strategic communication, people management, change management, and institutional leadership. Together, the programme equips judicial leaders with the tools to lead effectively, manage change, and strengthen their institutions.

Find out more about the course.
 

Judicial Train the Trainer: Adjudicating Gender Based Violence

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 3 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers judicial officers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of adjudicating cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through the lens of the Maputo Protocol.

Drawing on African legal frameworks and judicial best practices, it combines substantive legal knowledge with advanced training skills to empower participants to become lead trainers on women's rights and GBV within their own jurisdictions.

Participants will master the Protocol's provisions, develop effective training modules, and create actionable plans to enhance judicial responses to GBV across the continent.

Find out more about the course.

Judicial Train the Trainer: Human Rights for Judicial Officers

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 3 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers judicial officers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the application of international, regional, and national human rights law in judicial decision-making.

Drawing on a rich tapestry of African and global jurisprudence, it combines philosophical foundations with practical, case-based exercises to strengthen judges' ability to protect and promote human rights, thereby reinforcing constitutionalism and the rule of law.

Participants will engage with major human rights instruments, analyse complex factual scenarios, and develop robust legal reasoning for crafting effective remedies for human rights violations.

Find out more about the course.

Judicial Train the Trainer: Developing Excellence in Judicial Education

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 5 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers experienced judicial officers and judicial educators the opportunity to deepen their understanding of adult learning principles, facilitation skills, and training design specific to a judicial context.

Drawing on educational psychology and proven pedagogical methods, it combines theoretical frameworks with hands-on practical exercises to equip participants with the skills to design, deliver, and evaluate effective and impactful training for their judicial peers.

Participants will develop the confidence and competence to become lead trainers within their jurisdictions, enhancing the overall quality of judicial education.

Find out more about the course.

Refugee Law Adjudication and Decision Writing for Appeals Tribunal Members

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 4 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course equips members of refugee appeals tribunals and related judicial bodies with a deeper understanding of international refugee law and the skills required to produce clear, legally sound asylum decisions.

Combining legal analysis with practical decision-writing exercises, it strengthens the application of refugee definitions, exclusion clauses, and the principle of non-refoulement, while enhancing credibility assessment, fact-finding, and reasoned decision-making.

Find out more about the course.

Senior Court Administrators Course

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 5 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course offers senior court administrators the opportunity to deepen their understanding of strategic court management and leadership within the justice sector.

Drawing on best practices from across Africa and beyond, it combines high-level strategic planning with practical managerial tools to strengthen court performance, uphold judicial independence, and enhance the delivery of justice.

Participants will develop advanced skills in governance, finance, technology, human resources, and communication to lead their institutions with integrity and efficiency.

Find out more about the course.

The Protection of Children: International Instruments and Judicial Application

Delivery Mode: In-person
Duration: 5 days (Intensive programme)
Accredited by: University of Cape Town, Faculty of Law

This course equips judicial officers, legal practitioners, and justice sector professionals with a deeper understanding of international child protection law, focusing on the Hague Convention and child trafficking.

Combining practical case-based learning with academic insight, it strengthens judicial reasoning in complex cross-border and child protection matters, while promoting a victim-centred, rights-based approach in proceedings involving children.

Find out more about the course.

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