In 1995, the Constitutional Court became the first court in South Africa to assign law clerks to assist each of its judges. Both local and foreign law clerks have been appointed to serve each Justice ever since.Law clerks are appointed to work for a specific Justice and their responsibilities are to assist that Justice judge in fulfilling their duties, and to serve and support the Court as an institution.
Each Justice is assigned two South African (local) law clerks, and may have one or more foreign law clerks in addition. Local law clerks are employed by the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) on one-year, fixed-term contracts; while foreign law clerks are not remunerated (i.e., must arrange their own funding).
Responsibilities of all law clerks include: attending hearings and sittings of the Court and keeping detailed notes; preparing summaries of written argument or evidence; conducting research; preparing analytical notes, memoranda and opinions; and proofing and cite-checking documents such as judgments of the Court.