THE POSITION
At LAW, our goal is to work with victims and survivors to identify and articulate their rights and their justice needs, reduce impunity and increase accountability, supporting victims and survivors to advocate for victim-centered truth seeking and justice. Our approach is creative, inclusive and responsive and we work with the most vulnerable in fragile and conflict affected contexts.
The Legal Advisor will deliver the highest quality legal services to some of the most marginalised victims and survivors. They will work closely and collaboratively with the Programme Manager and support our programme teams and partners in South Sudan and Somalia to develop and implement an integrated approach to legal aid and empowerment, legal representation, high level advocacy and strong referral pathways encompassing holistic services. They will coordinate and produce hard hitting evidence-based reports and increase LAW’s visibility.
BACKGROUND ABOUT LAW
LAW is an independent, non-profit organisation comprised of human rights lawyers and jurists working in fragile and conflict affected areas in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and Europe. We have a particular focus on gender equality. the rule of law and accountability and transformative justice – working to bring justice to those who need it most.
LAW’s portfolio includes multiple ground-breaking cases, which utilise creative legal strategies on behalf of victims and survivors from some of the most challenging contexts, representing more than 1000 clients. Our ground-breaking work has received international media coverage, including in the New York Times, the Times of London, the Guardian, Al-Jazeera, BBC News, France24, The Independent, Voice of America, Huffington Post and Foreign Policy.
In South Sudan and Somalia, we represent survivors and victims of human rights violations, including gender-based violence, in groundbreaking case files. We work closely with national partners and lawyers on domestic and international litigation, on implementing survivor centered approaches to transitional and transformative justice, and on advancing gender equality through legal aid and legislation.
MORE ABOUT THIS POSITION
Where? The position will be based in LAW’s Nairobi office.
Duration? This position is funded for 12 months on a full-time basis with possibility to be extended subject to funding.
Salary: Competitive rates of pay apply
More detail: As a team player with significant expertise in human rights law, international criminal law, domestic criminal law, and experience in strategic advocacy and communication, you will be able to draft complex legal briefs for a wide variety of audiences and to provide technical support and mentorship to other lawyers and local partners.
Role overview:
The Legal Advisor will support the Programme Manager, and the team to produce quality legal submissions, reports, to implement creative advocacy strategies, and to promote LAW’s work.
They will provide overall support with the management of information, advocacy material and fundraising. The post holder will perform duties in accordance with the responsibilities outlined below:
Legal and Programmatic:
- Lead LAW’s litigation initiatives aimed at justice and accountability for victims and survivors of international crimes and human rights violations, including legal research and drafting complex legal submissions,
- Provide advice to the Programme Manager and Head of Litigation on courses of action, plan and lead the conduct of investigations including interviews of vulnerable victims and survivors, and coordinate the work of national and international lawyers and investigators;
- Research and draft high quality legal and advocacy documents including submissions, position papers, reports, legal articles and analysis of legislations;
- Lead capacity building and mentorship of partner organisations, justice actors and lawyers through substantive and logistical support to the design and delivery of trainings on investigating and prosecuting international crimes, legal aid, and other topics as required;
- Lead and support, as appropriate, the design and delivery of transitional and transformative justice information sessions and workshops with victims and survivors, and support the implementation of national and local, formal and informal justice processes.
- Support and coordinate the delivery of legal information, assistance and representation by national lawyers and paralegal to the highest legal and professional standards, including the identification of public interest cases and advocacy objectives to support legislative and practice changes.
- Report and provide updates on relevant contextual development (political, economic, judicial, security, etc);
- Support to project monitoring and reporting on indicators;
Fundraising
- Contribute to drafting of concept notes, proposals and donor reports.
- Draft donor briefings with visually appealing stories to highlight LAW’s impact of projects;
- Prepare presentations and talking points as required;
Advocacy and Communications
- Support the creation and implementation of advocacy strategies adjusted to the objectives identified and design and draft internal and public products and dissemination plans;
- Lead the design and delivery of high-level advocacy events, liaising with panelists, preparing concept notes, agendas, talking points, flyers and circulating all to participants;
- Promote the profile and visibility of the programme and represent LAW on national and regional platforms, when required;
- Establish networks with local and international NGOs and participate in coordination mechanisms at a regional and national level;
- Ensure that website and social media content related to the programmes is up to date and engaging audiences and coordinate the updates;
- Contribute to LAW’s advocacy tools, including factsheets and LAW Annual Report.
- Other ad hoc assignments as may be requested by the Programme Manager or LAW management.
About You
- Ideally, you have the legal right to work in Kenya.
- A degree in law, with post-graduate experience in human rights law, international criminal law, national criminal law and criminal procedure, or a related field;
- 5 years’ experience as a national or international lawyer or in a similar role within an NGO/INGO;
- Demonstrated experience conducting international crimes investigations/prosecution and interviewing vulnerable victims and witnesses, and/or experience providing or coordinating the provision of legal aid to gender-based violence victims and survivors in the national or international legal system.
- Excellent written and oral communication in English
- Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage;
- Significant experience drafting high level legal and advocacy products and conducting complex legal research;
- Proven technical knowledge of human rights law, domestic law, international criminal law, humanitarian law and public international law;
- Excellent organisational skills, with ability to prioritise and meet tight deadlines;
- Work independently and in collaboration with the LAW teams, and to show initiative and creative problem-solving.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint, and strong technical literacy;
- Regular regional travel will be required.
LAW is looking for an experienced Legal Advisor to join our dynamic team, working in fragile and conflict affected areas across South Sudan, Somalia, and potentially in other countries in East and Central Africa.
The closing date for applications is 8th September 2024.
To apply please click on this link : Legal Advisor – South Sudan
At LAW we are strengthened by the diversity of our colleagues reflecting the people and communities that we represent and support. Our team includes many nationalities with diverse professional backgrounds, skills and knowledge. This enables us to deliver and understand the cultural and political contexts on the ground and to tailor our support effectively and appropriately. Women lawyers with experience representing at-risk clients are particularly encouraged to apply.
