BACKGROUND
Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) provides creative legal assistance in fragile and conflict-affected states. People living in such areas often experience both an increased vulnerability to human rights violations and a decreased ability to access justice. LAW aims to address this through legal interventions aimed at empowering people to know and exercise their rights.
LAW’s largest legal programme is in Somalia. LAW has four main areas of focus: addressing sexual violence, accountability of security forces, addressing land conflicts and finally, fair trial and due process. Work includes providing technical advice to the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, including drafting and implementing of the first Sexual Offences Bill, advising on a Female Genital Mutilation Bill and advocating for the ratification of CEDAW. LAW has also established the first legal aid network. LAW works closely with relevant government ministries and institutions as well as civil society. LAW is now looking for a Senior Legal Officer to be based in Mogadishu, Somalia. This position will be key in assisting with the passage and implementation of the Sexual Offences Bill.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Reports to
Legal Advisor or Programme Manager
Functions/Key Results Expected
The Senior Legal Officer will perform duties and responsibilities in accordance with the objectives and activities mentioned below:
Legal:
· Assist with the enactment and implementation of the Sexual Offences Bill;
· Assist in the drafting and enactment of the FGM Bill and ratification of CEDAW;
· Prepare and undertake trainings on Somali domestic law and human rights law for relevant actors including security forces;
· Undertake legal research and assist in the development of legal documents;
· Analyze and summarize legal and policy documents;
· Analyze Somali law, the including informal legal system;
· Conduct fact-finding missions and effectively interview vulnerable people including women, children and IDPs.
Advocacy:
- Represent LAW at meetings with various officials, NGO partners, UN agencies etc;
· Organize trainings, seminars and workshops in Somalia as well as other countries ;
· Liaise with relevant governmental ministries, and other sectors;
· Take accurate, detailed notes at regional consultations (outside of Mogadishu);
· Build and maintain relationships of trust with local NGOs on the ground and LAW partners.
Administrative:
- Draft donor proposals and donor reports, maintain records to enable accurate and timely donor reporting;
- Draft monthly, quarterly and annual reports on work completed;
· Translate complicated documents from English to Somali;
· Make on-the-ground preparations for trips of other LAW staff to Somalia, including arranging meetings, security, accommodation etc;
- Any other duties as specified by the Director of the organisation.
Skills and Qualifications Required:
- Qualified attorney with minimum of 3 years practice experience in criminal, family, refugee, or international human rights law. Experience working with cases of sexual and gender based violence preferred;
- Knowledge of and experience working with international, humanitarian and human rights law;
- Experience advising government or judicial institutions, including legislative drafting would be an advantage;
- A demonstrated understanding of international human rights work and experience working in Somalia and with international NGOs;
- Project management experience would be an advantage;
- Excellent written and oral English, research and drafting skills, organizational and analytical skills
- Excellent written and oral Somali, research and drafting skills, organizational and analytical skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, internet communication tools and strong technical literacy
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work on own and take initiative with proven track record of working independent of an immediate supervisor;
- Ability to be meet tight deadlines;
- Ability to demonstrate sensitivity in and exposure to cross-cultural situations;
- Strong communication skills, ability to manage relationships at all levels, possess excellent negotiation skills.
Placement and duration of the assignment
The position would be based in Mogadishu with frequent travel within Somalia. The assignment will be for a period of at least one year with possibility of extension. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please email a cover letter and your CV on or before 20th July 2015 to:recruitment@legalactionworldwide.org
The subject of the application should read ‘Senior Legal Officer-Mogadishu’.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Candidates who had earlier applied for this position and were not shortlisted need not re-apply for the same.
