Senior Legal Officer - Garowe

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 disputes and fair tria.l/due process. Work includes providing technical advice for the drafting of the first Sexual Offences Bill and advising the Land Dispute Tribunal. 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 Garowe, Puntland. This position will be key in establishing LAW in Puntland.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reports to

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 with the development and training of the Land Dispute Tribunal and drafting of relevant policies and regulations;

· Oversee the establishment of a Sexual Violence unit and pilot forensics project;

· Establish pilot court room procedures;

· 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:

• Establish LAW office and presence in Garowe;
• Draft 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 5 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 Garowe with travel within Puntland. The assignment will be for a period of at leastone 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 to 2 July: recruitment@legalactionworldwide.org

The subject of the application should read ‘Senior Legal Officer Garowe’.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

LAW is an equal opportunity employer.