Assistant Lawyer

Place of Work: – Addis Ababa

Salary: As per the organizational scale

Type of Employment Condition: Six months with the possibility of extension

Required Number: -One

Background

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) is an Ethiopian civil society organization that re-registered on September 19, 2019, before the FDRE Civil Societies Organizations Agency by Proclamation No. 1113/2019. The objectives of the Organization include increasing the participation and contribution of lawyers in the area of human rights through training and other capacity-building activities, supporting lawyers across the nation, and helping the exchange of ideas, information, and experience for better protection of human rights and prevalence of human rights, litigating strategically in courts and other relevant organs to ensure protection and promotion of human rights recognized under the FDRE Constitution and other laws, creating awareness for justice organs on international human rights instruments ratified by Ethiopia, providing free or low-cost legal services for victims of human rights violation, particularly disadvantaged communities, influencing the government to enact new laws or amend existing ones to give full protection for human rights, familiarizing the idea of human rights defenders (HRD) among the lawyers etc.

To achieve these objectives, LHR has been implementing different projects with donors. Currently, LHR is implementing a project entitled “Improving Access to Justice in Criminal Justice Process through Legal Aid Services and Capacity Building Activities in Adama, Shashemene, and Addis Ababa” with the support of the UNODC. One of the activities of the project includes the provision of legal aid services for detainees in Adama, and Shashemene. Accordingly, LHR is seeking lawyers and assistant lawyers for each of the centers.

Vacant Position I: Assistant Lawyer

LHR is looking for one assistant lawyer, one for the centers to be established in Addis Ababa, with the following responsibilities:

Role and Responsibilities

The principal role of the lawyer is to render legal aid service to detainees in selected prison centers with the roles of:

• Assisting the principal lawyer in providing free legal services;
• Rendering legal counsel under the guidance of the principal lawyer;
• Assist the principal lawyer in preparing pleadings and briefs;
• Documentation and clerical activities as instructed by the principal lawyer;
• Discharging the duties in accordance with the ethical standards of lawyers as stipulated in the relevant laws.

Job Requirements

Professional competencies:

• A University degree in law (LLB) with 0 years of experience.
• Have sufficient knowledge of the Ethiopian legal system; the criminal justice system of Ethiopia; the Ethiopian criminal and procedural laws; the Constitutional right to access justice through legal aid services, and the National and International legal framework on the rights of persons arrested in police stations.

   

Personal Qualities:

• The ability to explain legal matters clearly
• A passion for justice and fairness, and the respect of Human Rights.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities, carry out multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work under pressure and with limited supervision in a challenging environment.
• Pro-active, goal-oriented, and results-driven.
• Flexible and creative.
• Excellent communication skills including written communication
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic language is mandatory
• Computer literate and skills in internet usage.
• Excellent documentation skills.
• Perfect speaking & listening skills for the native language of the area

Disclaimer:

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description, and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job.