Legal Advocacy Intern

BACKGROUND

Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) focuses on providing legal assistance in fragile and conflict-affected states. People living in such areas generally 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 operates as a network and think tank of national, regional and international human rights lawyers. Since being founded in 2013, LAW has undertaken creative legal projects in relation to sexual violence, land disputes and the accountability of security forces. LAW’s recent work includes assisting in drafting the Somali Sexual Offences Bill, producing in-depth reports on land-dispute mechanisms in Somaliland and Puntland, and on Sexual Violence by Armed Men in South Sudan, and hosting high-level panel discussions and expert roundtables on the practical application of international law.

LAW is currently advertising for a London based intern working full time. The position will be for six months and include a small stipend to cover travel and lunch costs.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reports to

Legal Fellow and Executive Director.

Functions/Key Results Expected

The Legal Intern will assist in legal research and drafting, management of social media, attendance at meetings and involvement in fundraising and drafting of applications. The Legal Intern will perform duties and responsibilities in accordance with the objectives and activities mentioned below:

Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough legal and factual research on human rights issues and situations in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, as assigned by the supervisor;
• Draft responses to inquiries from LAW stakeholders about the human rights situation in certain countries, the relevant legal frameworks and how human rights challenges should be addressed;
• Assist legal staff in drafting training manuals, presentations and other materials to support LAW legal program development;
• Summarise and analyse legislation, policy documents and jurisprudence;
• Prepare daily updates on relevant jurisprudence and reports for LAW’s work;
• Assist with LAW’s social media updates;
• Attend meetings and identify like minded organisations to network with;
• General assistance with administration and operational tasks;
• Any other duties as specified by the Executive Director of the organisation.

Skills and Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law; a Masters in Law is preferred;
• Understanding of international law, sexual violence, and accountability in conflict and post-contexts would be an advantage;
• Experience in managing social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter preferred;
• Demonstrated experience in working with an organisation that reports to donors, preferably including experience in drafting donor reports, concept notes and funding application preferred;
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage concurrent deadlines;
• Excellent research skills and analytical ability;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and strong technical literacy;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to work on own and take initiative; demonstrated experience working remotely.

Deadline for submission: 8 April 2017

Start date: To be agreed but as soon as possible preferred

Duration: 6 months

Stipend: LAW is able to provide a stipend per month for the internship.

Kindly send all applications to ojodo@legalactionworldwide.org

HOW TO APPLY:

Kindly send all applications to ojodo@legalactionworldwide.org