The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), based in Johannesburg, South Africa, is seeking a highly qualified, motivated lawyer to join its team. SALC promotes and advances human rights and the rule of law in Southern Africa, primarily through strategic litigation support, advocacy and capacity building. SALC works in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
We are looking for a lawyer to lead our regional Prisoner’s Rights Programme.
Job Description:
SALC’s Prisoner’s Rights Programme works to promote the rights of prisoners and prison conditions through working with lawyers and civil society organisations to support legal cases before domestic courts, advocacy, training and facilitating legal networks in the region. The Programme Lawyer will be responsible for carrying out SALC’s legal work and related advocacy.
In particular, the Programme Lawyer is responsible for:
- Providing and monitoring monetary support to local lawyers and organisations for on-going legal cases;
- Developing relationships with local lawyers and non-governmental organisations;
- Developing and coordinating legal cases on Prisoner’s Rights issues;
- Conducting legal and factual research and drafting reports for advocacy purposes;
- Conducting advocacy, in conjunction with the Regional Advocacy Director, with respect to specific legal cases, including engaging in media advocacy;
- Organising and convening meetings, trainings and conferences on key issues and representing SALC at Prisoner’s Rights/Detention meetings and conferences.
Requirements/Qualifications:
- A degree in law is required; LL.M and other advanced degrees are desirable;
- Experience in litigating on human rights and criminal law matters;
- Proven interest and experience in human rights issues, health rights and/or criminal justice, preferably in Africa;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
- Ability to work comfortably in a variety of settings;
- Engage easily with fellow colleagues from the Southern Africa region;
- Experience in or familiarity with non-profit, non-governmental or intergovernmental organisations;
- Excellent knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
- Knowledge and experience of working in the Southern Africa region;
- Excellent legal and factual research skills including online sources;
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail;
- Willingness to travel extensively.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and a detailed CV to Pamela Timburwa,pamelat@salc.org.za by 29May 2015.
