Legal Trainer, Asia/Africa (3-6 Months Short Term Assignment)

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Organization information
Organization name: 
International Bridges to Justice
Street address: 
64 Rue de Monthoux
City: 
Geneva, SWITZERLAND
ZIP: 
1201
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

Legal Trainer, Asia/Africa
(3-6 Months Short Term Assignment)
Salary to be determined
Must be willing to relocate

Brief Description:
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is a non-governmental, apolitical, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in developing countries. Every day, millions of people around the world are arbitrarily detained, tortured, and denied access to counsel. IBJ seeks to solve this problem within our lifetimes through the systemic provision of early access to competent legal representation for those arrested and accused of a crime. Early engagement with competent counsel ensures that individuals will be protected against investigative torture, prolonged detention, and other due process violations. In recognition of the UN SDG 16, IBJ champions access to justice as the ultimate means to stable and fair judicial processes, healthier economies, and more secure societies. To this end, IBJ seeks professionals with significant experience successfully managing, monitoring, and evaluating Rule of Law programs in countries with developing sociocultural and economic systems, as well as substantial experience practicing criminal defense law.
As the Legal Trainer, you will be responsible for IBJ’s Asia/Africa program; you will play an integral role in implementing IBJ’s program designed to prevent human rights abuses and advocate for the protection of due process rights for the criminally abused resulting in greater access to justice for all.

About IBJ:
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is a non-governmental, apolitical and independent non-profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. Every day, millions of people around the world are arbitrarily detained, tortured, and denied access to counsel. IBJ seeks to solve this problem within our lifetimes through the systemic provision of early access to competent legal representation for those arrested and accused of a crime. IBJ works bottom-up to support defenders and improve standards, and top-down to shift mind-sets of legal stakeholders and produce lasting policy change. Early engagement with competent counsel ensures that individuals will be protected against investigative torture, prolonged detention, and other due process violations. In recognition of the UN SDG 16, IBJ champions access to justice as the ultimate means leading to stable and fair judicial processes, healthier economies, and more secure societies.
We operate 8 country programs in Burundi, Cambodia, China, D.R.C., India, Myanmar, Rwanda and Zimbabwe and have 69 JusticeMakers fellows in 42 countries, spread across six continents.

IBJ Asia/ Africa Legal Trainer Job Description:
IBJ has a longstanding commitment to fostering sustainable change in the legal systems of Asia/ Africa. However, the need for qualified defense attorneys remains, as the poor and indigent in the region continue to suffer systematic human rights and due process abuses.
IBJ operates Defender Resource Centers in Asia/Africa and IBJ is recruiting a Legal Trainer to help expand the reach of these operations. The Legal Trainer will work for three to six months to further the implementation of IBJ’s Asia/Africa program designed to prevent human rights abuses and advocate for the protection of due process rights for the criminally accused. Applicants should be fierce advocates with demonstrated commitment to protecting basic legal rights for the poor and indigent. IBJ seeks professionals with significant experience successfully managing, monitoring, and evaluating Rule of Law programs in countries with developing sociocultural and economic systems, as well as substantial experience practicing criminal defense law.
The Legal Trainer will be responsible for Asia/Africa-wide implementation, and project reporting of all IBJ Asia/Africa programming and training activities. In addition, this position involves handling oversight of training activities, and requires working with various stakeholders, including high level government and international donor representatives. In coordination with Geneva HQ, the Legal Trainer will set the annual Asia/Africa training plan and budget. This position acts as an external representative of IBJ in communication and programming matters, and motivates IBJ lawyers, interns, and volunteers to accomplish objectives.

Program activities will seek to:
1. Improve access to justice and legal aid for the poor and vulnerable; and
2. Develop legal capacity of justice sector professionals in Asia/Africa.
The focus of this position is on Asia/Africa and will require frequent travel throughout the region.

Responsibilities:
〈 Provide ongoing coordination and management support to ensure smooth and effective implementation of all project activities.
〈 Draft and evaluate capacity-building materials.
〈 Develop monitoring and evaluation tools to track the progress of project implementation, assess needs, and design programs for improvement.
〈 Assist in enhancing standards, principles, forms, and internal procedures common to criminal defense clinics, as well as effective data collection and analysis.
〈 Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner, and suggest appropriate program adjustments.
〈 Develop monitoring and evaluation tools to track the progress of project implementation, assess needs, and design programs for improvement.
〈 Foster relationships with donors, international organizations, government representatives, law firms, civil society, and other relevant justice stakeholders.
〈 Assist in the development of, and ongoing support to, Defender Resource Centers providing legal aid.
〈 Supervise and ensure the effective operation of Defender Resource Centers, including criminal defense training for attorneys, serving as a mentor, and overseeing national staff and counterparts.
〈 Develop/review legal aid training modules for justice sector actors, particularly criminal defense modules.
〈 Train and build the capacity of criminal defense lawyers to deliver more effective legal aid and access to justice services to the poor.
〈 Where appropriate, provide technical assistance to local civil society and private sector efforts to expand access to justice through legal aid and public outreach and awareness-raising.
〈 Act as liaison between Defender Resource Centers and Satellite Offices to facilitate training of criminal defense lawyers and justice sector actors.
〈 Collaborate with justice sector actors on program activities, including government representatives, judges, prison officials, police officers, prosecutors, public defenders, and civil society organization members.
〈 Identify fundraising opportunities in the Rule of Law sector of Asia/Africa.

Requirements: 

Education and Qualifications:
〈 5-10+ years of experience in implementing international Rule of Law programs with demonstrated strong management and coordinating skills
〈 5+ years of management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on international development programs
〈 Knowledge of international donor administrative and procurement practices
〈 Familiarity with the socio-political landscape of Asia/Africa, preferred
〈 Experience providing capacity-building services and training to criminal defense lawyers
〈 10+ years as a practicing lawyer in criminal defense law
〈 Experience mentoring criminal defense lawyers
〈 Experience training criminal defense lawyers in trial skills
〈 Direct experience handling pro bono cases for the poor or other legal aid efforts
〈 Qualifying Law degree (JD)
〈 Fluent written and spoken English
〈 Ability to work in complex, diverse team environments
〈 Ability to work independently with minimal guidance when necessary
〈 Excellent interpersonal, communications, and presentation skills
〈 Proficiency with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point.

To apply: 

Application Process:
〈 Interested candidates should submit a CV, cover letter, and 3 references (names/contact information) to [email protected]. Applicants should indicate in the subject line of the email: Legal Trainer (Short Term) Asia/Africa
〈 The deadline for the application is on Sunday 25th June at 11:59pm (CEST – Geneva Time).
〈 Applicants are encouraged to highlight their previous experience working in senior-level positions on Rule of Law programs, as well as any previous experience focusing on criminal defense in Asia/Africa
〈 IBJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
〈 Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Submission deadline: 
Sunday, June 25, 2017