Legal Services Manager – Justice Defenders formerly African Prisons Project (APP)

Job Summary:
The Legal Services Manager is responsible for delivering the charity’s strategic legal initiatives including setting up of Justice defender law office and supervising the quality of legal services provided in the Justice Defenders legal Aid office. This includes ensuring that the operations of the legal Aid Office are effective and efficient and that the operating model is easily transferable from prison to prison, and to a public law clinic or law firm. The legal services Manager will identify and coordinate new development, such as those relating to the legal advice clinics and the law firm, and develop models of delivery and partnership working, through regular review and investigation of new opportunities. The Manager will work within the prison rules and the Charity’s policies and procedures and the Law Council Regulations.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
· Ensure that Justice Defenders (JD) has a viable and world class legal services programme with a law firm and legal Aid clinics in prisons.
· Establish a robust quality assurance framework for the casework and experience of clients in JD legal Aid Clinics
· Guide JD on the processes to be taken to register as a legal Aid provider and draw up a road map for JD to establish a similar service in other criminalized community such as refugee camp or slum.
· Ensure lessons are learnt and widely shared and validate across the organization
· Represent the interests of JD’s legal services programme in terms of litigation and the administration of justice, within the organization and externally, and support the legal services team to ensure government offices (prison Officers, State Attorneys) take necessary action.
· Develop and manage an annual budget and plan, in liaison with the Country Manager, and finance team.
· Lead and/or contribute to the local fundraising strategy including making funding applications, building relationships, reporting /presenting to Donors, Uganda Senior Management Team and the Boards of Trustees.
· Provide supervision, mentorship and guidance to the legal services team.
· Offer Legal Representation to JD clients in court.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The ideal candidate for the Justice Defenders Legal Services Manager job must hold an Honours Degree in Law with a practicing certificate in Uganda.
· Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
· Enrolled Advocate of the High Court with 7 years post admission
· Experience in programme design and management.
· At least five years working experience in criminal litigation and at least 3 years in management/supervision role
· Understanding of, and commitment to, the aims of providing legal services to the poor
· Awareness of current local social and legal issues in the criminal justice system.
· Experience in conducting strategic, complex and high-profile litigation to a high standard.
· Experience in making public funding applications and understanding of the recent legal aid reforms, with a knowledge and understanding of other options for funding litigation and casework.
· Experience of in-depth financial budgets and cost analysis.
· Proficiency in working with Microsoft office suite.

Key competencies and abilities
· Initiative and independence
· Teamwork
· Analytical ability
· Attention to detail
· Logical reasoning
· Persuasiveness
· Sound judgment
· Writing ability
· Ability to work under pressure
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills

How to Apply:
All candidates should Email their updated CVs and cover letters only to saidikaren@justice-defenders.org and clearly indicate the position you are applying for.

Deadline: 19th October 2020 by 5:00pm.

NB:
· Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.
· Applications will be received on a rolling basis
· Justice Defenders accepts no liability for incomplete submission, late or misdirected transmission of applications
· Any form of canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.
· Justice Defenders is an equal opportunity employer

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