The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) is a not-for-profit Civil Society Organization (CSO) founded by Ethiopian women lawyers. It began its work in 1996 after being registered in 1995. It was re-registered as a charitable organization by the Charities and Societies Agency in 2010 as per the Charities and Societies Proclamation. Its vision is to see a country where women are equal to men. It also has the mission of promoting the economic, political, social, and legal rights of women and, to that end, assisting them to secure full protection of their rights under the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and other international human rights conventions. Since its establishment, EWLA has been working to achieve this vision and mission. EWLA has eight branch offices in Adama (Oromia Regional State), Bahir Dar (Amhara Regional State), Hawassa (SNNPRS), Asossa (Benishangul Gumuz Regional State), Gambella (Gambella Regional State), Dire Dawa City Administration, Jigjiga (Somali Regional State) and Semera (Afar Regional State). The Association has 54 volunteer committees that work at the zonal and woreda levels. The core program areas of EWLA include: Free Legal Aid Service, Public Education and Capacity Building, Research and Advocacy.

Job Summary:

The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association would like to recruit Legal Officer. Hence, it invites interested and qualified applicants who can fulfill the under mentioned criteria to apply by sending their Curriculum Vitae and application letter on email [email protected] for Seven working days counting from the day this announcement is posted.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plans ,organizes, directs and coordinates all legal activities of the legal matters;
• Drafting of major contractual documents, policies, guidelines and directives that bear legal effects and commitments on the Association;
• Represents the EWLA before courts of law and administrative tribunals in all civil, commercial and criminal cases arising from business operations;
• Preparation pleadings of claims, defense, petitions and appeal on important and complex cases, handles sensitive cases of the clients;
• Handles all claims of the EWLA against other parties for money owed arising from contractual obligations;
• Studies, analyzes and interprets legal issues that impinge on EWLA activities; identifies core problems and provides advice on actions to be taken;
• Follows up decisions of courts to recover debt and effecting foreclosure process, handles disposal of foreclosed property by auction in consultation with appropriate work units of the Association;
• Selects and recommends advocates for retention for handling court case management of outlying branches as and when required;
• Handles investigation of thefts, forgeries and misappropriations involving the Association’s funds or property and takes appropriate legal actions for the rectification thereof
• Handle and maintain day today files of legal notices, proclamations and other legal documents;
• Performance legal aid service at Head and Regional Offices of EWLA as needed
• Attends to daily data entry of files of clients on the Association’s data base
• Identifies capacity gaps in the Legal Aid and initiates necessary measures to be taken by the Management of EWLA
• Submit periodic legal reports to the Legal Aid Coordinator as required.
• Prepare the annual budget of the legal aid and administer its application after approval.
• Provides technical input to the establishment of polices, guidelines in close coordination with Executive Director and management team;
• Advises the Legal Aid Coordinator and update legal matters, policies, procedures, rules and regulations, providing authoritative advice and support;
• Develops and maintain effective working relations with other agencies, local authorities and implementing partners relating to legal matters for enhancement of information exchange, collaboration, and harmonization;
• Develops annual work plans and budgets related to the legal function of his/her work unit;
• Assigns cases to legal aid counselor/volunteer counselors as well as ensuring that cases are competently/professionally handled;
• Reviews cases handled by legal aid counselor so as to ascertain that quality service is rendered by the department;
• Selects cases for representation that could obtain precedent setting court decision;
• Handles cases, which call for special attention and follow-up;
• Issues summons to respondents as well as writes court briefs;
• Networks and corresponds with government, private and NGO institutions in order to effectively handle cases;
• Maintains a smooth working relationship with Branch Offices/Committees pertaining to legal aid and representation activities;
• Prepares periodic reports, case profiles, case books, etc;
• Carrying out other duties assigned by the Program Manager and Program coordinator

Location/Place of work: Afar Region, Semera

Duration: One-year contract with possibility of Extension

Number required: one

Job Requirements

Required criteria (Qualifications/Experiences/Skills):

• Professional with BA/MA Degree in Law and Human Right/optional
• Minimum 4 years of experience for MA and Minimum 6 years of experience for BA/LLB
• Work experience in legal matters at CSOs is a plus
• Must demonstrate strong interest, passion and commitment to work with women right organization, handle multiple tasks and ability to work under pressure
• Demonstrated experience to effectively provide technical assistance, conducting advocacy and gender-related trainings
• Strong interpersonal communication, teamwork, partnering, and consensus-building skills
• Passionate to work for fulfillment and protection of social, economic, cultural, political and other rights of women seeking
• Qualified female applicants are encouraged for the position
• Local language speaker is preferable