CASE Law Manager at Avocats Sans Frontieres France

Job description:

ASF France is seeking an attorney with strong interest in human rights law to join the team in charge of its project in Nigeria aiming at the promotion, implementation and enforcement of the United Nations Convention against Torture. The role will involve direct responsibility for delivering results in accordance with the objectives of the project.

In close cooperation with the ASF France Program Officer and Finance Manager at HQ, the Case Law Manager will fulfil the following tasks:

• To devise and implement appropriate litigation and test casing strategies in a way to ensure achievement of the objectives described in the project and namely the emergence of jurisprudence against torture and ill treatment ;
• To identify, prioritize and manage cases according to the criteria set in the project description in cooperation with the team ;
• Coordinate and manage the action of a team of lawyers  spread in 5 target states (Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna and Lagos ) ;
• Define and manage the work plan of the 5 support lawyers;
• To develop and deliver regular training sessions and provide appropriate support and expertise to the team of lawyers;
• Based on the requirement (content, frequency, etc.) devised by ASF France, ensure appropriate case management and reporting about the cases handled by the 5 support lawyers and him/herself ;
• Ensure the updating of each case monitoring and case-file database;
• Prepare a monthly report of cases handled on the project, explaining the situation of each case, and the support lawyers work progression;
• Make analysis about the cases monitoring and make proposals in order to improve it;
• Meet at regular intervals the 5 support lawyers, in order to visit prisons with them;
• Make a quarterly support lawyers work evaluation and propose fittings;
• Facilitate the project implementation with local authorities and judicial actors;
• Develop a network of reliable contacts among lawyers, law enforcement authorities and jurisdictional bodies likely to raise awareness about ASF France project and ensure due process respect regarding the procedure under his supervision.
• This position is based in Abuja. Travels to the 5 intervention states are  expected.

Required profile and qualifications:

• A Senior Nigerian Lawyer with at least a 15 years post call experience;
• A good knowledge of the Nigerian legal system and judicial / criminal justice sector actors;
• A background in criminal law, having worked in a leading practise;
• Experience in the coordination of legal aid services;
• Ability to direct the work of external attorneys;
• Experience in collaborating with non-governmental organizations;
• Very strong interest and experience in human rights;
• Technology literacy, both in using tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and in adopting new collaboration tools such as Instant Messenger and web conferencing.

Profile of the ideal candidate:

• The ideal candidate will have an interest and passion for human rights law issues, experience in human rights litigation and strategic litigation, and the ability to find solutions to legal issues.
• The candidate must be an enthusiastic, organized self-starter who is a positive team player with the ability to work both independently and to collaborate effectively with teams.
• The candidate must possess superior skills in both written and verbal communication, and in problem-solving.
• This description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by the employee within the position. The actual duties, responsibilities, scope and qualifications may vary to some degree.

Conditions

• Full-time job, eight month contract, renewable.
• Conditions in conformity with the sector: salary + per diem.
• Expected trips to Imo, Edo, Lagos, Enugu and Kaduna.