ProCAT Support Lawyer at Avocats Sans Frontieres France

ASF France mission in Nigeria:

Active in Nigeria for more than a decade, ASF France is currently implementing human rights project on promoting international human rights standards on anti-torture and death penalty issues. Within the context of these projects, ASF France and its partners provide free legal assistance, conduct trainings and organize awareness and sensitization activities.

Job description:

With legal, technical and financial support from ASF France, the support lawyer will provide free legal assistance to victims of torture in Lagos state.

Responsibilities:

• Establish the contact with the prison(s) and obtain permit to conduct prisons visit.
• Carry out prison visits to interview clients, identify the victims' needs and identify cases within the scope of the project.
• Monitor 15 cases of victims of torture during the project duration.
• Ensure an individual follow-up of approved cases and monitoring them by weekly phone contact.
• Carry out all the proceedings for the defence of the victims: prepare and file appropriate applications before the Court, be present at the hearings, obtain judgements in all project related cases, etc.
• Maintain contact with victims during and after conclusion of cases.
• Use pre-established tools and reporting methods for case documentation and monitoring.
• Monthly visits to stakeholders to promote interactions between judicial actors and ASF France.
• Preparation of high level meetings and agenda for the legal manager’s field visit and mission to the state.
• Preparation for logistics for trainings and project activities when scheduled within the state.

Working context:

• Be part of a Franco-Nigerian legal team.
• Work under the supervision of the Head of Office and the ProCAT legal manager in charge of the Legal aid activity in Abuja.
• Must report to the ASF France office in Abuja and to ASF France legal team in France. 

Profile:

• Minimum of 10 years proven experience in litigation and active private legal practise.
• Proven experience in human rights litigation and rights enforcement mechanisms.
• Proven experience in prisons visit and interviews.
• Interest and passion for human rights law issues.
• Strong commitment to pro bono activities.
• Availability and strong commitment to handling cases to logical conclusions.
• Ability to secure and organize high level meetings within the state.
• Involvement in justice sector reform in the state.

Conditions:

Service contract of 11 months with a 3 months’ probation period.