Assistant Legal Officer – Policy and Legal Review at Solina Centre for International Development and Research (SCIDaR)

Description And Objectives

• The Assistant Legal Officer will provide support to the legal team by conducting research, reviewing policies, and assessing legal frameworks with a focus on health, education, policy and human rights law.
• The role requires a keen interest in policy development, legal research, and analysis of laws and policies relating to health, education, human rights, social justice, and related areas.
• The candidate will contribute to projects that review and shape laws and policies to align with best practices and international human rights standards.

Technical Responsibilities

 Legal Research:

•  Conduct in-depth legal research on national and international laws, policies, and best practices, particularly related to health, international development and human rights
• Review existing legal frameworks and policies to assess compliance with human rights standards
• Assist in the identification of gaps in existing policies and suggest areas for reform

Policy Review & Analysis

•  Analyse laws, regulations, and policies, with an emphasis on their impact on development and human rights
• Draft reports, briefs, and legal opinions on policy implications and legal reforms
• Support the development of new policy proposals that align with human rights principles

 Human Rights Advocacy:

•  Assist in the preparation of advocacy materials aimed at advancing human rights legislation or challenging existing legal frameworks
• Monitor and document human rights violations and provide legal analysis to support advocacy efforts

 Corporate Governance:

•  Assist in ensuring the organization complies with statutory obligations, governance policies, and internal controls.
• Support the legal team in board meeting preparations, board documents and minutes and general board support

 Legal Documentation:

•  Support the drafting of legal documents, contracts, and policy papers
• Assist in reviewing legal submissions to ensure they meet required standards

 Stakeholder Engagement:

•  Liaise with external stakeholders, including human rights organizations, government agencies, and international bodies, to gather information and collaborate on legal and policy reforms
• Attend relevant meetings, forums, and workshops to represent the legal team and gather insights on emerging issues

General Legal Support

•  Provide administrative and legal support to the legal team as needed
• Assist in preparing materials for legal training sessions or presentations
• Stay updated on emerging human rights trends and legislative changes

Required Competencies

 Core requirements

•  Demonstrated interest in policy review and development, research and human rights advocacy;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team;
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to upholding high ethical standards;
•  Compelling evidence of interest in and commitment to the mission of SCIDaR;
• Fast learner, open to learning from peers, subordinates, and supervisors collaboratively and at a rapid pace.

 Education and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) and BL
• Demonstrated experience in preparing reports, and documenting findings in research papers or publications;