Legal Officer at eRecruiter Nigeria

Our client is a Non-Governmental organization that is constantly striving and working towards creating a safe and happy childhood for every Nigerian child, free from sexual abuse; with easy access to care, information, protection and emergency intervention. They are currently to looking to engage a Legal Officer who will be Based in Lagos State.

Job Overview

The Legal Officer is required to provide support and resources for survivors of child sexual abuse through a variety of legal processes. This includes assisting survivors of child sexual abuse, crimes in abuse cases, assisting survivors seeking civil domestic violence protection orders, helping to empower clients with self-advocacy and working closely with the Justice department on systemic responses to sexual abuse cases. The Legal Officer is responsible for monitoring and/or advising on all legal matters, foundation contracts, and agreements.

The legal counsel of the foundation will ensure that they provide support to the foundation's objectives and goals, which can help inform and direct future strategic legal actions in accordance with the foundation's aims and objectives.

Job Responsibilities:

Legal Representation and Advocacy

• Provide legal advocacy services for survivors of child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
• Attend courts and enter appearance as counsel holding watching brief.
• Provide legal information, assistance and court support in matters of children and their protection against risk or harm.
• Provide advice on different legal issues and assist in drafting legal opinions, memoranda and other briefing documents for the Foundation.
• Prepare and accompany survivors and non-offending families to court for temporary and permanent protection order hearing.
• Assist in organizing meetings with the lawyers from the Ministry of justice before the case starts in court.
• Assist in gathering evidence to assist the police do their work thoroughly.
• Conduct research for the Foundation on legal matters by utilizing various resources and selecting the relevant material to analyse the legal information.
• Assist in training new legal counsel officers and developing/maintaining training manual.
• Attend every court dates and police interview with clients, keeping the clients updated on the progress and status of the case and accompany them to the police station whenever their attention is need.
• Work with other legal representatives in the foundation and outside in a cooperative way that allows for timely completion of work and smooth transition of survivors.
• Maintain professional working relationship with judges, attorneys, and victim advocates in order to effectively represent the survivors.
• When matter is instituted at the High Court, visit the court to get the date when matter will be coming up for arraignment at the High Court and communicate the date to the

client.

Administration (Legal)

• Promptly and accurately enter client’s data into the database and other data information systems.
• Draft petitions to the appropriate authority- The DPP, Commissioner of Police, and Ministry of Education when necessary.
• Assist in drafting of event stories for annual and quarterly Newsletters.
• Work with the social worker in reporting and documenting cases at the Police station.
• Educate the clients on all the processes involved in the prosecution of cases.
• Draft letters and other important legal documents as required.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with the police in fixing date for arraignment of matter at the Magistrate court.
• Facilitate the transfer of case file to the office of the DPP.
• Follow up with the DPP for the timely release of the client.
• Contact the state counsel in charge of the case and work hand in hand with the counsel.
• Communicate with the client on when to testify in court.
• Update the Court case schedule.
• Schedule clients for Forensic interview and be actively involved in the preparatory stage of the forensic interview.
• Be part of the observation team during the Forensic interview and writing of Forensic interview report.

Skills and Competencies

• Knowledgeable in legal matters especially in providing advocacy for survivors of child sexual abuse and violence.
• Familiar with court processes and procedures.
• Good communications skill