SENIOR LAWYER TO HEAD RULE OF LAW/FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION PROGRAMME

About SALC: With a small dynamic team operating out of Johannesburg, SALC’s vision is that human rights are respected, protected, promoted and fulfilled throughout Southern Africa. SALC’s mission is to promote and advance human rights, democratic governance, rule of law and access to justice in Southern Africa through strategic litigation, advocacy and capacity strengthening. SALC works in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 Job Description: The Southern Africa Litigation Centre seeks a senior lawyer to head its Rule of Law and Freedom of Expression work. These programmes work to advance human rights and promote and protect the rule of law and rights to freedom of expression and association in southern Africa. SALC aims to support legal cases before domestic courts, training and facilitating legal networks throughout the region and high level advocacy.

In particular, the Programme Lawyer is responsible for

• Identifying, developing and coordinating legal cases on rule of law, access to justice and freedom of expression, association and assembly and related issues;
• Conducting legal and factual research and drafting reports for advocacy purposes;
• Conducting advocacy with respect to specific legal cases, including engaging in media advocacy;
• Organising and convening events on key issues and representing SALC at relevant fora;
• Providing and monitoring technical and financial support to local lawyers and organisations for on-going legal cases;
• Developing relationships with local lawyers and non-governmental organisations;

Requirements/Qualifications:

• A degree in law is required; LL.M and other advanced degrees are highly desirable;
• Proven interest and experience in human rights and freedom of expression/association, rule of law or access to justice issues;
• A minimum of seven years litigation experience;
• Excellent knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent legal and factual research skills including online sources;
• French or Portuguese language skills is desirable;

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail;
• Willingness to travel extensively;

Only candidates with authorisation to work in South Africa will be shortlisted.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and a 2 page CV (do not include of degrees or testimonials) to applications@salc.org.za by 12 April 2019. Subject line of your e-mail must state “Application: Rule of Law / Freedom of Expression Programme Lawyer”.

COMMUNICATIONS AND REGIONAL ADVOCACY OFFICER

About SALC: With a small dynamic team operating out of Johannesburg, SALC’s vision is that human rights are respected, protected, promoted and fulfilled throughout Southern Africa. SALC’s mission is to promote and advance human rights, democratic governance, rule of law and access to justice in Southern Africa through strategic litigation, advocacy and capacity strengthening. SALC works in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Job Description:

SALC is looking for a motivated person to lead its communications and regional advocacy work. The ideal person is well versed with regional and international mechanisms- SADC, AU, ACHPR as well as UN HRC and Special Procedures – and is able to draft communications and ensure country compliance with human rights and rule of law.

In particular, the candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic direction for SALC’s regional and international advocacy work;
• Monitors emerging issues in the region related to SALC’s programmatic concerns;
• Cultivating relationships with inter alia UN Special Procedures, Special Rapporteurs, African Commissioners;
• Coordinates and leads SALC’s work related to the African Union, SADC, ACHPR and UN;
• Supports SALC’s regional work on legal analysis, policy advocacy and accountability;
• Undertake policy analysis and legal research to support advocacy campaigns;
• Draft media releases and respond to media enquiries;
• Edit research and other reports as well as produce SALC’s bi-monthly newsletter;
• Support the organising of events and representing SALC at relevant fora.

Competencies:

• A degree in law, journalism or political science is required;
• Five or more years’ experience;
• Proven interest and experience in human rights issues and regional and international law preferably in Africa;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• African languages, French and/or Portuguese are highly desirable;
• Excellent networking, organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise time and work effectively under pressure;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work across diverse cultural backgrounds;
• Excellent research & analysis skills coupled with thought leadership.
• Excellent knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
• Willingness to travel extensively.

Only candidates with authorisation to work in South Africa will be shortlisted.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and a 2 page CV (do not include of degrees or testimonials) to applications@salc.org.za by 12 April 2019. Subject line of your e-mail must state “Application: Communications and Regional Advocacy Officer”.

FOR STUDENTS:

Legal Intern

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is looking for interns to work in our offices in Johannesburg, South Africa. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis but applicants are encouraged to get their application in as soon as possible, indicating dates of availability. Interns will work at the SALC offices under the supervision of one of SALC’s programme lawyers. Responsibilities may include legal research and writing, including international and comparative law research; factual research on specific legal cases; bluebooking and fact-checking legal filings; assisting in maintaining SALC’s website; and assisting staff in organising conferences and seminars. Please note that the position is unpaid.

Requirements

• Interest in human rights issues;
• Basic knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
• Experience working in or focusing on southern Africa preferred;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; Portuguese or French is highly  desirable;
• Excellent research skills including online sources;
• Well-organised, self-motivated and reliable.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, a detailed CV and an unedited writing sample to Pamela Timburwa, pamelat@salc.org.za. 

Legal Extern

SALC is looking for externs – full time students who can dedicate approximately 10 hours per week to research and general assistance to SALC. Externs will work from home, with occasional meetings with SALC lawyers when necessary. This work may include legal research and writing, including international and comparative law research; and factual research on specific legal cases.

Externships are designed to give students practical experience of working in human rights litigation, without the time and financial difficulties full time internships create. Working with SALC provides students with exposure to litigation at domestic courts as well as to regional and international human rights mechanisms, and will help broaden your understanding of the strategies lawyers involved in such cases adopt. However, our externships require dedication and hard work, and we expect high standards of work from our externs.

Preferred applicants:

• All law students who already have an undergraduate degree;
• Interest in human rights issues;
• Basic knowledge of international and regional human rights laws and instruments;
• Experience working in or focusing on southern Africa preferred;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• Portuguese or French is highly  desirable;
• Excellent research skills including online sources;
• Well-organised, self-motivated and reliable.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, a detailed CV, an unedited writing sample and a 2 page answer to the research question to Pamela Timburwa: pamelat@salc.org.za

Research Question: In your opinion how effective is the  individual complaints mechanism of African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights? In particular, consider the enforcement of African Commission decisions and whether the mechanisms offers effective remedies of human rights violations.