Legal Officer

Who We Are

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.

The Need

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking a Legal Officer to play a key role in litigating novel cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) while working in a multidisciplinary setting. The Legal Officer will be responsible for implementing the grant program legal strategy through initiatives aimed at strengthening the justice systems enforcement of the law when responding to cases of VAWG. The Legal Officer will work closely with prosecutors, judicial officers, police, and other relevant actors to effectively and efficiently respond to cases of VAWG. The Legal Officer will also be responsible for undertaking interventions that build capacity and influence justice duty bearers at the District and Regional level to respond to cases of VAWG in a multidisciplinary, survivor focused and trauma informed manner leading to successful prosecution of VAWG cases, deterrence of perpetrators and eventual protection of women and girls from violence. The Legal Officer will also be responsible for building casework partnership networks that will provide support in VAWG case response.

This position is based in Moroto and reports to the Project Coordinator, Karamoja and is only available for candidates with the right to work in Uganda.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement legal strategies for intervening in cases assigned including effectively managing the cases to move swiftly through the criminal justice system to secure successful outcomes and deterrence of perpetrators of VAWG.
• Support and implement multidisciplinary collaboration and prosecution of cases while working alongside justice actors to effectively prosecute perpetrators of VAWG.
• Implement all legal activities identified to ensure successful enforcement of the law by the justice system when responding to cases of VAWG.
• Oversee the planning and successful conduct of court open days, police baraza and mobile court sessions.
• Build partner relations with justice system officials and other stakeholders at regional and district level to support and strengthen the justice system’s response to VAWG.
• Participate in meetings and other activities with government and non-government stakeholders, to provide and promote multidisciplinary coordination of VAWG response and building networks of collaborative response to VAWG.
• Develop and maintain an effective network of contacts within the legal aid space to support the scaling of protection of women and children and best practices to VAWG response.
• Contribute to the development of processes for identifying, onboarding, managing, and offboarding casework partners.
• Document and share best practices for working through and developing partnerships, incorporating IJM global learnings, suitable for use by both IJM and external stakeholders.
• Participate in the knowledge and skills sharing of prosecutors, investigators, judicial officers, and social workers on effective and efficient prosecution of VAWG cases.
• Participate in the knowledge and skills sharing of External lawyers to apply best practices in VAWG case response leading to protection of women and children from violence.
• Participate in the knowledge and skills sharing of IJM legal teams to further develop their expertise in effective response to VAWG and strengthening effectiveness of duty bearers.
• Participate in the development of training materials.
• Collaborate with justice duty bearers to respond to cases of VAWG while demonstrating best practices for effective VAWG response ensuring survivor sensitivity and Trauma informed care throughout the response.
• Support and provide legal empowerment to survivors of VAWG by accompanying them through the justice system while applying survivor focused trauma informed approaches.
• Support and mentor casework partners to engage the justice system and effectively follow cases of VAWG to their successful conclusion and secure set targets.
• Participate in sharing casework success stories to external audiences.
• Ensure effective legal representation in IJM cases leading to successful court outcomes and growing jurisprudence in domestic violence and sexual violence against children.
• Analyze and document cases of VAWG that can contribute to updated case management protocols.
• Work with Justice System Intervention and MERL team members to monitor and evaluate IJM program activities, including monitoring and reporting of project targets, results, and output.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of case related data in IJM programme reporting system, JDS to enable effective case tracking while monitoring, evaluation and learning from the legal casework process to inform system strengthening initiatives.
• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator and Manager, Legal, participate in the planning and coordination of Justice System Intervention events and activities.
• Develop concept notes, work plans and budgets for Justice System intervention activities.
• Participate in IJM programs of professionalism and Christian spiritual formation.
• Ensure to use staff-care resources and tools provided by the office to take good care of physical, emotional and psychological health.
• Ensure compliance with IJM core commitments and values
• Ensure compliance of budget implementation as per donor requirements.
• Ensure strict adherence to IJM and grant operational, finance, program and human resources policies.
• Ensure strict compliance with all security guidance and tactical plans in all casework and field work operations
• Ensure commitment to Safeguarding, Zero tolerance to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, Child abuse and whistleblowing information.
• Adhere to IJM safeguarding code of conduct towards a safe work environment for all.

• A Bachelor of laws degree and a post graduate diploma in legal practice.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ work experience in criminal legal practice with a proven record of litigation experience. Two (2) years successfully handling domestic violence or child sexual violence preferred.
• Demonstrable experience, technical knowledge, and skill in handling cases of violence against women and children.
• Experience establishing, developing, training, and managing networks.
• Experience working with Uganda criminal justice agencies is desirable.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary work environment.
• Proven ability to mentor, guide and coach multi-disciplinary stakeholders.
• Possesses a valid driver’s license with no incidents.
• Fluency in the English language both written and spoken is mandatory. Working knowledge of local languages in the Karamoja region preferred.
• Excellent Computer literacy with proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Power Point and Excel.
• Excellent organizational and administrative, critical thinking, legal analysis and oral and written communication skills.
• Strong verbal skills with the ability to articulate, and communicate clearly with clients, stakeholders, communities, and staff.
• Should possess ability to quickly learn and consistently use other software systems for purposes of case management, M&E and documentation.

Critical Qualities:

• Eager commitment to IJM's Core Values: Christian, Professional and Bridge-Building;
• Self-starter with strong initiative;
• Disciplined with priorities;
• Strong interpersonal skills and self-awareness;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication;
• Flexible, collaborative and eager to support others;
• Effective team player who fosters collaborative environment; and
• Adept at creative problem solving.

Application Process:

Please submit Resume/CV, Cover Letter, and Statement of Faith* in one PDF document to ugandarecruiting@ijm.org by close of business on Friday 2nd August 2024 with the subject line APPLICATION LEGAL OFFICER. Applicants must have the legal right to work in Uganda. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

*What is a statement of faith?

A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.

What does IJM have to offer?

• Comprehensive GPA/GL and Medical benefits
• Competitive compensation package
• Retirement benefit options
• Paid leave starting at 21 days.
• Professional development opportunities
• Daily, quarterly, and annual community spiritual formation
• Robust staff care resources.

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidates value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.

IJM requires a background check, police clearance and thorough review of references with an employment offer and/or employment contract.