Center for Human Rights – Legal Advisor 2 – MENA Region

Legal Advisor 2 – the Middle East and North Africa region

The American Bar Association Center for Human Rights (ABA CHR) is seeking an experienced Legal Advisor to join its Justice Defenders Program. Candidates with substantial experience working on issues pertaining to human rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are encouraged to apply.

1. Background

The Justice Defenders Program coordinates pro bono legal assistance to human rights advocates working in difficult environments and vulnerable circumstances by:

• Advising on, and raising public awareness of, sensitive trials and cases;
• Connecting pro bono lawyers with requisite expertise with local lawyers to provide advice on international law standards, share best practices, and assist in developing advocacy and litigation strategies; and
• Observing trials that have garnered local, regional, or international attention and/or have the potential of changing the law, for better or worse, within the country, and providing analysis of those trials.

The Justice Defenders Program’s global reach enables it to help human rights defenders in virtually any country. The Program is sensitive to varied political and factual circumstances and its assistance is tailored to realities “on the ground.” With experienced staff and a dynamic network of pro bono lawyers at the ready, the Program can respond rapidly to acute crises or take on long-term projects as needed.

1. Job Description

The Legal Advisor will report directly to MENA Senior Program Manager.

Responsibilities shall include:

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

-Conduct research and write speeches, memoranda, articles, frequently for publication.

-Provide substantive advice, information and make policy recommendations. Serve as principal ABA expert on a substantive area of law or public policy in MENA. Includes contacts with government entities and with the media.

-Give presentations and/or teach on legal and public policy issues. Act as a consultant designing substantive content of events, developing model documents, and conducting trainings.

-Manage substantive/legal project aspects. Oversee research, report-writing, and publication. Coordinate or support member sub-groups and coordinate with external constituencies. Manage consultants, interns/externs.

-Analyze laws, regulations, court rules and policies/policy proposals; prepare memoranda of law or on public policy; provide legal counsel

-Research, draft, write, review and critique legislative/rule/policy or regulatory text. Manage policy adoption process.

-Secure outside funding; write grants; deal with grant makers.

-Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

-Possession of a Doctorate degree (JD or PhD).

-At least 4 years working in relevant specialized area of law.

-High level of skills at legal writing and research, oral and written communications, and organizational skill.

-Substantial experience in policy analysis.

Preferred Qualifications :

-Prior experience in criminal law and ability to recognize and analyze due process violations;

-Fluency in English and Arabic. Fluency in additional U.N. languages is desirable.

– Excellent legal research and writing skills;

-Demonstrated ability to work across cultures and build relationships of trust and respect with partners on the ground;

-Demonstrated ability to balance competing deadlines and multiple work streams;

-Excellent communication skills and the ability to tailor written and oral communications to the intended audience.

1. Qualifications

Required qualifications:

1. JD or Ph.D. and active bar admission in at least one jurisdiction.

2. At least four years working in a relevant specialized area of law.

3. Excellent legal writing and research, analytical, oral and written communications, and organizational skills.

4. Substantial experience in policy analysis.