The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) is based on the belief that strategic litigation is an immensely strong tool for social change because it helps to reframe the understanding of entitlements before the law and it challenges the legal discourse on women’s rights and sexual rights. ISLA stands for the proposition that investment in local institutions and individuals is key to maximising the impact of strategic litigation.
ISLA seeks to appoint a Lawyer / Senior Lawyer to be based in Johannesburg.
Reporting to: ISLA’s Executive Director
Salary: Competitive, up to R850 000, per annum, (total cost to company, and commensurate with experience)
The candidate will provide leadership in the Sexual Rights programme and work closely with other programme lawyers, legal researchers, interns, and ISLA’s partners.
Responsibilities:
- Be a part of the founding team on establishing or strengthening the strategic litigation unit team
- Demonstrate an ability to make a strategic and dynamic approach to the use of law as a tool for the promotion of human rights
- Research substantive issues of comparative and international human rights law and practice
- Draft clear and concise legal memoranda, briefs and opinions
- Provide legal representation on cases before domestic, regional and international human rights fora
- Build and strengthen alliances and coalitions to support cases with relevant social networks and groups
- Contributing to strategic and operational planning of the organisation and to organisational development
- Undertake strategic litigation work within ISLA’s mandate in collaboration with colleagues
- Facilitate capacity strengthening workshops on ISLA’s programmes, international human rights law, and practice
- Provide support for interns, volunteers and staff members as needed
- Represent the ISLA and its programmes as required
- Support the work of ISLA’s programmes as is required
Requirements:
- Fluency in English
- A legal degree and admission to legal practice in any African country
- Strong research and exceptional writing skills
- Keen analytical ability
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Substantial experience using constitutional, regional and international human rights law, with preference to candidates who have had such experience in litigation
- In-depth or sophisticated understanding of international and comparative human rights mechanisms, and institutions
- Knowledge and understanding of women’s human rights and feminist analysis
- Fundraising experience, including demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with individual donors, is beneficial
- Ability to travel to Johannesburg, regularly, if candidate is based in another city or country
Desirable qualities:
- Priority will be given to qualifying women applicants
- Advanced degree on human rights, gender or a relevant subject
- Supervisory experience
- An added advantage is, experience in coordinating and managing projects and evidence of being a self-driven, resourceful person who is able to manage and coordinate teamwork well
- Experience in contributing to the overall strategic planning of an organisation
- Exhibit the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and display, at all times and to all persons, a courteous, professional and cooperative attitude.
More Information
- Job City Johannesburg
