Legal Assistance Centre-Namibia

CAREERS

Help make Namibia a better place to live!

We are now accepting applications for the following positions:

Legal Practitioner - LEAD

LEGAL PRACTITIONER
Land, Environment and Development Project

The Land, Environment and Development Project (LEAD) of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) is inviting dynamic applicants to apply for the above position commencing as soon as possible. The LAC is a public-interest law centre based in Windhoek and was established in 1988 to provide legal services to indigent individuals and communities. The LAC has a proud history of assisting clients to resist unfair apartheid legislation in the past and is now playing a major role in the building of a constitutional democracy and a human rights culture in Namibia.

The successful candidate will have the following duties and functions:

1. Conduct litigation on behalf of individuals and communities in land, environment and developmental litigation matters, with a particular focus on social, economic and cultural rights, which includes:

appearing in courts of law and other tribunals on behalf of clients
consulting with clients
legal research
drafting correspondence
drafting pleadings
file maintenance
liaise with counsel and other experts in litigation matters.

2. Provide assistance with the development of legal publications and legal research documents.

3. Supervise paralegals and advice offices in rural areas.

4. Represent the LAC and or the LEAD Project at different fora.

5. Submit case reports to the Co-ordinator and LAC management.

6. Provide assistance with the development of community educational materials.

7. Workshops and lectures on human rights and other issues related to the work.

JOB SPECIFICATION:

MINIMUM TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

LL.B degree or other recognized Law Degree with 3-4 years related experience & admission as a legal practitioner

MINIMUM PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO FULFILL JOB DEMANDS

Good interpersonal skills
Good drafting skills
Good oral and written English communication skills
Good oral Afrikaans and at least one other indigenous language skills (competency in more than one indigenous language will be an added advantage)

REQUIRED SKILLS (EMOTIONAL AND MANUAL)

Ability to deal and negotiate with people
Systematic methodical approach to work
Ability to communicate at all levels
Willingness and ability to travel out of town and to rural areas on short notice
Good judgement of character

PERSONALITY TRAITS REQUIRED BY THE JOB INCUMBENT

Absolute honesty & integrity
Respect for confidentiality
Well-developed sense of responsibility
Tolerance and respect for diverse viewpoints and choices

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

Member of the Law Society of Namibia

OTHER REQUIREMENTS NOT MENTIONED ABOVE

Namibian citizen and/or permanent residence
Driver’s license (Code 08) or the willingness to obtain a driver’s license

The LAC is offering a competitive salary and benefits include membership of a medical aid scheme and pension fund and generous annual leave.

Applications accompanied by a detailed Curriculum Vitae, certified copies of academic qualifications and details of three references should be addressed to Willem Odendaal at the Legal Assistance Centre, PO Box 604, Windhoek, or faxed to (061) 234953 or email to wodendaal@lac.org.na. Please direct your telephone inquiries to Sophie van Wyk at (061) 22 33 56.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 15 August 2008.

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The LAC is always interested in lawyers or legal practitioners who want to enact law in the purest form - fighting for human rights.

Although we are a donor-based organization, we look after our staff well. We believe that people are our dearest asset. That is why we have good medical arrangements, a comprehensive pension package and great study compensation.

The LAC also offers Internship and Volunteering opportunities.