Senior Adviser: Legal Aid and Practice (MyJustice II)
You will provide expert technical advice, guidance and oversight of access to justice programming on justice centres, the development of a state legal aid system and rights-based criminal lawyering. You will lead and coordinate the operation of a network of Justice Centres to ensure the provision of quality criminal legal defence representation and assistance in target communities.
Details
| Reference number | MYA-AES-0049 |
|---|---|
| Location | Myanmar |
| Salary | Consultant |
| Duration | 24 Months from 1 January 2020, with the possibility of extension |
| Closing date | Sunday 22 December 2019 |
Role overview
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The British Council has been implementing the European Union (EU) funded MyJustice Programme (DCI-ASIE/2015/359-042) in Myanmar since August 2015. MyJustice is a ground-breaking and very successful access to justice and legal empowerment programme delivering interventions across four results areas namely, legal and rights awareness, improving justice service provision, strengthening community-based dispute resolution and sharing evidence to inform better justice policy. MyJustice delivers activities in six Regions/States and across 64 townships in Myanmar, in cooperation with over 50 local and international non-governmental organisations and close liaison with government’s Justice Sector Coordinating Body.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING AND WHY
You will provide expert technical advice, guidance and oversight of access to justice programming on justice centres, the development of a state legal aid system and rights-based criminal lawyering. You will lead and coordinate the operation of a network of Justice Centres to ensure the provision of quality criminal legal defence representation and assistance in target communities. On top of that, you will oversee initiatives to strengthen the quality of legal aid and criminal defence services, including the establishment of Communities of Practice among Justice Centre staff, private lawyers and civil society partners to advance collective strategies towards normalising rights-protective litigation and systemic change.
WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT IT
The MyJustice programme has established itself since 2015 as a leading and influential voice in justice sector reform and is widely recognised for taking a multi-dimensional and politically astute approach to improving access to justice in Myanmar.
This is an excellent role for an experienced access to justice/rule of law expert who will be leading the team in complex socio-cultural realities and notions of justice at community level, underpinned by an inherent mistrust of state representatives and the formal justice system in Myanmar. You will work with a wide spectrum of potential partners and stakeholders active in the access to justice field to pursue delivery of initiatives across four outputs.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
To be considered, you will have at least 7 years’ proven legal practice experience including litigation in criminal defence or similar rights-based advocacy and at least 5 years advisory experience in the access to justice/legal empowerment/ rule of law sector in developing country contexts. You should have strong profile and technical credibility, including proven thought leader abilities, and a clear understanding of differing models of delivering legal aid and legal practice with knowledge and experience in the formal justice sector: policy advice, design and implementation of rule of law programmes, institutional development and capacity building.
Our work makes a lasting difference by building more inclusive societies and supporting people’s prospects.
Together, we can do more.