The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) invites competent and qualified candidates to apply for the vacant post of Branch Coordinator of which the detail requirements are mentioned here below.

Brief Highlight of EWLA: 

Established in 1995, the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA) is a non-governmental, non-partisan and not-for- profit local organization mainly working for the promotion and advancement of women’s rights in the country. It strives towards ensuring gender equality and women empowerment through fighting Gender Based Violence and Violence against Women and Children. Since its establishment, EWLA has provided free legal aid service for needy women and children through its structures stretched from its head office in Addis Ababa to the branch offices in Amhara, Oromia, Gambella, Benishangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa; and Southern regional states. Currently, it has opened new branch offices in Somali and Afar Regional States. EWLA has also a structure at grass-roots level in which there are strong 54 Volunteer Committees at zonal and woreda levels of its intervention areas.

Duties and responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates all legal activities of the legal matters;

• Drafting of major contractual documents, policies, guidelines and directives that bear legal effects and commitments on the Association;

• Represents the EWLA before courts of law and administrative tribunals in all civil, commercial and criminal cases arising from business operations;

• Preparation pleadings of claims, defense, petitions and appeal on important and complex cases, handles sensitive cases of the clients;

• Handles all claims of the EWLA against other parties for money owed arising from contractual obligations;

• Studies, analyzes and interprets legal issues that impinge on EWLA activities; identifies core problems and provides advice on actions to be taken;  

• Follows up decisions of courts to recover debt and effecting foreclosure process, handles disposal of foreclosed property by auction in consultation with appropriate work units of the Association;

• Selects and recommends advocates for retention for handling court case management of outlying branches as and when required;

•  Handles investigation of thefts, forgeries and misappropriations involving the Association’s funds or property and takes appropriate legal actions for the rectification thereof

• Handle and maintain day today files of legal notices, proclamations and other legal documents;

• Performance legal aid service at Head and Regional Offices of EWLA as needed

• Attends to daily data entry of files of clients on the Association’s data base

• Identifies capacity gaps in the Legal Aid and initiates necessary measures to be taken by the Management of EWLA

• Submit periodic legal reports to the Legal Aid Coordinator as required.

• Prepare the annual budget of the legal aid and administer its application after approval.

• Provides technical input to the establishment of polices, guidelines in close coordination with Executive Director and management team;

• Advises the Legal Aid Coordinator and update legal matters, policies, procedures, rules and regulations, providing authoritative advice and support;

• Develops and maintain effective working relations with other agencies, local authorities and implementing partners relating to legal matters for enhancement of information exchange, collaboration, and harmonization;

• Develops annual work plans and budgets related to the legal function of his/her work unit;

• Assigns cases to legal aid counselor/volunteer counselors as well as ensuring that cases are competently/professionally handled;

• Reviews cases handled by legal aid counselor so as to ascertain that quality service is rendered by the department;

• Selects cases for representation that could obtain precedent setting court decision;

• Handles cases, which call for special attention and follow-up;

• Issues summons to respondents as well as writes court briefs;

• Networks and corresponds with government, private and NGO institutions in order to effectively handle cases;

• Maintains a smooth working relationship with Branch Offices/Committees pertaining to legal aid and representation activities;

• Prepares periodic reports, case profiles, case books, etc...

• Carryout relevant tasks to be assigned by the Program Manager

Required Number: One

Job Grade: IV

Duration: One-year contract with possibility of Extension

Job Requirements

Qualifications and Experiences/Skills

• Professional with BA Degree in Law

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in provision of legal service

• Must demonstrate strong interest, passion and commitment to work with women

• Demonstrated experience to effectively provide technical assistance, conducting advocacy and gender-related trainings

• Exceptional interpersonal communication and teamwork skills

• Passionate to serve women seeking legal aid service

How to Apply

Interested applicants can send their CV and application letter through ethiojobs and ewlajobs2020@gmail.com within 10 consecutive days from the day of the date of posting.

Note: Use "Legal Officer" as the subject line of your email !

This position is open for Qualified female applicants only

Please indicate the name and location of the position on the subject of the email.