Work Unit: Legal Aid Department                                

Reports To: Legal Aid Coordinator/Branch Coordinator 

Required Number:  1

Location/Place of work:  Bahir Dar Branch

Employment Type: Full time 

Salary: As per the Association’s scale

Duration: One-year contract with possibility of Extension 

Application deadline:  7 working days from the post of the position

Under general direction of Legal Aid Coordinator /Branch Coordinator, legal advisor to be responsible for providing clients with legal assistance and advice, include drafting legal documents, structuring solutions for issues, and providing support in legal issues. He/she is responsible for monitoring all legal affairs within her/his organization. She/he handles both internal and external legal concerns, and is tasked with doing everything in his/her power to keep his/her organization out of legal trouble.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Represents clients in court and works with them to develop legal arguments

• Preparing legal papers and briefs, research legal issues, and draft legal documents

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

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

• Review cases to determine whether they have legal merit

• 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;

• Maintaining client files and records in order to provide legal services efficiently and effectively

• Reviewing cases for possible settlement opportunities or other legal options that may benefit the client

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

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

• Maintain client confidentiality

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

• 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;

• 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.

• Assists in developing and implementing legal projects as requested by EWLA; 

• 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;

• Carryout relevant tasks to be assigned by the Program Manager and Regional Branch Coordinator

Job Requirements

Academic Qualification

• Bachelor or Master's Degree in Law of relevant field of studies

Required Skills and Experience

• 5 years  of experience 

•  NGO/CSO areas experience 

• Flexible and adaptable 

• Being agile

• Bear criticism 

• Maintain patience

• Organizational and interpersonal skills

• Professional ethics and integrity

• Being sociable and friendly

• A leaning attitude

   Desirable Trainings

• 5 Advanced trainings in the areas of prosecution, judge, local rule of court and other court filing requirements, Basic legal research, etc are advantageous.

Competencies

• Flexible and adaptable

• Ability to work well under pressure

• Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the EWLA’s values and ethical standards

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of EWLA

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

• Organize and accurately complete multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions and deadlines

• Plan, coordinate and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing Priorities and competing deadlines;

• Establish, build and maintain effective working relationships with staff and clients to facilitate the provision of support;

How To Apply

Interested applicants should submit Cover letter, CV and other credential documents in the application procedure section of this vacancy through the following address:

Email - ewlajobs2025@gmail.com

Contact person phone: +25111550 8782/+251115508759

NB! Please write the vacancy position to “Legal Aid officer for Bahirdar” as the subject line of your email.