JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

LEGAL ASSISTANT – MAÂT PROJECT

In the course of the MAÂT Project of Legal Representation of the Civil Parties before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the Cambodian NGO Legal Aid of Cambodia is seeking to recruit 1 Cambodian Legal assistant (preferably French speaking).

 Goal and Objectives of the MAÂT Project

The goal of MAÂT Project is to offer to the Victims of the Khmer Rouge Regime the best defense of their rights and interests. This Project has two main objectives:

• The legal representation of the Civil Parties in Case 002, who are victims of religious persecutions as well as of other crimes, which fall under the jurisdiction of the ECCC, by the Lawyers Maître Lor Chunthy and Maître Olivier Bahougne.
• The development and the improvement of the competences of the lawyers and jurists working on this project, while seeking to obtain that the French language is used as often as the other languages before the ECCC.

The work is always done in a spirit of harmony, loyalty and respect of the others.

It is a one year project, in 2012, with new funding to come in 2013.

Job Description

The Cambodian legal assistant will work under the responsibility of Maître Lor Chunthy and Maître Olivier Bahougne, who are respectively Cambodian and French co-lawyers before the ECCC, and in collaboration with the Maât Team Coordinator as well as the Senior Legal assistant.

Duties and Responsibilities

The legal assistants will notably:

• Assist the lawyers in the daily management of the case file;
• Undertake legal analysis of the Case 002 Closing Order;
• Undertake legal research both in Cambodian Law and in International Law (criminal law, human rights law, international humanitarian law, etc);
• Assist the lawyers in the writing of legal submissions and other legal documents;
• Proceed to the translation of  legal and non-legal documents from Khmer to French and vice versa;
• Proceed to oral translations from Khmer to French and vice versa.

The Legal assistant will benefit from legal trainings on both substantial and procedural law, given by the lawyers.

Selection criteria

1. 1.      Required criteria
   1. Bachelor Degree of Cambodian and/or International Law (Master Degree is preferable);
   2. Excellent command of both Khmer and French, orally and in writing (fluency in French is an asset);
   3. A minimum of 1 year of working experience as a lawyer or jurist.

1. 2.      Desirable criteria
   1. Good command of English;
   2. Good understanding of the procedure before the ECCC;
   3. Previous working experience at the ECCC (preferable);
   4. Diploma of Lawyer and Registered at the Cambodian Bar Association (preferable);
   5. Good computer skills and ability to use in particular internet, Microsoft, Excel, Power Point and Zylab;
   6. Willing to go on mission to the Provinces if necessary;
   7. Willing to work within a multicultural environment.

Salary:  500 US$ per month + fringe benefits

Start of contract: Monday 2^nd July 2012

Deadline of application:  Friday 25^th May 2012

Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should address their CV and cover letter, in French and Khmer to Maître Olivier Bahougne and Maître LOR Chunthy by email To:

Ms. Inès Chennoufi (Coordinator of the MAÂT Legal Team):ines.chennoufi.i@gmail.com

Ms. Socheat Chunnineath (Senior Legal Assistant): socheatchunnineath@gmail.com

The applications (CV and cover letter) will not be returned.

Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) is a Non-Government Organization serving the poor of Cambodia in civil and criminal legal matters free of charge. LAC’s mission is to provide quality legal service to and advocate for the Cambodia’s poor so that they are fairly and equally treated in the society.

LAC has been delivering a project called” Preventing Violence Against Children Cambodia” in partnership with EveryChild Cambodia.  The goal of the project is to ensure that children who are in conflict with the law or at risk are protected from violence, and are in a safe and secure family environment. More Detail, Please download Recruit a Consultant and FINAL TORs evaluation PVAC.

Legal Aid of Cambodia (LAC) is a Non-Government Organization serving the poor of Cambodia in civil and criminal legal matters free of charge. LAC’s mission is to provide quality legal service to and advocate for the Cambodia’s poor so that they are fairly and equally treated in the society. Women Justice Program and Child Justice Program of LAC with support from GIZ and Ausaid are seeking for three lawyers, two legal assistants, one advocacy officer, one investigator, and two branch office assistants.

 Key responsibilities and duties for lawyer:

1 position based in Battambang (female only)
2 ​positions based in Kampong Cham (male/female), and Kampong Thom province (female only) (URGENT)

 Provide legal representation to accused women in Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, Kampong Thom court. (For lawyer based in Kampong Cham province)

• Provide legal representation to accused children in Battambang court. (For lawyer based in Battambang province)
• Provide legal representation to survivor women in Kampong Kampong Thom court. (For lawyer based in Kampong Thom)
• Express an interest in maintaining an on-going relationship with clients, court, and NGOs networks.
• Obtain relevant information for the investigation of the cases
• Maintain close contact with women and their families and keep their communities well-informed as to develop their cases, and keep well documented records for future reference.
• In Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom: Act as the Branch Office Manager and be responsible for all decisions, management and activities in the provincial offices.

Qualification

• Be a member of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC)
• Experience in providing legal representation in the court
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with women offenders and their community
• Knowledge of understanding the Cambodian laws and international instruments related to women
• Good written and spoken English is a plus
• Good communication/liaison skills and the ability to work as a team
• Good computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel)

Key responsibilities and duties of the Advocacy officer:

1 position based in Siem Reap province (male/female) (URGENT)

• Build relationships with judicial police and court officer
• Reporting directly to the provincial lawyers
• Develop relationships with relevant DCWC.
• Organize meeting on Criminal Justice Stakeholder and District council for women and children.
• Act as a general liaison with officials of the justice system at the provincial level and ensure that every women justice case is noted by LAC
• Collect all legal problems concerning women, analyze the problems and employ strategy to address the problems.
• Assist women in all gender-based violence cases outside the court.
• Advocate for women’s rights
• Attending radio talk show to outreach the project activities.
• Assist the project staff in the province in organizing the project annual workshop.

Qualification

• Bachelor degree of law
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good at liaising with different members of the justice community
• Demonstrated commitment to the goals and objectives of LAC and the overall improvement of the Cambodian justice system
• Through understanding of human rights obligations and implementation, particularly as relating to women’s justice
• Experience in event management and/or promoting awareness an advantage
• Experience with women an advantage

Key responsibilities and duties of two Legal Assistants: (URGENT)

 1 positions based in Siem Reap (female)

1 position based in Kampong Thom (male/female)

 Express an interest in maintaining an on-going relationship with relevant NGOs

• Obtain relevant information for the investigation of the cases
• Assist the lawyers in collecting cases evident/proof before the trial
• Ensure documentation of the administration and cases
• Assist the project staff to organize project meeting with stakeholders.
• Prepare monthly report to project manager.
• Assist clients for other related services, such as social, safe house, medical and mental health services.
• Attend project related meetings.
• Assist the Branch Office Manager and advocacy officer in organizing the project annual workshop.

Qualification

• Bachelor degree in law
• Working experience with NGOs and gender-based violence is an asset
• Good report writing skills
• Knowledge of Cambodian criminal law pertaining women including international instruments
• Good communication and inter-personal skill is an asset.
• Good in investigating skill.

Key responsibilities and duties of the Investigator: 1 position based in Battambang province (male/female)

 Express an interest in maintaining an on-going relationship with relevant NGOs

• Obtain relevant information for the investigation of the cases
• Assist the lawyers in collecting cases evident/proof before the trial
• Assist lawyers in their work (legal representation, advocacy)
• Assist or conduct independently case investigations in rural areas within province
• Attend project staff meetings
• Proper filing of cases and use of database
• Support counseling service to women in prison.
• Assist the Project Manager and lawyers in writing donor reports
• Assist project manager as assigned.

Qualification

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) or pending.
• Knowledge on Cambodian criminal law and criminal procedure
• Experience in writing reports
• Good communication/liaison skills
• Good written and spoken English is a plus
• Good investigation skill.

Key responsibilities and duties for Branch Office Assistant: 2 positions based in Siem Reap and Kampong Thom (female only) (URGENT)

 Provide administrative and financial support to the provincial office

• Prepare monthly finance report to Phnom Penh office
• Provide primary interview to client who come to office
• Arrange any interview with clients for provincial lawyer
• Running the office in a clean manner.

Qualification:

• High school certificate
• Previous experience in an office administration and accounting tasks
• Demonstrated commitment to the goals and objectives of LAC and the overall improvement of the Cambodian justice system
• Good preparation of administration work and arrangement for provincial lawyers

  Interested applicants are invited to send a cover letter and a full CV, supported documents and current passport photo to the reception of Legal Aid of Cambodia no later than 17:30 PM on Monday, 09 January 2012. Only short listed Candidates will be contacted for interview. Women are prioritized.

Address: #51BC, St.608, Sangkat Boeung Kak II, Khan Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh,

Tel: (855-23) 883 914/883 924