Director of Legal - Nairobi, Kenya

The Mission

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to ensure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to promote functioning public justice systems. 

The Need

International Justice Mission is seeking an experienced advocate to lead the legal strategy of IJM Kenya's multi-disciplinary casework and structural transformation objectives. The Director of Legal will provide critical leadership to the team in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of IJM Kenya's programs to ensure that the public justice system works effectively for those vulnerable to child sexual abuse, abuse of police power and illegal detention (the "target abuses"). This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and requires regular travel within and out of Nairobi. This position reports to the Field Office Director.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Ensure that the IJM Kenya legal team, including advocates, interns and fellows, exemplify IJM core values and that they are healthy, effective and meeting or exceeding team objectives;
• Serve on the Field Office Director's leadership team, guiding office policy, protocols and best practices;
• Ensure timely, proactive and effective communication and reporting to the Field Office Director and other members of the IJM Global team; and
• Design and implement training programs for IJM staff.

Program

• Master relevant sexual offences and police abuse laws and criminal procedure;
• Collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary IJM team and external parties to ensure that the office employs the systems, processes and practices necessary to provide excellent, effective services to IJM clients and constituents and to accomplish the office's casework objectives and outputs on time and on budget;
• Collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary IJM team and external parties in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of IJM Kenya programs to ensure that the public justice system works for poor victims of the target abuses;
• Master the state of the art responses to the target abuses and develop and implement replicable and contextualized best practices for the investigation and prosecution of cases involving the targeted abuses;
• Design and implement high quality training programs for church, community and government calculated to increase will and capacity to respond effectively to the target abuses;
• Successfully manage an active docket of cases on behalf of victims of the target abuses;
• Direct legal strategy and preparation for all IJM casework;
• Supervise and review legal research and drafting of legal documents;
• Create thorough and persuasive written case reports and submissions, detailing factual and legal analyses.

Bridge-building

• Establish relationships of mutual trust and credibility with key stakeholders, funding sources and constituents for the benefit of the vulnerable populations IJM serves;
• Build will and consensus with key stakeholders, funding sources and constituents for programs to increase the capacity of the public justice system to respond effectively to the target abuses; and
• Develop and maintain relationships with IJM Field Office and IJM Global staff.

Miscellaneous

• Maintain confidentiality of privileged and sensitive information;
• Ensure that IJM and its agents comply with all relevant laws and professional ethics; and
• Carry out additional assignments as required by the Director.

Required Skills and Experience

• Five or more years of legal experience as a criminal trial advocate, or as a litigator with a law firm preferred;
• Law Degree (L.L.B);
• Experience managing criminal and civil litigation and a team of legal professionals, preferably advocates;
• Demonstrated legal research and writing skills;
• Mastery of Criminal Procedure Code, the Penal Code, Sexual Offences Act; Evidence Act and the Constitution;
• Knowledge of Microsoft office software – specifically Word, Power Point and Excel; and
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Kiswahili required.

Critical Qualities

• Mature orthodox Christian faith as defined by the Apostles' Creed;
• Strong service ethic and a passion for IJM's goals;
• Professional demeanor;
• Attention to detail and disciplined with priorities;
• Patient, work well under stress;
• Personable, sustained positive attitude;
• Diplomatic and flexible;
• Effective team player and leader; and
• Demonstrates good stewardship. 

Apply

The Mission

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to ensure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to promote functioning public justice systems.