Paralegal Officer
The Public Defender Society of Nepal (PDS Nepal) is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization that upholds the human right to a fair trial and life and liberty, by defending poor, marginalized and vulnerable persons accused of criminal offenses, regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. It also works with the government to build its capacity to meet its legal obligation to provide criminal defense services to poor persons who cannot afford to hire private lawyers, so that all accused have equal access to competent defense lawyers. The primary mission of the organization is to ensure fair and effective access to justice, to develop a public defender system in Nepal and to work to develop the efficiency and sustainability of a Nepal public defender system. It focuses on the need for quality and meaningful legal representation for indigent accused in judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals.
Details / requirements:
Position: Paralegal Officer
Number of Position: 1 position
Based in: Hetauda
Reports to: District Director/Attorney-in-Charge of Eastern region
Coordinates with: Legal Director
Contract Type: Full-time Contract (Yearly renewable upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds)
ILF-Nepal seeks qualified, dynamic and result-oriented Nepalese citizen applicants for one (1) open position for Paralegal Officer to work in Hetauda (Makwanpur District). ILF-Nepal provides free legal representation to poor men, women, and children who cannot afford counsel and who are accused of crimes in Nepal. ILF-Nepal stresses a client-oriented approach to criminal defense, seeking open-minded, creative and compassionate advocates who are dedicated to providing high-quality defense for poor people.
Duties and Responsibilities:
During the Employment Term, the Paralegal Officer will serve as an advocate of the Employer. In such capacity, the Paralegal Officer will be responsible for assisting advocates to provide criminal defense services for indigent clients before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. The Paralegal Officer will perform such duties, services and responsibilities on behalf of the Employer consistent with the terms of reference outlined below and as may be reasonably assigned to the Paralegal Officer from time to time.
During the Employment Term, the Paralegal Officer will devote his/her full business time, attention and skill to the performance of such duties, services and responsibilities, and will use his/her best efforts to promote the interests of the Employer, and the Paralegal Officer will not engage in any other business activity without the approval of his or her direct supervisor.
The successful candidate shall:
The Paralegal Officer wil assist and provide a wide range of legal support and administration to advocates related to the representation of criminally accused persons before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies.
Specific Paralegal duties include, but are not limited to:
- Has to go to the detention center for intake and initial interviews for new clients.
- Able to contract or intake new clients.
- Assisting with preparation of and filing applications.
- Well-informed of current legal trends and to do research on legal issues as requested.
- Organizing documents and assisting advocates in preparation for hearings and trial.
- Going to court on a regular basis to wait for or meet and intake clients, and to obtain copies of witness testimony and decisions of the court, court files, orders and so on.
- Keeping track of court dates and making sure that advocates are informed about court dates.
- Gathering information from advocates and the court to enhance and maintain the current motions bank by filling and organizing applications and court orders by legal issue or subject.
In fulfilling [his/her] duties, the Paralegal Officer agrees:
- To abide by the Nepali rules of ethical conduct for lawyers.
- Tp attend CLE seminars regularly and other activities ILF-Nepal deems necessary and important.
- Not to use ILF-Nepal offices for political activities or on behalf of a political candidate.
- To limit use of e-mail for personal reasons and not to abuse the internet for non-ILF matters.
- That he/she will not engage in the private practice of law other than to the extent authorized to assist ILF-Nepal advocates, whether for compensation or on a volunteer basis or other employment without prior permission from the ILF-Nepal Country Director.
- Not to accept gifts or money or other in-kind exchanges for services rendered to the clients.
Qualifications
- Law degree and advocate's license.
- Knowledge about court process.
- Knowledge of handling criminal cases as defense prospective.
- Commitment to the idea of free legal assistance for any poor person accused of any crime.
- Commitment to providing meaningful defense in practice from the moment of the arrest.
- Good computer skill with fluency in English and Nepali typing.
- Candidate must be from local district or neighboring districts.
- Knowledge of local language.
Salary: 23,000/per month before taxes (for 3-month probationary period) -25,000/per month before taxes upon successful completion of the probationary period.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are requested to send their CVs (including contact telephone number) and a cover letter to the e-mail or mail address below, before 25th Dec, 2014.
E-mai address: vacancy@ilf-n.org
Note: Please mention Application for Paralegal Officer with concerned office name in the subject line.
Mailing address:
HR Department
ILF-Nepal
Surya Marg, House # 19
Babar Mahal, Kathmandu
Post Box: 26461
- No telephone inquiries please. Only candidates short-listed for interviews will be contacted.
- Prior experience in criminal defense service as "Paralegal Officer" will be given high priority.
- Interviews will be conducted during the last week of December, 2015.
- The successful candidate is expected to start work from 1st January, 2015.
ILF-Nepal is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, caste, gender, ethnicity and so on. Women, Dalits, Janjati and other minorities are encouraged to apply.