Advocate

Post: Advocate (full time)

No: 1

Location: Hetauda (Duty Station) & other PDS-N district offices as and when required

Duration: 1 Year (renewable upon availability of funds and performance)

The Public Defender Society of Nepal (PDS-Nepal), an organization spun off from ILF-Nepal, a project of The International Legal Foundation, 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.  

PDS-Nepal seeks qualified, dynamic and results oriented Nepalese citizen applicants for one (1) open position for full-time Advocate in Hetauda Office. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Successful candidates will:

• Represent accused individuals – whether men, women or children – from the moment of arrest, through trial, and on appeal.
• Advocate on behalf of clients before the police, prosecutor’s office, Chief District Officer, and/or the courts as required by the case/law.  This may include submitting applications, letters and/ or presenting argument on behalf of clients.
• Interview detainees at the place of detention.
• Conduct defense investigation including but not limited to: going to the scene of the crime, interviewing witnesses, taking photographs, etc.
• Use new and creative procedures to defend the constitutional and legal rights of clients in practice.
• Be active in providing meaningful defense free of cost for accused people.
• Participate, as directed, as trainers for other advocates in new criminal defense practices.
• Perform other duties as required.
• Ready to work in any of the PDS-Nepal project districts as and when required.

Note:

• Successful candidates are expected to work full-time for PDS-Nepal and are prohibited from conducting legal work on behalf of clients outside of PDS-Nepal for personal financial benefit.
• Successful candidate should go for at least 6 months practical training at PDS-Nepal under the direct supervision of Executive Director/ Training & Legal Director & Senior Attorney-In-Charge. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Law degree (BL/LLB or LLM) and having valid advocate’s license
• Commitment to the idea of free legal assistance for any poor person accused of any crime required.
• Commitment to providing meaningful defense in practice from the moment of arrest required.
• Basic computer knowledge with English and Nepali Typing.
• Local candidates or candidates from neighboring districts will be given preference.

Salary:  NRS.30,000 to 33,000 per month before tax. Other fringe and benefits are as per organization's policy.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates are requested to send their CV, including contact telephone number along with an application letter to the address below before 23 October 2017.

HR Department

PDS-Nepal
Surya Marg, House # 19
Babarmahal, Kathmandu
Email: vacancy@pds-n.org

• Only candidates short-listed for written exam and an interview will be contacted.
• Any Phone calls/canvasing would be disqualification of candidature. 
• Successful candidates will be expected to start working from 1st week of November, 2017

Women and people from disadvantaged and minority groups are especially encouraged to apply. PDS-Nepal is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, caste, gender, ethnicity, or any other basis.

Note: Please do not forget to mention "Application for Advocate for Hetauda" in the subject line / envelope.