Myanmar: Legal Coordinator, Myanmar Legal Program

Dec 5, 2014 | EarthRights International

EarthRights International (ERI) seeks a highly qualified, committed attorney to lead the coordination and development of our Myanmar Legal Program inside Myanmar, working with local lawyers with support from our Myanmar Program Director.

Start Date: January 2015 or as soon as possible
Reports to: Myanmar Program Director and Southeast Asia Regional Program Director
Location: Yangon, Myanmar

The principal job responsibilities include:  

  • Working primarily with ERI’s Southeast Asia-based legal and campaign staff, and also with staff in other ERI offices, to support the design and implementation of ERI’s Myanmar legal strategies and activities, which integrate training, mentoring and networking along with legal and policy advocacy
  • Providing training and mentoring support for local Myanmar public interest lawyers, key Myanmar civil society organizations and alumni from the EarthRights School Myanmar, Myanmar Environmental Legal Training and Mekong Legal Advocacy Institute programs
  • Facilitating and delivering legal and rule of law trainings for Myanmar lawyers and civil society partners
  • Consolidating and coordinating the Myanmar Environmental Law Network and Mekong Legal Network
  • Providing strategic support on litigation and legal advocacy being conducted by network partners on earth rights cases, enabling communities to access courts and other remedial mechanisms. This support includes:
  • Conducting research;
  • Providing advice on relevant Myanmar law, court procedure, evidence collection and case development;
  • Connecting lawyers with relevant international experts and lawyers; and,
  • Assisting them to access funding and develop legal organizations
  • Conducting policy advocacy to strengthen domestic laws, policies, and institutions
  • Providing training and legal advocacy support for the protection, defense and support of earth rights defenders
  • Developing and maintaining strong relationships with lawyers, campaigners, international and domestic NGOs and local community organizations 
  • Mentoring and providing technical legal support to other Myanmar Legal Program staff

The Myanmar Legal Coordinator may also be asked to:

  • Recruit new staff and interns
  • Represent ERI at national and regional meetings and conferences and to donors

Minimum qualifications:

  • Minimum 3 years experience working on human rights, environmental or corporate accountability legal issues
  • A professional degree in law
  • Experience running legal cases
  • Solid technical legal skills, good judgment and initiative, and efficient task management
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills in English
  • Demonstrated intercultural working experience, and understanding that an import part of the role is to develop skills and leadership of Myanmar Legal Program staff

Preferred qualifications:

  • Working knowledge of Myanmar law and/or human rights and environmental issues
  • Knowledge of Burmese, or any ethnic language spoken in Myanmar

We offer:

  • A locally competitive NGO salary
  • Generous employer-paid benefits including private medical insurance and paid vacation, sick and personal days
  • A casual and fun work environment

To Apply:

Applicants should email the following to apply-myanmar@earthrights.org:

  • 1-page cover letter
  • 1-2 resume
  • List of 3-5 references with phone numbers and email addresses

For more information please visit here.