U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CRIMINAL DIVISION
INTERMITTENT LEGAL ADVISOR FOR SOUTH AFRICA
About the Office: The mission of the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) is to develop and administer technical and developmental assistance designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign justice sector institutions and their law enforcement personnel, so those institutions and their personnel can more effectively combat terrorism, organized crime, corruption, financial crimes, trafficking in persons and other types of crime, in a manner consistent with the rule of law, and can more effectively cooperate regionally and with the United States in combating such crime.
Responsibilities and Opportunity Offered: The Office seeks an experienced Assistant United States Attorney or Department of Justice Trial Attorney to serve as an Intermittent Legal Advisor (ILA) in South Africa. This assignment is for a term of six months with the possibility of an extension contingent upon the availability of funding. (This is a reimbursable detail.) The ILA represents the U.S. Department of Justice and OPDAT and implements a justice sector assistance program undertaken as part of the Women’s Justice Empowerment Initiative, which is a U.S. interagency effort to combat gender based violence in selected African states. The ILA will work with other donors and host country officials in South Africa to assess gender-based violence problems and to provide technical and developmental assistance. The RLA will help develop and institutionalize programs to combat domestic violence and sexual offenses. The RLA will help increase the capacity of South Afica’s prosecutors and judges to effectively investigate, prosecute and adjudicate gender based criminal conduct. This work could involve providing advice on draft and existing laws and regulations. The ILA will also be expected to aid in improving prosecutorial and judicial professionalism through skills development assistance, with a focus on women’s justice issues.
Qualifications: Required qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be duly licensed and authorized to practice as an attorney under the laws of a State, territory, or the District of Columbia. Applicants must be a current Department Trial Attorney or Assistant United States Attorney and have at least four or five years of post J.D. experience to be qualified at the GS-14 or 15 level. An applicant must have excellent interpersonal skills; possess the ability to function effectively in a multi-cultural environment; be mature and self-sufficient; be able to efficiently initiate and manage work projects; and possess extensive experience investigating and prosecuting criminal conduct that involves violence against women.
Preferred qualifications: Comparative law or other experience gained working within an African context is desired, but is not essential.
Travel: The position will require some travel within the country and the region.
Salary Information: Current salary and years of experience determine the appropriate salary level. (See OPM's Web page at www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.htm)
Location: The RLA will be stationed in Pretoria, South Africa beginning in the early spring of 2008.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses may be authorized depending on the actual length of the assignment and the availability of funds.
Submission Process and Deadline Date: Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter as soon as possible to the attention of Kyle Kelly, Program Analyst, Africa and the Middle East Region, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 10th and Pennsylvania Aves., NW, Washington, DC 20530. Faxed or e-mailed submissions are encouraged. The fax number is: (202) 616-6770. The e-mail address is: Kyle.Kelly@usdoj.gov
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.