National Developing Capacities Expert, Justice Sector Support Project

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project Summary:

The USAID Justice Sector Support Project (JSSP) is a five-year program designed to support the Government of Armenia (GOAM) in establishing a more fair and equitable justice system and increasing public confidence in the rule of law. The Project activities advance the functional independence and effectiveness of the judicial branch by strengthening the efficiency and capacity of courts, relevant self-regulatory agencies, and educational institutions, as well as by facilitating multi-stakeholder oversight of the implementation of justice sector reforms. JSSP’s efforts seek to advance academic and practical knowledge in specific areas of the law, aligning them with the ongoing judicial reform agenda. Specifically, JSSP is enhancing the capacity of university law schools and the Academy of Justice (AJ) to provide essential knowledge and improve the skills of their students and attendees. JSSP conducted a rapid training needs assessment of AJ course offerings. JSSP discussed the results of the needs assessment with the AJ, and in consultation with the AJ developed an assistance package for their improvement, with emphasis on building skills in adjudication through a practice-based approach that incorporates key elements of the training modules and resource materials.  The agreed scope of the package of activities for the improvement of the AJ offerings includes the design and implementation of modern methodologies for adult teaching. Hence, JSSP will assist the AJ in developing and implementing a simulation methodology for training AJ educators. This methodology and manual are intended for AJ throughout its educational processes for evaluating trainees during exams.

**Please note: All citizenships are eligible for this position.**

Position Summary:

The National Developing Capacities Expert of the Legal Clinics will conduct a peer-to-peer workshop for partner legal clinics and provide materials necessary for the operation of the JSSP supported legal clinics. The Expert will report to the Chief of Party of the project. This is a short-term position with an expected level of effort of up to 30 days with the period of performance from January 2, 2024 to February 20, 2025. The Expert will not be required to be present at the JSSP’s office and may work in their own office with coordinated meetings with designated personnel of the project.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare a detailed document on experience of managing a legal clinic within a university, highlighting day-to-day operations and interaction with students and clients.
• Identify and document the various benefits for students to be a part of legal clinic, such as practical legal counselling skills, understanding of community service, management of resources and clients' expectations.
• Specify and prepare key documents that should be disseminated to legal clinics students prior to their commencement of legal advising.
• Outline and prepare the necessary information and documents that need to be provided to clients of legal clinics, ensuring they understand their rights and the services available to them
• Prepare guidelines on the key principles and specific regulations that govern the operation of legal clinics, ensuring they function effectively and ethically within a university framework.
• Explore effective methods to ensure the quality of free legal assistance provided by the clinics, emphasizing training and supervision for students involved.
• Suggest strategies to guarantee the availability of free legal assistance, ensuring that legal clinics beneficiaries have access to necessary services.
• Draft a guideline related to the preservation of documents and sensitive information within legal clinics, emphasizing confidentiality and record-keeping.
• Provide examples intake forms and consent agreements and other documents.
• Prepare workshop materials, in cooperation with the JSSP Team.
• Implement workshop for the legal clinics’ representatives.
• Prepare peer-to-peer workshop for the partner legal clinics including the preparation and delivery of a PowerPoint presentation, which are subject to be amended by USAID and/or the JSSP team during the assignment.
• Prepare a set of documents required for the operation of legal clinics including registration form for individuals seeking legal aid, case summary template for students, consent form for legal aid seekers regarding the processing of their personal data, memo related to the preservation of documents and sensitive information within legal clinics, Charter for law clinics, Conflict of Interest Checklist, and Confidentiality Agreement.