Job Description
Job Description
Closing date:Friday, 20 November 2026 at 1600 hours
About the Organisation
A national human rights organisation seeks an experienced and committed lawyer to fill the position of Senior Programmes Lawyer in its Litigation Department. The organisation uses strategic and public interest litigation, advocacy and research to defend constitutional rights and safeguard civic space in Zimbabwe.
The Role
The Junior Programmes Lawyer will support the delivery of the organisation's legal programmes through litigation, legal representation, legal research, advocacy and community legal education. Working under the guidance of senior staff, the postholder will carry a supervised caseload in public interest litigation matters while building expertise in human rights and constitutional law. The position offers an early-career lawyer substantial courtroom and field experience in human rights practice.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
• Manage assigned litigation under supervision.
• Draft pleadings, affidavits, legal opinions and correspondence for review by the supervising lawyer.
• Represent clients in courts and tribunals and attend at police stations and other places of detention.
• Attend to walk-in clients, conduct client interviews, assess requests for legal assistance and prepare case summaries and recommendations.
• Monitor litigation deadlines and keep client files, case records and databases complete, current and secure.
• Conduct legal and thematic research, prepare legal memoranda and brief colleagues on legislative and judicial developments.
• Conduct mobile legal clinics and take part in legal awareness campaigns and community outreach.
• Implement assigned programme activities within approved work plans and budgets and compile data and statistics for programme reports.
• Maintain supporting documentation for donor-funded activities and contribute case studies and input to funding proposals and concept notes.
• Track programme indicators and document lessons learned and good practice.
Qualifications and Experience
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
• 5 O Level and 3 A Level subjects.
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
• Registration as a Legal Practitioner of the High Court of Zimbabwe.
• 1 to 3 years of post-admission legal practice or equivalent supervised legal experience.
• Exposure to litigation, legal aid or public interest law.
• Experience in legal research and drafting.
Added advantage
• Training in Human Rights Law, Constitutional Law, Trial Advocacy, Alternative Dispute Resolution or Project Management.
• Experience working with communities, civil society organisations or donor-funded programmes.
Skills and Attributes
• Excellent oral and written communication and report writing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines while working under supervision.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, case management systems and legal research resources.
• High ethical standards and professionalism.
Working Conditions
The successful candidate must be prepared to travel frequently within Zimbabwe, sometimes at short notice; to attend regularly at courts, tribunals, police stations and places of detention; to work on politically sensitive and emotionally demanding matters, including with clients who have experienced violence or trauma; and to work outside normal hours to meet court, emergency and programme deadlines. The role requires strict confidentiality and full compliance with safeguarding, physical security and digital security policies.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following, combined into a single PDF file:
• A cover letter of not more than 2 pages setting out their suitability for the position.
• A detailed curriculum vitae with 3 contactable professional referees, at least 1 of whom should be a current or recent supervisor.
Applications should be emailed to recruitmentnew2026@gmail.com with the subject line Application: Junior Programmes Lawyer by 1600 hours on Friday, 20 November 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.