EOI: Legal Draftspersons and Advisers to the Legislative Drafting Division – Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Justice
Location: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Background
The Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Justice (ASIPJ) is the third program of Australian support to the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) justice sector. Its goal is to work closely with the SIG to enable justice agencies to maintain delivery of their existing, core activities while clearly identifying and engaging with fundamental problems and critical issues affecting their ability to contribute to stability and offer access to justice for citizens.
Subject to a finalised design, ASIPJ will be delivered through five key workstreams: Maintaining core delivery functions, supporting justice sector leadership, solving problems to drive sector coordination, taking an action-oriented approach to learning about how to expand access to justice, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL). It is a four-year program with an option to extend to eight years, following a predecessor program, the Australia Solomon Islands Justice Program (SIJP).
ASIPJ will be locally-led, problem-oriented and learning driven. It will be pragmatic and practical, adaptable, and mainstream Gender Equity, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI). Deloitte is the Managing Contractor, leading an exciting coalition for change that includes Adam Smith International – providing the Operations Hub, Ninti One – for its Indigenous expertise and The University of Queensland (UQ) – to support critical research and knowledge generation.
The roles:
1. Legal Draftspersons
Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Justice (ASIPJ) Program is seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals to fill the role of Legal Draftsperson in the Legislative Drafting Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Honiara, Solomon Islands. This is an in-line position working directly to the Solomon Islands Attorney-General and is funded by the Australian aid program.
The primary task of the Legal Draftsperson will be to draft legislation, both principal and subordinate, in accordance with government instructions. In addition, under the direction of the Attorney-General, the role will entail collaborating with consultant external drafters. This will involve reviewing, commenting upon and editing draft legislation to ensure it is prepared in compliance with Solomon Islands drafting practices.
The Legal Draftsperson will also be required to:
– Engage with other advisers and staff within the Attorney-General’s Chambers;
– Engage with government ministries on issues related to legislative drafting;
– Supervise and review the work of junior drafting counsel;
– Attend parliament and appear in parliamentary committee meetings as directed; and
– Undertake other tasks as requested by the Attorney-General.
The Legal Draftsperson will work under the direction and supervision of the Attorney-General and will be based in Honiara. The successful applicant will have proven legislative drafting experience in a common law jurisdiction, preferably in a developing country context.
2. Advisers to the Legislative Drafting Division
Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Justice (ASIPJ) is also seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals to fill the role of adviser to the Legislative Drafting Division (LDD) of the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Honiara, Solomon Islands. This position will work directly to the Solomon Islands Attorney-General and is funded by the Australian aid program.
The adviser will work closely with LDD staff to encourage the effective functioning of the Division. In close collaboration with the Legal Draftsperson the successful applicant will supervise, mentor and assist LDD staff, principally junior drafting counsel, in the performance of their duties.
The Adviser to the Legislative Drafting Division will also be required to:
– With ASIPJ, identify and implement professional development opportunities for LDD staff;
– With ASIPJ, identify and establish a twinning relationship with an overseas drafting office;
– With staff of the LDD, engage with government ministries on the legislative drafting process, including assisting ministries in understanding their duties to provide accurate, complete and timely drafting instructions;
– With the Legal Draftsperson and the Project Manager, help to bring the ASIPJ supported reprint project to conclusion and engage in awareness tasks relevant to this exercise;
– With staff of the LDD and others, draft relevant LDD documents, including a drafting manual, handbook and presentation describing the role of the LDD and its processes; and
– Undertake other tasks as requested by the Attorney-General.
The Adviser to the Legislative Drafting Division will work under the direction and supervision of the Attorney-General and will be based in Honiara. They will work closely with the Legal Draftsperson. The successful applicant will have a background in legislative drafting in a common law jurisdiction, preferably in a developing country context.
How to apply:
At this point, ASIPJ is seeking expressions of interest for both roles. It is envisaged that the successful applicants will take up the positions in July 2022.
Interested applicants should submit an updated copy of their curriculum vitae to Rami Alkhatib at Rami.Alkhatib@adamsmithinternational.com by 30 of April 2022 11:59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
Please specify which positions you are interested in by using the one of the following titles: Expressions of Interest, Legal Draftsperson or Expressions of Interest, Adviser to the Legislative Drafting Division
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY A THIRD PARTY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ASIPJ values a diverse workforce and encourages applications from candidates of all background, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisers, as well as Solomon Islanders and regional advisers.