Parliament Observatory Researcher

General Description: 

Legal Agenda is seeking to hire a full-time researcher. The position is ideal for social or political scientists who are interested in reflecting critically about the work of the parliament and the political and social actors involved in the legislative process.

The Legal Agenda (LA) is a Beirut-based nonprofit research and advocacy organization with offices in Lebanon and Tunisia and correspondents in several other Arab countries. It was established in December 2009 by a group of legal professionals, scholars, and human rights activists who institutionalized their efforts to build a critical and multidisciplinary approach to law and justice in Arab countries with a special focus on political, civil, social, and economic rights.

Main responsibilities:

The Parliament Observatory Researcher, under the supervision of the Head of the Department, is responsible for the following:

• Monitor, analyze and produce relevant content related to the work and functioning of the Parliament, the legislative process, the MPs, political actors and other stakeholders involved in the legislative process using social sciences methods.
• Collaborate with the other departments in the Legal Agenda (socio-legal studies, litigation and journalism) to deconstruct the processes of adopting legislation and its impact on society, and produce a better understanding of it to the benefits of citizens, researchers, and other legal professionals

Main Tasks:

• Conduct fieldwork and interviews
• Conduct desk reviews
• Produce regular analytical articles
• Assist in producing reports using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies
• Contribute to developing sustainable data collection, storage and analysis methodologies

Skills and Experience:

• Masters in Social Science or Humanities or equivalent
• At least 1 to 3 years of previous professional experience, ideally in research in academic or civil society context.
• The candidate should master basic fieldwork methods (e.g. ethnography, interviews, observation, archival research). The candidate should also have excellent note-taking skills.
• Ability to analyze both quantitative (using excel) and qualitative data.
• Excellent reading, writing and speaking in Arabic. Reading and speaking in English.
• Knowledge and interest in legal issues, organizations and procedures.
• Good time-management skills and ability to work both independently and within a team