Senior Legal Researcher

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.

The LA Research and Legislation department seeks to monitor and study the processes of production of laws, and analyze the social and economic choices and stakes underlying its adoption, in order to influence or contribute directly to these processes, so that the law is no longer perceived as disembodied from society but on the contrary as an eminently social force.

Position title: Senior Legal Researcher

Reporting line: Head of the Research and Legislation department

Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible

Main responsibilities

The Senior Legal Researcher is responsible for conducting in-depth legal research and analysis in the Lebanese context, under the supervision of the Head of the Department, on the following:

• Legislation and the process of adopting legislation (parliamentary deliberations, work of parliamentary committees, etc.)
• Governmental and administrative decisions, public policies, and State decision-making mechanisms, (ministerial debates and decisions, administrative acts, etc.)
• Case law and jurisprudence (including decisions of constitutional and administrative courts)
• Public institutions, their statutes, functioning, decision-making practices and policies

Main Requirements:

• Produce regular legal analytical articles to contribute to the political and legal public debates in Lebanon on issues related to socio-economic rights such as shelter and housing, education, health and consumers policies
• Attend Parliamentary debate sessions and produce observation reports
• Conduct legal studies to produce legal knowledge that is useful to stakeholders
• Contribute to drafting new laws

Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Law is required
• At least 5 to 7 years of previous experience in legal research, including experience in academic or civil society context Specialization in public and economic administration Law is highly desirable
• Experience and interest in working on economic and social rights is highly desirable
• Excellent research skills including in comparative law
• Excellent Arabic legal  writing skills
• Good  knowledge in French or English legal research is highly desirable
• Good Communication skills
• Good time-management skills and ability to work independently
• Ability to work in a team