Implementation Committee Member - Advocates Fund Policy

Justice Defenders Policy Development Committee

Picture this: an overcrowded and under-resourced prison full of men, women, or even children who have not been found guilty. This is the case for three million people around the world currently affected by the excessive use of pre-trial detention. In many countries, suspects are detained in prison almost automatically once they are arrested. Whatever the offence. Some, yes, are guilty. Many are poor and unjustly targeted. At Justice Defenders, we want to see justice served; it's vital for all of us. What we don't want to see is people filling our prisons simply because there was no one to equip them to fight for justice.

Justice Defenders is a registered UK charity and US non-profit. Founded in 2007, we work across Africa, training incarcerated people and prison officers to become paralegals. Our 31 prison-based legal offices in Uganda, Kenya, and The Gambia are run by more than 300 paralegals. By equipping justice defenders to facilitate a just legal process, we help ensure a fair hearing at the point of greatest need. Everyone deserves the right to tell their story.

In 2024, we established the Advocates Fund Policy and commenced paying bar course tuition and examination fees. In the policy, we have a bond agreement with all those who have completed and those who have been admitted to the bar, as well as those in the process of completing their bar exams.

The mode of delivery in Kenya and Uganda is different. The Kenyan students attend classes virtually and physically in the evening every working day from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. They also attend four classes on Saturday to participate in all nine modules each week. However, in Uganda, the mode of learning is only physical, and students need to attend physical classes from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Therefore, in Kenya, it may be possible for students to continue performing their employment roles as they pursue their studies. But this may not be possible in Uganda. Justice Defenders aims to assemble a team of individuals with lived experience to inform the development of a policy that supports our people in achieving a work-study-life balance while taking the Bar course in Uganda and Kenya, ultimately leading to their successful admission to the Bar.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Co-develop an implementation framework and guiding tools aligned with the 2024 Advocates Fund Policy.
• Provide recommendations for operationalizing the fund sustainably, transparently, and equitably.
• Engage key stakeholders (Legal Education Lead, HR, Alumni, Finance, Legal Practice Leads, etc) for feedback and alignment.
• Ensure that the proposed framework reflects both country contexts (Kenya and Uganda).
• Draft the implementation plan within the agreed timeline (proposed: 3-5 weeks).

Key Deliverables

A complete Advocates Fund Policy Operationalization Policy Framework, that seeks to answer the following:

1. Who qualifies for the bar course scholarship?
2. What are the criteria for identifying who qualifies for the bar course scholarship?
3. What is expected of the individuals who have qualified for bar course scholarships?
4. How many bar course scholarships should Justice Defenders accommodate per year?
5. What is the justification for the number of bar course scholarships?
6. What is the ideal work-study-life balance arrangement for all the bar course scholarship students?

Your Profile

1. Have completed the Bar Course or have enrolled for one.
2. Have completed an LLB and are eligible for enrollment in the Bar Course.
3. Proven experience in creating and designing policies.
4. Ability and willingness to work in a team setting for a priority project with tight deadlines.
5. Acute prioritization and organization skills. Previous leadership experience will be an added responsibility.
6. Good drafting skills and working knowledge of the Microsoft Suite.

Location: This role is open to applicants from both Kenya and Uganda.

Reports to: Legal Education Lead

Engagement timeline: 3-5 Weeks

Application Deadline: 26th September 2025 (Midnight)