Irish Rule of Law International Programme Lawyer [Judiciary], Malawi

**Position:** **IRLI Programme Lawyer (Judiciary), Malawi**

**Location: Lilongwe, Malawi**

**Hours of work:** **Full time**

**Salary: €40,000 - €45,000, commensurate with experience \[plus benefits, detailed below\]**

**Reports to: Malawi Country Director**

**Organisation Overview**

Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) is a civil society organisation supported by both branches of the legal professions across the island of Ireland. We work to strengthen justice systems that uphold human rights across multiple jurisdictions. Our current programmes strengthen access to justice in Malawi, advance survivor-centred justice in Tanzania, and support anti-corruption and accountability in Zambia. We also deliver a small number of projects, both in our programme countries and elsewhere, in cooperation with pro bono, civil society, and human rights partners.

IRLI was established in 2007 by the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar Council of Ireland. The Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland joined as partners in 2015. We are further supported by the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Ireland, and the European Union.

We operate from offices in Dublin, Ireland, and Lilongwe, Malawi, with one staff member also currently based in Lusaka, Zambia. We adopt a multidisciplinary approach. Our work is locally driven, grounded in priorities identified by stakeholders, and delivered in partnership with communities through strong alliances with local organisations. Since our beginnings, we have collaborated with academics, judges, legal practitioners, policymakers, and civil society to deepen collective understanding of the relationship between the rule of law, democracy, sustainable development, and human rights.

**Organisation Values**

- **Participation**: We are rooted in partnership and collaboration, built on shared learning and mutual respect. We listen to and are guided by partner needs and priorities.
- **Humility**: We approach our work with openness and respect, aware that our role is to support, and learn from those closest to the issues.
- **Compassion**: We are committed to strengthening justice systems where all people are treated with dignity, where they can place their trust and feel protected.
- **Integrity**: We act with honesty, transparency and fairness, holding ourselves and our partners to the highest ethical standards.
- **Justice**: Justice and equality guide everything we do, ensuring fairness for people is not just an aim but a standard.

**Position Summary**

IRLI has progressively grown through the years, expanding both its programme portfolio and stakeholder partnerships. The organisation is now at an exciting stage having recently completed its 2026 – 2030 strategic plan, secured multi-annual funding from the European Union, and is developing its renewed five-year proposal to the Embassy of Ireland, Malawi. The IRLI Programme Lawyer (Judiciary) will be expected to contribute to the development of this proposal, providing the successful candidate with an opportunity to help shape IRLI’s future work with the Judiciary of Malawi and other criminal justice sector stakeholders. A broad programme base has been established, ranging from access to justice, institutional capacity strengthening, and legal education.

The role of IRLI Programme Lawyer (Judiciary) was developed in 2015 to offer technical support to the Malawi Judiciary. The role entails working closely alongside the Malawi Judiciary under a Memorandum of Understanding, and with three stakeholders in particular: the Chief Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court of Malawi, the Head of the Malawi Judiciary Development Programme, and the Chair of the Malawi Judiciary Training Committee. Working alongside all three, the successful candidate will offer technical support to the Judiciary in areas such as: capacity strengthening, internal coordination, judicial visits, court user committee meetings.

The role is under the direct supervision of the Country Director in Malawi, and the Director of Programmes, based in Ireland.

**Online information session**

Please note that an **online information session** will take place on **Wednesday, 3rd June, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm (GMT)**. Members of the IRLI executive team will provide an overview of the organisation’s work, its value and impact, and the countries in which it operates. The session will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

You can join the session via the following Teams link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/351556833871959?p=m8AWVvEHLFKjMRLorC

## Role and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Country Director, the IRLI Programme Lawyer (Judiciary) will have the following tasks and responsibilities:

- Liaise regularly with the Chief Registrar of the High Court and Supreme Court, the Head of the Malawi Judiciary Development Programme, and