Legal Adviser
Closing Date: 25 September 2024
Category: Policy, Governance, Monitoring & Evaluation
Change your scene and become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, knowledge, and skills to transform the lives of many. Work with our partner organisation to create a fair future for all.
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment.
Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Volunteering with VSA
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced legal adviser, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with the Ministry Foreign Affairs and Trade, then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
Our Partner Organisation - Ministry Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) was officially established on
1 July 2003 under the Ministerial and Departmental Arrangements Act 2003 (hereafter called “the Act”).
The Act incorporates the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Trade Division of the former Department of Trade, Commerce, and Industry. MFAT is responsible for the administration of Government’s business with foreign countries and their governments as well as international organisations. It also endeavors to initiate and continue to provide high quality and professional policy advice to Government on the management of Samoa’s foreign and trade relations. The Ministry is committed to promoting Samoa’s national interests to achieve most benefits in relation to political, trade and economic and security objectives.
The Legal Division was created under the organisational restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017/2018.
It is responsible for overall strategic legal policy advice and planning in respect to Samoa’s foreign policy, trade policy, foreign representation, relations with regional and international organizations, protocol services and support to resident and nonresident diplomatic missions including international organizations based in Apia and implementation policy framework in relation to all areas under the Ministry’s jurisdiction.
The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In this assignment, the volunteer will provide legal advice, assistance and capacity building to the team on international policies and regional issues of importance to Samoa.
The volunteer will be instrumental in legal policy development and make recommendations for improvement and effective implementations.
The Volunteer
Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone? VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.
We're looking for a volunteer with the following:
Samoa, is situated in the South Pacific approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It sits squarely in the cyclone belt and is highly vulnerable to devastating storms. Around three-quarters of its 195,000 population live on the main island of Upolu; the rest live on the neighbouring island of Savai'i or one of the seven small islets.
The traditional Samoan way, the fa’a Samoa, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics where family is all-important, and elders are highly respected.
Each village is made up of extended families that are represented on the village council by a chief (matai). The more western-style parliamentary system in Samoa is highly influenced by traditional social systems and the family, civic and political duties performed by the matai at village level. The country is predominantly Christian.
Apply Now!
Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
To review the full assignment description please copy and paste the below link into your browser:
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment.
Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Volunteering with VSA
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced legal adviser, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with the Ministry Foreign Affairs and Trade, then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
Our Partner Organisation - Ministry Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) was officially established on
1 July 2003 under the Ministerial and Departmental Arrangements Act 2003 (hereafter called “the Act”).
The Act incorporates the former Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Trade Division of the former Department of Trade, Commerce, and Industry. MFAT is responsible for the administration of Government’s business with foreign countries and their governments as well as international organisations. It also endeavors to initiate and continue to provide high quality and professional policy advice to Government on the management of Samoa’s foreign and trade relations. The Ministry is committed to promoting Samoa’s national interests to achieve most benefits in relation to political, trade and economic and security objectives.
The Legal Division was created under the organisational restructuring of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017/2018.
It is responsible for overall strategic legal policy advice and planning in respect to Samoa’s foreign policy, trade policy, foreign representation, relations with regional and international organizations, protocol services and support to resident and nonresident diplomatic missions including international organizations based in Apia and implementation policy framework in relation to all areas under the Ministry’s jurisdiction.
The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In this assignment, the volunteer will provide legal advice, assistance and capacity building to the team on international policies and regional issues of importance to Samoa.
The volunteer will be instrumental in legal policy development and make recommendations for improvement and effective implementations.
The Volunteer
Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone? VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.
We're looking for a volunteer with the following:
- Bachelor’s degree in law, political science, governance, international relations or related field.
- At least six (6) years proven experience.
- Public Service Lawyer with experience in commercial and / or international law or Foreign Service or related profession in government.
- Working with central government parliamentary systems or similar sub-national government systems.
- High level of proficiency in Windows MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint and/or Statistical Software.
- Experience conducting organisational reviews/stocktakes and/or situational analyses.
- Excellent analytical skills and report writing with a proactive, energetic approach to problem solving.
- Post graduate degree in law, political science, governance, international relations or related
field. - Experience working with legislatures and drafting from any of the Pacific Small Island developing states.
- Experience working with parliamentary committees.
- Experience in operations or administrative management.
- Experience working in a developing country context or poorly resourced region.
- Experience in executing change management.
Samoa, is situated in the South Pacific approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It sits squarely in the cyclone belt and is highly vulnerable to devastating storms. Around three-quarters of its 195,000 population live on the main island of Upolu; the rest live on the neighbouring island of Savai'i or one of the seven small islets.
The traditional Samoan way, the fa’a Samoa, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics where family is all-important, and elders are highly respected.
Each village is made up of extended families that are represented on the village council by a chief (matai). The more western-style parliamentary system in Samoa is highly influenced by traditional social systems and the family, civic and political duties performed by the matai at village level. The country is predominantly Christian.
Apply Now!
Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
To review the full assignment description please copy and paste the below link into your browser:
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
We are looking for a volunteer with:
- Full-time 12-month volunteer assignment based in Apia
- Flights, accommodation and living expenses funded by VSA.
- Make an impactful difference sharing your skills and knowledge.
VSA covers flights, accommodation, insurance and some expenses. A living allowance is also provided.
Does volunteering with one of the largest and most experienced agency in international development interest you?