Vacancy Announcements

We are happy to publish these vacancy announcements and receive your applications! The below specifications may be downloaded here (.pdf).

Recruitment Policies

aditus foundation is an independent, voluntary and non-profit organisation established with a mission to monitor, act and report on access to fundamental human rights. Our work includes advocacy, research, capacity building and provision of pro bono legal services in the field of asylum, migration, LGBTIQ+ rights and individual rights and freedoms.

We are seeking to recruit motivated individuals to join our team of human rights advocates in Malta. Our team consists of 4 permanent staff members, supported by a dynamic group of interns and trainees.

aditus is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, citizenship, and (dis)ability.

Primary Responsibilities

The Legal Officer is primarily responsible for the provision of legal services to clients in the fields of asylum and migration. This includes individual case-work, as well as other projects involving research, writing and advocacy. The Legal Officer forms part of our Pro Bono Unit and reports to the Director.

Individual case-work with clients covers the following activities:

  • Delivery of information to asylum-seekers on all matters relating to the asylum procedure;
  • Preparation of appeals against negative decisions taken by the International Protection Agency. This involves researching and drafting submissions, and participating in the hearings of the second instance authority (the International Protection Appeals Tribunal);
  • Preparation of appeals against negative Dublin decisions and of subsequent applications;
  • Litigation relating to challenging detention of asylum-seekers and other migrants;
  • Assistance with applications for national protection, namely Temporary Humanitarian Protection, and with applications for other special residence documents;
  • Appeals against rejections of social security applications (e.g., unemployment benefits, housing benefits, etc.) involving asylum-seekers, international protection beneficiaries or other migrants;
  • Participation and assistance with the preparation of cases for strategic litigation in national and international fora (e.g., ECHR, UN mechanisms, etc);
  • Assisting clients during client drop-in days and visiting clients in open and closed centres;
  • General human rights support to asylum-seekers, beneficiaries of international/national protection and failed asylum-seekers.
Other Responsibilities

Together with the above, the Legal Officer will be involved in the following:

  • Research and drafting of the Malta reports for the Asylum Information Database (AIDA);
  • Supervision of one or more Legal Interns;  
  • Participation in various meetings, seminars and trainings regularly organised in Malta or overseas;
  • Work closely with and provide policy analysis and legal expertise to the other team members, this would include participation in advocacy activities.
Required Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate who can effectively demonstrate the following:

  • University degree in law or legal studies, having covered refugee law and international human rights law;
  • At least 3 years’ experience working in the area of asylum;
  • Experience working and communicating with marginalised or vulnerable communities;
  • Working knowledge of the Common European Asylum System;
  • Excellent research and drafting skills (English);
  • Willingness to travel for seminars and conferences, as these arise;
  • Fluency in English;
  • Ability to work in a small team and in a fast-paced environment;
  • A commitment to diversity which respects differences of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and ability. In particular, a commitment to respect the Code of Conduct of the Malta Refugee Council.
Offer

We are able to offer the following to the selected candidate:

  • A one-year full-time position, with the possibility of this being converted to an indefinite contract;
  • Salary package that is commensurate with experience;
  • Statutory vacation and sick leave;
  • A flexible and family-friendly working environment;
  • A fun and committed group of colleagues!
Application Procedure

Please send applications to Katarzyna De Wilde, our Programmes Officer, at katarzynadewilde@aditus.org.mt, attaching a (1) covering letter, (2) updated CV with at least 2 references and (3) 2 short writing samples by not later than 5 March 2021.

All applications should include ‘Legal Officer position’ in the subject line.

Primary Responsibilities

The primary role of the Case Officer is to support our Pro Bono Unit in the provision of legal services to individual clients, primarily in the field of asylum and migration. This includes the provision of individualised support to clients, administrative support to our team and research into relevant laws and policies. The Case Officer forms part of our Pro Bono Unit and reports to the Director.

Individual case-work with clients covers the following activities:

  • Client onboarding and registration;
  • Preparation and carrying out of visits to open and closed centres;
  • Follow-up with government departments, agencies and other public or private service-providers;
  • Background research relating to client work and litigation;
  • Assisting with non-litigation advocacy and outreach work in the communities;
  • Follow-up with specific clients;
  • General human rights support to asylum-seekers, beneficiaries of international/national protection and failed asylum-seekers.
Required Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate the following:

  • University degree in law, legal studies, human rights, humanitarian action, international relations or related field.
  • At least 1 years’ experience working in the area of human rights or related field;
  • Experience working and communicating with marginalised or vulnerable communities;
  • Fluency in English. Knowledge of Maltese will be considered an advantage;
  • Ability to work in a small team and in a fast-paced environment;
  • A commitment to diversity which respects differences of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and ability. In particular, a commitment to respect the Code of Conduct of the Malta Refugee Council.
Offer

We are able to offer the following to the selected candidate:

  • A one-year full-time position, with the possibility of this being converted to an indefinite contract;
  • Salary package that is commensurate with experience;
  • Statutory vacation and sick leave;
  • A flexible and family-friendly working environment;
  • A fun and committed group of colleagues!
Application Procedure

Please send applications to Katarzyna De Wilde, our Programmes Officer, at katarzynadewilde@aditus.org.mt, attaching a (1) covering letter, (2) updated CV with at least 2 references by not later than 5 March 2021.

All applications should include ‘Case Officer position’ in the subject line.

Out of the Shadows: giving a voice to sex workers in Malta

The Project Researcher will be engaged to carry out research within the ambit of the project Out of the Shadows: giving a voice to sex workers in Malta, funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme 2021..

Out of the Shadows seeks to create a safe space for sex workers in Malta to talk about their lives, experiences and dreams. Their stories will allow the nation to better understand the human complexities of sex work. This is being done within the context of the nationwide discussion on the reform of policy and legislation on sex work.  

Out of the Shadows will run from 1 March 2021 to end February 2022.

The Project Researcher will report to the Project Leader and will be able to carry out services from our office or remotely. It will however be necessary for the Project Researcher to be available to meet individuals in person during the course of the research, as well as to attend project briefings at regular intervals.

The Researcher will produce a publication that will give a much-needed voice to a community that is often shrouded in shame, discrimination, poverty and marginalisation.

Responsibilities of the Researcher

The Researcher will be responsible for the following activities:

  • Formulation of a research plan based on best practice, sound ethical considerations and similar initiatives at the European/International level;
  • Desk-research;
  • Engagement with relevant governmental and non-governmental stakeholders;
  • Qualitative interviews with sex workers from diverse backgrounds, including – as far as possible: men, women, LGBTIQ+ persons, Maltese and non-Maltese;
  • Drafting of a report giving a comprehensive understanding of the situation of sex workers in Malta, including a series of legal and policy recommendations;
  • Participation in dissemination activities, both general and targeted to specific stakeholders.
Required Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate the following:

  • University degree in anthropology, sociology, public policy, law, youth and community studies, social policy or social work, psychology, gender studies, or an equivalent comparable professional qualification;
  • Experience in carrying out qualitative research;
  • Experience working and communicating with marginalised or vulnerable communities;
  • Excellent research and drafting skills in English;
  • Fluency in Maltese will be considered to be an advantage;
  • Ability to work in a small team and in a fast-paced environment;
  • A commitment to fundamental human rights, in particular to diversity which respects differences of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and ability.
Offer

We are able to offer the following to the selected service-provider:

  • A service agreement lasting until mid-February 2022;
  • The estimated value of the contract between Eur 2,000 – 2,500, commensurate with experience and expertise;
  • Administrative support from the aditus team, including use of our office, equipment and logistics;
  • Research support, particularly in identifying research participants and relevant stakeholders.
Application Procedure

Please send applications to Katarzyna De Wilde, our Programmes Officer, at katarzynadewilde@aditus.org.mt, attaching a (1) covering letter, (2) updated CV with at least 2 references and (3) 2 short writing samples by not later than 5 March 2021.

All applications should include ‘Out of the Shadows Researcher position’ in the subject line.



Some of these vacancies are financed by the European Social Fund.


Support our legal work!

Click to support us!

Your donation will allow us to:

  • provide, for free, legal information and advice to persons who are are unable to pay a private lawyer or who are unable to obtain a Government Legal Aid Lawyer;
  • file cases before the Courts of Law. Your donation will allow one of our lawyers to prepare, file and follow up the Court application;
  • pay interpreters to allow us to communicate with some of our clients;
  • seek sources of funding that require us to provide a share of the total project amount (so-called ‘co-financing requirement’);
  • pay our monthly office rent, without which we’d be a homeless NGO!
  • keep our staff and interns warm in winter, cool in summer!
  • remain connected to the Internet…and over the phone!

Support our legal work!

Click to support us!

Your donation will allow us to:

  • provide, for free, legal information and advice to persons who are are unable to pay a private lawyer or who are unable to obtain a Government Legal Aid Lawyer;
  • file cases before the Courts of Law. Your donation will allow one of our lawyers to prepare, file and follow up the Court application;
  • pay interpreters to allow us to communicate with some of our clients;
  • seek sources of funding that require us to provide a share of the total project amount (so-called ‘co-financing requirement’);
  • pay our monthly office rent, without which we’d be a homeless NGO!
  • keep our staff and interns warm in winter, cool in summer!
  • remain connected to the Internet…and over the phone!

Support our legal work!

Click to support us!

Your donation will allow us to:

  • provide, for free, legal information and advice to persons who are are unable to pay a private lawyer or who are unable to obtain a Government Legal Aid Lawyer;
  • file cases before the Courts of Law. Your donation will allow one of our lawyers to prepare, file and follow up the Court application;
  • pay interpreters to allow us to communicate with some of our clients;
  • seek sources of funding that require us to provide a share of the total project amount (so-called ‘co-financing requirement’);
  • pay our monthly office rent, without which we’d be a homeless NGO!
  • keep our staff and interns warm in winter, cool in summer!
  • remain connected to the Internet…and over the phone!

“Do I have a right to justice?” Improving access to legal assistance in Malta

The final event of the ATLAS project, held on the 28th April, 2017, provided speakers and participants alike the opportunity to discuss the issues relating to improving access to legal assistance in Malta.

Minister Helena Dalli, in her opening address, explained that legal aid is essential in order for individuals to have access to an effective remedy and that the current means threshold is effectively barring the majority from receiving such legal aid even in situations of abuse such as domestic violence. Mr. Tamietti, Deputy Section Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights, gave an in-depth commentary on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights relating to access to legal assistance in the criminal (Salduz v Turkey; Borg v Malta; Ibrahim and others v the United Kingdom), civil (Airey v. Ireland; Steel and Morris v. United Kingdom) and immigration (Maaouia v FranceKhlaifia and others v Italy) fields.

Dr. Marc Sant, Head Advocate for Legal Aid within the Legal Aid Agency, outlined the provision of legal aid services in Malta, including eligibility criteria and the procedure for applying. An overview of recent changes, such as the recent set-up of the Agency and statistical data, were also outlined. Dr. Sant’s presentation can be accessed through this link: Legal Aid Agency Malta – Presentation.

Carla, project coordinator and assistant director of aditus foundation, presented the results of the ATLAS project and the main findings and recommendations that are contained in the final report on Access to Legal Assistance in Malta.  The objective of the report was to analyse the availability and outline the importance of having access to legal assistance for individuals who cannot afford the costs of legal representation in Malta. The Report is divided into three Sections:

  • Section 1: highlights existing international and European human rights standards relating to access to legal aid and Malta’s obligations
  • Section 2: analyses the legislative, judicial and administrative implications of the Maltese legal aid system
  • Section 3: examines the provision of pro bono legal assistance and how it can support the formal legal aid system

Furthermore, together with the Report, a number of Factsheets were drawn-up which provide basic information on the right to legal aid, the right to a fair trial, the court structures and other equality bodies in Malta. These can be downloaded individually or as a package from aditus’ publication page under the Factsheet heading. Carla’s presentation can be accessed through this link: Access to Legal Aid Assistance in Malta – Assessment of the Legal Aid System in Malta.

aditus and The Critical Institute hope that the Report will stimulate the discussion for a continuing reform of the justice system in Malta. The aim is to increase access to justice for vulnerable and marginalised groups through a stronger and more efficient legal aid system and through better awareness and enthusiasm for pro bono work amongst lawyers.

If you believe that your institution, NGO or department would find hard copies of the report or the factsheet useful, please do not hesitate to contact us on carlacamilleri@aditus.org.mt 

 

This project has been funded through the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector on behalf of the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties.