Do you want to get more from your qualification leave, see something different, develop your skills AND make a contribution to social and environmental change?

1. OVERVIEW

The Newly Qualified Lawyers' Programme ("NQLP") offers a series of high quality opportunities endorsed by leading law firms. Each is designed to fit within qualification leave. Each is tailored to suit the skills of newly qualified lawyers.

Working in-country offers the opportunity to make a strong contribution to international development. Achieving this can be hard to fit around legal practice. The NQLP is a solution.

• Our opportunities last for 4 - 6 weeks ;
• Possibilities include supporting the development of groundbreaking new legislation, promoting international best practice, working with and developing the skills of local practitioners;
• Each has been identified as an area where your legal assistance will meet a local need. In return for sharing your expertise, you develop your skills;
• You will see a different culture and be part of it. You will demonstrate your ability to work independently, take the initiative and achieve results in a new environment; and 
• Through the NQLP lawyers, their firms and host organisations involved all benefit.

The Newly Qualified Lawyers' Programme is a collaboration between the development and legal sectors. It draws on the strengths of specialist charities.

The NQLP has been designed in partnership with Challenges Worldwide ("CWW"), a Scottish charity that aims to support the development of the most socially and economically disadvantaged members of society and promote environmental sustainability by strengthening 'local partners' - including local charities, NGOs and civil society organisations overseas. CWW matches UK business and the skills of their employees with its local partners to support the provision of vital health, livelihood, environment and human rights services to people in developing countries. CWW has been operating since 1998. In that time it has recruited, trained and managed more than 500 volunteers with professional skills and experience to work full-time for up to 6 months alongside delivery partners in South Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, West Africa and Eastern Europe. For further information about CWW, please visit www.challengesworldwide.com.

2. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How does the selection procedure work? 

Applicants should download and complete a copy of the application form below and return it with a covering letter to katie.hutt@a4id.org

A4ID and CWW will invite successful applicants for interview. Successful interviewees will then be notified of their placement.

Do I get training? Is there support when I am working?

Yes, all participants will receive training and support as part of the NQLP. This includes pre-departure training, a 24 hour helpline and a debrief on your return.

How can I show that I've developed new skills?

Before the placement starts you are encouraged to set objectives for the skills that you would like to develop. Your firm or chambers and mentor can be involved in this process. During the placement you will have regular discussions with CWW to make sure that you are on track and at the end the organisation with which you are working will report on all that you have achieved.

How do you ensure that the NQLP contributes towards the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?

Every NQLP opportunity is vetted. First, we check the local organisation. Then we review the project itself. Each is designed to make sure that it helps achieve the MDGs. Finally there is an end of placement evaluation to make sure that the objectives of the placement have been met.

3. PLACEMENTS

The first NQLP will be run as a pilot between August and October 2008.

This year, we have chosen a select number of placements designed to demonstrate the different opportunities available to junior lawyers. At the end of the pilot scheme all of those involved will be invited to feedback their thoughts and experiences to A4ID and CWW.

The NQLP will be developed in conjunction with legal professionals and local NGOs to ensure that it continues to harness the skills of junior lawyers to meet the needs of those in developing countries.

Going forward, the NQLP will be run at 6 monthly intervals over a number of years. Regular and continued in-country support will allow the strengthening of cross-country and cross-profession relationships and skills sharing - providing a real and sustainable practical contribution to international development.

Further details of each placement offered during this year's pilot scheme can be found in the attached PDFs.

Please note - descriptions of additional placements will be added during the coming weeks