IDLO is Hiring a Judicial Reform Expert in Manila, Philippines

IDLO is hiring a Judicial Reform Expert in Manila, Philippines. The consultancy requires Philippine Bar membership and at least five years of relevant experience. Apply by 2 October 2026.

The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) is seeking a Judicial Reform Expert in Manila, Philippines, to support evidence-based reforms within the Philippine justice system. The consultancy will contribute to the European Union’s Governance in Justice Programme (EU-GOJUST).

Applications close on 2 October 2026 at 23:59 Rome Time, although IDLO states that applications are reviewed regularly and a qualified applicant may be recruited before the deadline.

Background & Job Description

IDLO serves as Technical Lead for the third iteration of the European Union’s Governance in Justice Programme (EU-GOJUST) in the Philippines.

The programme seeks to improve access to justice and contribute to a more effective, inclusive and accountable justice system.

The Judicial Reform Expert will support the Supreme Court, through the Committee on the Review and Reform of the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, with a multidisciplinary review of relevant legal, economic, social, institutional and technological literature.

The research is intended to provide an evidence base for proposed judicial reforms.

Tasks

The selected expert will:

Prepare an inception report covering research objectives, methodology, analytical framework, workplan and timeline.
Conduct a structured review of Philippine legislation, jurisprudence, policy documents and judicial administrative materials.
Review Philippine and international empirical research.
Examine comparative evidence on judicial mapping, jurisdiction, decentralization and court management.
Review research on access to justice, institutional design, legal technology and court performance.
Prepare a draft multidisciplinary literature review with findings and recommendations.
Present preliminary findings to EU-GOJUST and institutional partners.
Incorporate stakeholder feedback and submit the final report.
Integrate the programme’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion framework into the assignment.

Qualifications

Education

Applicants must have an advanced degree in:

Law
Political Science
Public Administration
Governance
Development Studies
Another related discipline

Applicants must also be members in good standing of the Philippine Bar.

Experience

Candidates need at least five years of relevant professional experience in areas such as judicial reform, justice-sector governance, institutional or legal reform, or public-sector policy development.

Strong multidisciplinary legal and institutional research experience is required.

Applicants should also demonstrate knowledge of judicial systems, court administration and institutional reform, preferably within the Philippine justice sector.

Experience with judicial reform projects, caseflow management, court administration or workload management is considered an advantage.

Skills Required

Candidates should demonstrate excellent legal writing, research, analytical and synthesis abilities.

Strong presentation and communication skills are required, together with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Applicants should also be able to work effectively with government institutions, the judiciary and other stakeholders while maintaining high standards of ethics, accuracy and integrity.

English: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Consultancy Terms

This is a deliverables-based consultancy contract.

The estimated workload is 35 working days over a three-month period. Payment will be made following satisfactory completion and approval of agreed milestones.

The selected consultant is expected to begin work as soon as possible after signing the contract.

The source does not specify the total consultancy compensation.

How to Apply

Qualified applicants should submit their application through IDLO’s recruitment process.

Application deadline: 2 October 2026 at 23:59 Rome Time.

Strong Application Call

Candidates who meet the Philippine Bar membership, advanced-degree and five-year experience requirements should consider applying as early as possible. IDLO states that applications are screened regularly and that a qualified candidate may be recruited before the advertised deadline.

Before submitting, applicants should ensure their application clearly demonstrates experience in judicial reform, legal and policy research, court administration, institutional reform and evidence-based policy development where applicable.