The project started in 2021 with two qualitative research phases. The quantitative social science researcher is envisioned to join the project in October 2023, for the preparation and execution of the third and final research phase (November 2023 – August 2024). In this mostly quantitative phase, the team plans to conduct a nation-wide survey on access to justice in Libya, and – pending funding – four smaller surveys among ‘justice providing institutions’.

The A2JiL-project (2021-4) aims to ascertain whether, to which extent, and how, in a country plagued by political and institutional divide, armed conflict and lack of security, people have access to justice, and how to improve such access by identifying and reducing barriers. It will employ a socio-legal approach combining a legal analysis, consultations with stakeholders and interviews, and surveys. It will entail conferences, workshops, and meetings in Libya (or Tunisia) and the Netherlands to discuss, develop and disseminate its findings and recommendations.

Main responsibilities
Under the supervision of the project leader, and working closely together with him, the socio-legal postdoctoral researcher, and other team members in the Netherlands and Libya, the quantitative social science researcher should perform the following tasks:

• Co-design a nation-wide survey on access to justice, adapted from the ‘Paths to Justice’-survey of Prof Hazel Genn and crime justice surveys.
• Pending funding approval: Co-design surveys for professionals working in key justice providing institutions: judges, prosecutors, wise men, and lawyers.
• Help in the co-ordination of the survey(s).
• Lead in the statistical analysis of the survey(s).
• Developing guidance notes, tools, and resources for Libyan researchers and enumerators.
• Give quantitative research training to enumerators.
• (Co-)write project reports and academic publications.
• Participate in project planning, organisation and reporting.

Requirements

• Experience designing, coordinating, and conducting quantitative research and surveys, ideally on (socio-)legal themes.
• Relevant PhD degree or master’s degree with relevant work experience.
• Excellent knowledge of quantitative social science research methods including relevant statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Strata, R).
• Good writing skills in English; knowledge of Dutch and/or Arabic is an advantage.
• Excellent organization and communication skills.
• Available to travel to Tunis and Egypt for workshops with Libyan colleagues (roughly one week at a time, perhaps every three months on average).
• Available to start 1 November 2023 or soon thereafter.

What we offer

• The period of employment in this position is from November 2023 to December 2024.
• Salary is in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities and is dependent on the candidate’s qualifications and experience. The monthly salary is minimum €3.974 to € 4.814 (scale 11-12) gross per month based on experience and a full-time basis.
• Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end- of-year bonuses (8.3 %) and training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.

Diversity
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Universiteit Leiden

Our Faculty
With over 5,000 students and 450 members of staff, Leiden Law School is one of the largest faculties in the Netherlands. Yet, in all its diversity, it is still known for its ability to provide education on a small scale. The Faculty focuses on multi-faceted high-level teaching and research, both nationally and internationally. It does so by working with talented people and stimulating and supporting them in their professional and personal ambitions. The Faculty is housed in the beautifully restored Kamerlingh Onnes Building on the Steenschuur in Leiden. Working for the Leiden Law School means working in an inspiring scientific environment. For more information, see www.law.leidenuniv.nl

Our Department
The Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society (VVI) is part of the Leiden Law School. The VVI seeks to advance knowledge of the formation and functioning of legal systems in their social contexts, the impact of these systems on society and vice versa, their effectiveness in governance, and their contribution to development. The Institute adopts a socio-legal and global approach, doing research on law in the books and law in action in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. VVI staff teaches several socio-legal thematic and regional courses for both Dutch and foreign exchange students. In addition, VVI provides PhD supervision, advisory services and training courses to policy makers and practitioners. For more information, see www.vvi.leidenuniv.nl