About US:
The Refugee Law Project (RLP) is an outreach project of the School of Law, Makerere University. Our Mission is to empower asylum seekers, refugees, deportees, IDPs and host communities to enjoy their human rights and lead dignified lives.
Job Summary: The Legal Officer provides direct legal support to victims of forced migration and carries out policy advocacy on forced migration. The job holder also provides technical support to RLP in relation to legal work through an active contribution in defining legal priorities on research, partnership, alliance building and advocacy.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Legal Aid:
· The incumbent will represent forced migrant clients before the courts of law and other institutions as necessary
· Offer legal advice to forced migrants and support migrant groups
· Identify and make referrals for resettlement of clients as per established procedure
· Facilitate Alternative Dispute Resolution among conflicting parties
· Carry out legal aid clinics in the refugee settlements to provide on-spot legal aid services
2. Research and Advocacy:
· Carry out research, documentation, and publication on issues of access to justice as they relate to forced migrants and forced migration
· Prepare legal opinions and advice on general issues of forced migration that may arise from time to time
· Organize and carry out trainings for government duty bearers and forced migrants
· Develop Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials relating to access to justice
3. Networking:
· Organize and facilitate information sessions and dialogues with forced migrants and other stakeholders
· Build and strengthen working relationships with other stakeholders in the provision of legal aid, including but not limited to government institutions, UNCHR, among others
· Initiate, review and advise on MoUs between the RLP and other partner organizations as necessary.
4. Fundraising:
· The incumbent will assist the Programme Manager in developing technical narratives for purposes of fundraising, as required
· Actively participate in identification of new lines of intervention that facilitate fundraising.
· Work in liaison with the Grants team to identify funding sources relevant to the programme work
5. Others:
· Make appropriate referrals for legal and alternative support
· Prepare and submit individual reports about the progress of activities as planned
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The ideal candidate should preferably hold a good Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognized university
· Completion of a Bar Course and possesses a Practicing Certificate
· A minimum of three years’ experience in practicing law in a recognized firm
· The applicant should have experience in representing clients before courts of law or any other governing bodies.
· Previous experience in engaging with key partners on legal related issues
· Possess the ability to think and write conceptually, convincingly and strategically
· Ability to engage in advocacy at both local and national level
· Ability to give timely reports on activities undertaken
· Ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision
· Highly creative and innovative skills
· Excellent interpersonal skills and high level of self-motivation
· Computer skills in MS Office applications and good communication and presentation skills.
· Good touch typing skills of at least 30 Words Per Minute
· Fluency in Kiswahili and/or any other language spoken in refugee communities will be an added advantage
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates must send a motivation letter and curriculum vitae electronically to: recruitment@refugeelawproject.org. The position applied for MUST be indicated in the subject line of the email. Copies of certificates SHOULD NOT be attached, but will be requested for from short-listed candidates only.
Attention: The Human Resources Manager
Refugee Law Project, School of Law, MUK
Plot No. 7 & 9 Perryman Gardens,
P. O. Box 33903, Kampala. Uganda
Deadline: 13th November 2015 by 5.00pm