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. Refugee Law Project’s work is currently structured in five thematic areas: Access to Justice; Conflict, Transitional Justice & Governance (CTJ&G), Gender & Sexuality; Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing; and Media for Social Change.
Job Summary: The Legal Officer offers direct legal support to victims of forced migration and carries out policy advocacy on forced migration. The Legal Officer 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:
Direct Legal Aid:
As a direct legal service provider, the Legal Officer represents forced migrant clients before the courts of law and other institutions;
Provide legal advice to forced migrants and support migrant groups;
Identify and make referrals for resettlement of clients as per established procedure;
The incumbent will also facilitate Alternative Dispute Resolution among conflicting parties;
Carry out legal aid clinics to the refugee settlements to provide on-spot legal aid services; and make appropriate referrals for legal and alternative support
Research and Advocacy:
The Legal Officer will conduct 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;
Conduct trainings for government duty bearers and forced migrants;
Develop information, Education and Communication Materials relating to Access to Justice
Networking:
The Legal Officer will organize and facilitate information sessions and dialogues with forced migrants and other stakeholders;
Coordinate networking with other stakeholders in the provision of legal aid, including but not limited to Government institutions, UNCHR, among others; Initiate, review and advice on MOUs between the RLP and other partner organizations as necessary.
Fundraising:
As a sustainability mechanisms, the Legal Officer will support in fundraising through in developing technical narratives for purposes of project design;
Actively participate in identification of new lines of intervention that facilitate fundraising; and Work with Grants team to identify funding sources relevant to the programme work
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate for the Refugee Law Project (RLP) Legal Officer job opportunity must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognized university
Completion of a Bar Course and possesses a Practicing certificate
Previous exposure and experience in representing clients before courts of law or any other governing bodies.
Previous experience in engaging with key partners on legal related issues
Ability to think and write conceptually, convincingly and strategically;
Ability to engage in advocacy at both local and national level
Ability to give timely report on activities undertaken;
Ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision;
Creative and innovative skills;
Excellent interpersonal skills and high level of self-motivation;
Computer literacy skills with proficiency in MS Office applications and good communication and presentation skills.
Good touch typing skills of at least 30Words Per Minute;
Fluency in Kiswahili and/or any other language spoken in refugee communities will be an added advantage
Knowledge of any language spoken in refugee communities will be an added advantage
How to Apply:
If you meet the above requirements and are interested, we encourage you to address motivation letter and updated CV to the Human Resources Manager via E-mail to recruitment@refugeelawproject.org. Please indicate the position applied for in the subject line of the email. Copies of certificates should not be attached, but will be requested for from short-listed candidates only.
Deadline: Friday, 7th April 2017 by 5.00pm