Organisation: Platform for Labour Action (PLA)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Manager Rights, Social Protection and Accountability
About PLA:
Platform for Labour Action (PLA) is a national human rights civil society organization that was founded in 2000. PLA focuses on human rights and seeks to promote and protect the rights of the vulnerable and marginalised workers through empowerment of communities and the individual. Our target population include children in exploitative forms of work, children at risk of exploitation, informal sector workers infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, women and youth and workers earning below Ushs. 300,000/- per month.
Job Summary: The Legal Officer will offer legal aid services to vulnerable, marginalized and undocumented workers who comprise PLA’s target population. The incumbent is responsible for attending to clients under primary legal aid and offering secondary legal aid services to all Platform for Labour Action (PLA) areas of operations and ensuring that the services are offered accurately and effectively and reflect the mission and vision of PLA.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Receive and screen clients for direct legal aid support
- Using a rights based approach, provide timely legal aid services through direct one-on-one and legal outreach mobile clinics to vulnerable, marginalized and undocumented workers in PLA’s areas of operation as may be required, ensure follow up and logical conclusion of cases handled.
- Refer cases which do not meet the eligibility criteria to other legal aid service providers.
- Actively represent clients in courts of law and other dispute resolution processes including the labour office and prepare summary briefs.
- Hold consultations with the legal officers and manager for the next steps and appropriate action.
- Draft legal documents and prepare submissions for PLA cases.
- Carry out legal research and prepare briefs.
- Offer legal advice, technical support and mentoring to the Community Based Organizations and partners of PLA to leverage community access to legal aid services
- Work in liaison with program staff and provide legal advice and legal awareness to the communities.
- Create awareness to PLA’s target group through use of SMS, Media and ICT
- Enter data in the PLA Legal aid services information system.
- Attend staff meetings and represent the organization at meetings and workshops.
- Assign clerk documents for service, cases for filing and fixing hearing dates and ensure that a weekly report is provided.
- Stay abreast with contemporary and emerging issues of vulnerable and marginalised workers including precedents, ILO and UN Conventions, African Commission and the East African Community and prepare briefs.
- Compile and send analytical weekly, monthly and yearly reports taking cognisance of gender, nature of claims reported and action taken.
- Maintain a record of complaints received and action taken and follow up of cases/disputes handled.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual work plan and file time sheets to supervisor
- Update and manage the clients’ database on a regular basis.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The candidates for the Legal Officer vacancy should hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
- Admitted, or eligible to be admitted, as an advocate of the High Court of Uganda
- Good knowledge and understanding of issues of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
- Past exposure and experience working with disadvantaged groups is an added advantage.
- Proven ability to manage and exercise responsibility of a large number of files and case load.
- Proven experience providing community education (sensitisation, awareness raising, workshops, seminars, trainings) and responding to and supporting community initiatives, including using gender mainstreaming approaches;
- Significant experience working within a legal aid service provider.
- Excellent analytical and empathetic skills, creativity and innovation.
- Ability to adopt to PLA’s values of professionalism, commitment to work, transparency and accountability, team work, respect for Human Rights and zero tolerance of corruption.
- Past experience working with NGOs or development organizations shall be an added advantage.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution skills .
- Negotiation and mediation skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Excellent computer skills.
- Strong team work skills.
- Excellent time and project management skills and attention to detail.
- Possess the ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Keen interest in and knowledge of labour related laws.
Languages: Thorough knowledge of English and Luganda are mandatory; working knowledge of Swahili and Langi , Lusoga is a distinct advantage.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their applications in writing, including a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, and three references to [email protected] or [email protected] via E-mail;
The handwritten applications can be delivered to Plot 68 Kanjokya Street, Kamwokya P.O Box 9714, Kampala – Uganda
Deadline: 13th October, 2014
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