Legal Assistant – Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA)

Job Title:       Legal
Assistant – Kyangwali
Organisation: Humanitarian
Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA)
Funding Source: UNHCR
Duty Station: Uganda
Reports to: Community
Service Officer
About US:
Humanitarian
Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is an international African humanitarian and
development organization that positively contributes towards improving the
living standards and conditions of those adversely affected by disasters and
conflict in the Horn, East & Central Africa by implementing WASH, Health,
Education, Livelihoods, Community service & development and Protection
programs in the region for a period of more than 20 years.
About UNHCR Project:
HIJRA with funding
from the UNHCR in Uganda is implementing a multi-sectoral Program for refugees
in Oruchinga settlement (Isingiro district), Nakivale settlement (Isingiro
district), Nyakabande Transit Center (Kisoro district) and Kyangwali Settlement
(Hoima District).
Job Summary:   The Legal Assistant provides specific legal
assistance to the assigned Legal officer and office in the provision of direct
legal support to victims of forced migration and in carrying out policy
advocacy on forced migration. The Legal Assistant has regular interaction with
clients, conducting sensitization on national and international laws regarding
refugees, providing legal counsel, and collaborates with the Judiciary, Police
and other stakeholders to ensure refugee protection.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
  • In relation to Legal protection, ensuring the protection of
    populations of concern is met through the application of the relevant
    UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles
  • Ensuring that protection incidents are immediately identified and
    addressed.
  • Ensure the people of concern have access to legal and fair hearing
    in court through court follow ups, prison monitoring etc.
  • Sensitize the Community and Local authorities on Refugee law and
    Human Rights relating to refugees and others persons of concern to UNHCR,
    in order to ensure that national legislation is in compliance with
    International Legal Standards.
  • Analytical reports of Legal protection related trends and issues are
    produced on a monthly and ad hoc basis
  • Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural
    developments that have an impact on Legal protection related issues
  • Actively promote International and National Law and applicable
    UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct
  • Assists in dealing with police concerning asylum-seekers and
    refugees to provide them protection to remain safely in country of asylum.
  • Provide follow up to court cases involving asylum seekers/refugees,
    visits judges, public prosecutors, and explains IC’s refugee status. If
    necessary arranges for a lawyer.
  • Advises on domestic legal issues including immigration and alien
    laws regarding asylum seekers/refugees.
  • Provide counseling to asylum seekers/refugees on their legal
    problems. Explain legislation and their status in order to act
    accordingly.
  • Advocate for legal aid services from the different legal aid service
    providers and Pro bono services from legal practitioners for the purpose
    of disposing of refugee cases at court
  • Assists in assessing welfare and providing assistance to the refugee
    caseload in prisons.
  • Compiles monthly statistics of refugees in various prisons in the
    region.
  • Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of legal
    related activities within the newly established protection response
    framework
  • Providing capacity building to RWCs and community members.
  • From time to undertake any other duty assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The ideal candidate for the HIJRA Legal Assistant job
    opportunity must hold a degree in Law (with specialization in criminal or human
    rights or any other related comparable line of specialization in law)
  • Two years of work experience in the same field of development and
    humanitarian work and NGOs’.
  • Ability to produce high-quality legal documentation.
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills and the ability to
    interact with a number of different partners and contacts, including
    governmental authorities, UNHCR, victims and their families etc.
  • Strong communication and mediation skills
  • Strong judgments skills are also a necessity
  • Ability to act ethically and make moral decisions
  • Sociable and open minded
  • A person who can keep confidential information
  • Broad working knowledge of the local law and be able to grasp new
    concepts with ease and accuracy
  • Good time management skills
  • Ability to speak more than one indigenous language would be
    desirable
How to Apply:
All suitably
qualified and interested candidates should send an application letter and
Curriculum Vitae including telephone and email contacts of three referees
including your current/most recent employer.
Application should
be addressed to the:
Country Program
Manager,
Humanitarian
Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA),
P.O. Box 37703,
Kampala, Uganda.
Email to: vacancies.ug@hijra.or.ke.
The subject line should read: “Legal Assistant”
NB: Please
note that interviews will be done on a rolling basis given the urgency of the
positions.
Deadline: 15th February 2019
For more of the
latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or
find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline  

Related Jobs