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Job Title:  Legal Assistant – Complementary Pathways  

Organisation: Finn Church Aid (FCA)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports To: Regional Manager Complementary Pathways

About Organisation:

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s largest international aid organization. We operate in 12 countries, where the needs are most dire. We work with the poorest people, regardless of their religious beliefs, ethnic background or political convictions. FCA work is based on promotion of human dignity and fundamental human rights and freedom, and FCA’s operations are guided by equality, non-discrimination and responsibility. FCA specializes in three thematic priority areas:  Right to Peace (R2P), Right to Livelihood (R2L), and Right to Quality Education (R2QE). In Uganda, FCA works across multiple sectors, including education, peace, and livelihood in both humanitarian and development.

Job Summary:   The Legal Assistant – Complementary Pathways is responsible for providing legal and procedural support for Complementary Pathways activities, with a particular focus on Education Scholarships, Labour Mobility and Family Reunification as Areas of Responsibility (AOR). This includes offering legal counselling, preparing statutory declarations, supporting litigation processes where necessary, and assisting candidates in navigating legal and administrative requirements for international migration. The Legal Assistant ensures procedural compliance, maintains the integrity of candidate submissions, and addresses legal barriers to migration, all while collaborating with stakeholders such as FCA, TBB, UNHCR, OPM, protection partners, and refugee leadership.

Additionally, the Legal Assistant plays a critical role in maintaining high ethical standards, safeguarding candidate rights, and monitoring progress against project targets in accordance with the project description and budget provisions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:   

• Provide legal counselling to candidates regarding Complementary Pathways opportunities, eligibility criteria, and procedural requirements.
• Advise candidates on the legal implications of migration processes, including rights, obligations, and documentation requirements.
• Offer legal support for refugees applying for family reunification, skilled migration, or other pathways.
• Assist with preparing and filing legal documents, including statutory declarations, affidavits, and applications for family reunification and Labour Mobility programs.
• Collaborate with legal counsel to support litigation or advocacy efforts on behalf of refugee candidates facing barriers to migration.
• Draft, proofread, and review legal correspondence, contracts, and agreements related to Complementary Pathways.
• Conduct intake assessments and maintain accurate records of all candidate submissions, ensuring adherence to established procedures and ethical standards.
• Monitor cases through all stages of the pathway, ensuring compliance with national and international legal frameworks.
• Provide support for cases involving bio-data changes, document verification, and appeals.
• Liaise with FCA, TBB, UNHCR, and other partners to ensure the effective implementation of legal procedures for Complementary Pathways candidates.
• Coordinate with field focal points, refugee leadership, and protection partners to identify candidates and address legal challenges.
• Conduct community outreach to disseminate information about legal aspects of Complementary Pathways, including family reunification and skilled migration opportunities.
• Organize and facilitate legal workshops or awareness sessions to prepare candidates for their migration journeys.
• Prepare detailed reports on legal activities, case progress, and barriers encountered during implementation.
• Contribute to safeguarding efforts by identifying and mitigating risks of fraud, exploitation, and abuse within the pathways program.
• Ensure strict compliance with safeguarding policies, Core Humanitarian Standards, and legal frameworks.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for interviews, orientations, and pre-departure formalities.
• Support the process of Equating Academic documents of foreign students by guiding on legal produces including affidavits and statutory declarations.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Legal Studies, or a related field from a recognized institution
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in legal aid, migration law, refugee protection, or related fields. Experience in family reunification, case management, or international migration processes is an asset
• Competencies: Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Organizational awareness
• Excellent Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration.
• Basic understanding of humanitarian approaches and standards.
• Model child safeguarding standards and ensures others involved in the project do as well
• Excellent communication skills both written and spoken

How to Apply:  

Please apply by using the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 31st January 2025.

NB:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• FCA practices zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse, including child abuse in all forms. FCA has zero tolerance concerning aid diversion and illegal actions and may screen applicants against international lists to ensure due diligence and compliance with Anti-money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism requirements.
• FCA is certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS).
• Finn Church Aid is committed to keeping children safe at all times & all levels of its program operations, so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from all forms of abuses. Employment is subject to our Child protection standards, adherence to Child Safeguarding Policy, PSEA including background checks.
• FCA does not charge any kind of fee at whichever stage of the recruitment process and does not act through recruitment agents.

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