ThaiNGO

About Asylum Access

Asylum Access believes it’s time to put power back in the hands of people who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries. 

Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. By supporting refugees as they assert their rights, we help restore their power and agency. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and empowers them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

This position will work under the legal team. The legal team is responsible for providing legal services to refugees. The goal of legal services is to make sure refugees have access to justice and get  necessary support for them to present their refugee claim  under the status determination process. Refugees should be able to live safely  while in the country of asylum.  Lastly we provide relevant information so that refugees have, and can make decisions, on the choices of long-term solutions.

Position Description

The Legal Officer works under the supervision of the Legal Solutions Manager (LSM).  The Legal Officer assists the LSM and Legal Solutions Team in providing legal assistance to certain refugee populations in Thailand. The Legal Officer acts as legal representative of clients when engaging with the justice system for protection and long term legal solutions (LTLS) purposes.

The Legal Officer also assists the Executive Director and AAT’s Policy Advocacy team in providing relevant information for policy advocacy, as well as liaising with the Community Outreach (CO) Team to ensure that refugees receive useful training that CO Team may organize.

Key Responsibilities

Case Management and Legal Assistance  (80%):

• Maintain good working knowledge of guidelines, processes and procedures of international and local refugee status screening mechanisms;
• Provide legal advice and conduct legal information sessions to clients on LTLS options (Group/Individual);
• Provide full legal representation where appropriate.  Functions related to legal  representation include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • Screen, identify and prioritize clients for LTLS referral;
  • Preparation of written statements 
  • Assisting in the drafting of legal arguments/submissions 
  • Obtaining documents to aid client cases such as witness statements, medical reports, etc. 
  • Preparation of clients for LTLS opportunities  
  • Follow-up on the status of client cases with relevant stakeholders  

• Provide legal assistance on refugee status determination (RSD) process under UNHCR,  Thai authorities (National Screening Mechanism - when available) and long term legal solutions

• Undertake country of origin research to assist with claims as well as for general organizational research purposes; maintain knowledge of current political and social situation in the countries of origin of AAT's clients;
• Undertake comprehensive case management practices, including maintaining database records and keeping detailed notes of all case work activities;
• Provide legal assistance on safety and security issues [Protection] ie arrest and detention, sexual abuse, domestic violence, child protection.
• Facilitate strategic litigation on immigration charges focus to venerable group, i.e. children, women
• Produce relevant/useful document in the language of the clients
• Adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, AAT Code of Conduct, policies, and manuals.

Relationship Building and Networking (15%)

• Build and maintain relationships with staff, operational partners and external network to ensure the smooth running of the project;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with asylum seeker and refugee communities  

Policy Advocacy(5%)

• Assist AAT’s Executive Director and Policy Advocacy Team in providing evidence-based policy advocacy  
• Any other work as assigned by the supervisor.

Reports to:  Legal Solutions Manager

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated working experience or demonstrated knowledge of the refugee context and framework internationally and in Thailand;
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills;
• Strong initiative and ability to take ownership of projects, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively with a high attention to detail; 
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Powerpoint and Google Slides;
• Intermediate working knowledge of Gmail, Google Drive, and related tools (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.);
• Ability to speak and write fluent English and Thai is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduated from law school or equivalent;
• At least 2 years of experience in legal case management, especially case intake interview, and case monitoring
• Experienced in working with human rights and refugees’ issues.

Salary and Benefits

The Legal Officer will receive a monthly payment of TBH 35,000 per month. 

Hours and Location of Work

The Legal Officer is a one-year contract position based in our offices in Bangkok, Thailand, working 40 hours a week. Due to COVID-19 situation in Thailand, the Legal Officer will work from home until the office announces otherwise.  Candidates should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take off-hour calls and meetings with clients, and different networks. 

How to Apply:

Please send a motivation letter, resume, and a legal writing sample (between 2 - 3 pages).  Also, please state the dates you can be expected to be available. To apply , visit Here

Due to the high volume of applications, Asylum Access is unable to respond to each applicant individually. Only those applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. Please no phone calls or visits. 

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.