ThaiNGO

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Legal Officer, Protection 

About Asylum Access

We are human rights advocates who support forcibly displaced individuals and communities as they reclaim their rights, agency and power. 

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. 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

The Legal Team primarily provides legal services to refugees, ensuring that they have access to justice, get necessary support during the refugee status determination (RSD) process and have  information on  Long Term Legal Solutions (LTLS). The Legal Team is overseen by the Protection Program Coordinator and includes the RSD and Protection Team Leads, RSD and Protection Officers, RSD and Protection VLAs, Screening and Intake Officers, Interpreter and Paralegal Coordinator, Interpreters and Paralegals.

Position Description

Under the guidance of the Protection Program Coordinator and the Protection Team Lead, the The Legal Officer, Protection is responsible for managing cases with protection concerns, by identifying protection issues, providing legal advice and enabling access to safety and basic needs coverage through advice and referrals. Clients include those who fall under and outside UNHCR’s mandate. The Protection and Paralegal Officer is also responsible for supporting the development and implementation of Asylum Access Thailand’s (AAT) community paralegal program, made up of paralegals from refugee communities in Bangkok. 

​​Key Responsibilities

All responsibilities will be undertaken under the guidance and support of the Protection Program Coordinator and Protection Team Lead.

Case Management (75%):

• Conduct intake and screening interviews for, and prioritize, clients seeking advice and referrals on protection matters;
• Identify protection concerns, determine relevant interventions and provide protection-related advice and advice on Thai immigration, criminal and other law in theory and practice, including on a walk-in basis, as on-call legal advisor;
• Represent and visit clients in Immigration Detention Centres (IDCs);
• Provide full legal representation and short services for protection matters.  This includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Preparing client and witness statements;
  • Drafting legal arguments/submissions;
  • Obtaining documents to support client cases such as witness statements, medical reports, etc.;
  • Advising clients on interviews;
  • Representing and visiting clients in IDCs; and
  • Accompanying clients to the courts or police stations.
• Identify cases appropriate for special consideration by UNHCR, draft inquiries to be submitted through AAT’s weekly correspondence with UNHCR and cross-check between the client and UNHCR where required;
• Liaise with other members of the Legal Team regarding non-protection legal concerns (e.g. RSD, LTLS);
• Assess clients’ extra-legal needs, and work closely with AAT teams, UNHCR and external organizations, to ensure these needs are met;
• Undertake comprehensive case management practices, including maintaining database records and keeping detailed notes of all case work activities;
• Support Protection Team Lead in supervising Protection Volunteer Legal Advisors (VLAs) by:
  • Monitoring VLAs’ workload and providing advice and expertise in case management;
  • Reviewing VLAs’ casework and case-specific advice to ensure high quality legal advice and representation;
  • Conducting introductory and on-going training; 
  • Promoting self-care;
• Maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR guidelines, processes and procedures;
• Maintain good working knowledge of current political and social situation in clients’ countries of origin (COO);
• Assist in developing and implementing team policies and procedures;
• Assist in developing and maintaining data collection and trends analysis on protection services (to manage workload, improve services and for donor reporting);
• Attend and contribute to team meetings and other trainings/orientations as required; and
• Adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, and AAT Code of Conduct, policies, and manuals.

Paralegal Project Support (15%):

• Assist the Protection Team Lead in assessing, developing, monitoring and evaluating of the paralegal program to improve the program’s effectiveness in enabling fulfillment of refugee rights;
• Assist the Protection Team Lead in planning for and delivering regular trainings for interpreters and paralegals;
• Support community paralegals in planning for and delivering legal clinics to refugee communities;
• Liaise with the Interpreter and Paralegal Coordinator regarding the management of and professional development of interpreters and paralegals; and
• Assist in the maintenance of strong financial records and procedures as per AAT finance policies, including by ensuring proper financial documentation of all activities.

Relationship Building, Networking and Advocacy Support (10%):

• Support the Protection Program Coordinator and the Protection Team Lead in advocacy before UNHCR regarding protection processes;
• Build and maintain relationships with staff and operational partners to ensure smooth running of operations;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Bangkok, and facilitate communication of accurate information so as to enable the fulfillment of refugee rights;
• Support Executive Director and Policy Team in policy advocacy on issues affecting refugees and international human rights mechanisms; and
• Other work as assigned by supervisor.

Essential Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction; OR a bachelor’s degree in law, human rights, social work, development or another relevant subject; OR more than 2 years experience working in refugee matters, especially protection;
• Significant work experience in or detailed understanding of: the refugee context and framework in Thailand; OR the human rights or development field in Thailand;
• Significant work experience in or detailed understanding of: protection concerns in Thailand; OR social services and supports in Thailand; OR community paralegal programs and community protection mechanisms;
• Significant work experience in or detailed understanding of Thai domestic law in relation to protection concerns;
• Demonstrated ability to work with people in vulnerable situations (such as survivors of crime, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), torture, trafficking, trauma, and/or those facing food insecurity, homelessness, lack of medical care and/or lack of safe and dignified employment);
• Strong client interview, analysis, drafting (of legal documents), advocacy, and written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to take initiative and ownership of cases and projects, proactively follow up, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively with a high attention to detail;
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Gmail, Google Drive and related tools (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.); 
• Ability to fluently speak and write in English (as English is the working language of UNHCR Thailand and AAT); and
• Thai national (as the position will require liaising with Thai organizations).

Beneficial Qualifications

• Experience working and reporting on projects financed by international donors and fulfilling project requirements;
• Experience designing, conducting and/or sourcing training  for non-technical audiences; and
• Experience working with interpreters and ensuring related professional and ethical standards are met.

Salary and Benefits

The Legal Officer, Protection will receive a monthly payment of THB 35,000 per month, health insurance and vacation and other leave days.

Hours and Location of Work

The Legal Officer, Protection is a full-time, one-year contract position based in our office in Bangkok, Thailand.  Candidates should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take calls and meetings with international colleagues outside of standard office hours.

To Apple, please go here https://asylumaccessco.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=94&source=aWQ9MjI%3D

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.

For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org.