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 Protection Legal Officer 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, referrals and communications with various external parties. Clients include those who fall under and outside UNHCR’s mandate.  

​​Key Responsibilities

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

Case Management (80%):

• Conduct pre-screening 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, particularly related to immigration-related arrests and bails, deportations, domestic and sexual and gender based violence, and security concerns involving domestic and foreign government authorities, including on an emergency, walk-in basis, as on-call legal advisor;
• Pro-actively conduct follow-ups with clients on protection matters;
• Provide full legal representation and short services for protection matters; this includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Preparing client and witness statements, legal arguments/submissions and supporting documents for client cases;
  • Advising clients on Thai law, legal processes and interviews;
  • Visiting and assisting clients at police stations, immigration offices, IDCs and courts;  and 
  • Working with external lawyers to represent clients in Thai court proceedings.
• Share responsibility for answering the protection phone outside office hours, to respond to emergency protection requests; 
• Identify cases appropriate for special consideration by UNHCR, draft and submit inquiries to UNHCR within and outside the monthly correspondence system with UNHCR, and cross-check between the client and UNHCR where required;
• Assess clients’ legal needs and extra-legal needs that AAT cannot fulfill, identify organizations who may be able to assist on these needs, liaise with these organizations, refer clients to these organizations and document these organizations’ areas of assistance as part of record-keeping at AAT;
• Liaise with other members of the Legal Team wherever warranted (e.g. RSD, SIO);
• Undertake comprehensive case management practices, including maintaining personal case tracker, database records and keeping detailed notes of all case work activities;
• Attend and contribute to team policies, procedures, meetings and other trainings and orientations as required;
• Adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, and AAT Code of Conduct, policies, and manuals; and

• Other relevant work as assigned by supervisor.

Coordination Support (10%):

• Build and maintain relationships with staff, operational partners and the Thai legal profession to ensure smooth running of operations and enable referrals;
• Attend and contribute to meetings relevant to AAT Protection Team’s work when required, such as UNHCR Protection Working Group, UNHCR Bail Coordination and RRLP pro bono lawyer meetings;
• Other relevant work as assigned by the supervisor.

VLAs Support (10%):

• Support Protection Team Lead by directly supervising and mentoring Protection Volunteer Legal Advisors (VLAs) by:
  • Monitoring VLAs’ workload and providing advice in case management;
  • Reviewing VLAs’ casework and providing case-specific advice;
  • Conducting introductory and on-going training, including job shadowing; and
  • Promoting self-care.

Reports to: Protection Team Lead

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 any of the following: 
  • International legal framework governing refugees;
  • Domestic refugee context in Thailand;
  • Thai domestic law, particularly criminal, immigration and employment law, as it relates to asylum seekers and refugees;
  • Protection concerns in Thailand;
  • Formal and community protection mechanisms in Thailand;
  • Social services and supports in Thailand;
• 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 communicate in Thai (as the position will require liaising with Thai organizations); and
• Ability to communicate in English (as English is the working language of UNHCR Thailand and AAT).

Beneficial Qualifications

• 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.

Instructions to Apply

Please send a motivation letter, resume, and portfolios at our BambooHR portal. 

https://asylumaccessco.bamboohr.com/careers/185?source=aWQ9MjI%3D

In your letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, and how this position with AAT fits into your career plans. Also, please state the dates you can be expected to be available.

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.