ThaiNGO

DLA Piper is a global business law firm with over 4,000 lawyers in 80 offices. We are committed to using our resources to make a positive contribution to the communities in which we operate and to the protection of human rights around the world. As such, we have developed a vast international pro bono practice in parallel to our commercial work.

Our lawyers provide free legal support to individuals and non-profit organisations around the world.  One of the core focus areas of our pro bono practice is protecting the rights of refugees.

In this light, we have partnered with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to launch "Know Your Rights", a project aimed at empowering refugees in Thailand. Together, we will run this project for three months from January 2020 and refugees will receive training on various legal issues and their rights. 

In order to help us run the Know Your Rights project, we have created the position of Know Your Rights Project Officer located with IRC at Mae Sot in conjunction with our Bangkok office.

The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces.

DESCRIPTION

The Project Officer will be in charge of coordinating and developing the Know Your Rights project in Mae Sot. The successful applicant will:

Work with the IRC and DLA Piper to manage the training project for Community Legal Volunteers and refugee camp juridical bodies who will provide dispute resolution for the community and community-based assistants who will conduct legal awareness to general refugee population:

• Develop training materials with DLA Piper lawyers in collaboration with the IRC Protection Team.
• Test training materials and amend as required.
• Communicate and promote the project.
• Organize and follow-up in relation to the sessions.
• Provide translation during the sessions.
• Collect, document and report the progress of the training.
• Evaluate the project and prepare a report.

REQUIREMENTS

• Community legal volunteer, student or graduate in law or human rights.
• Demonstrated commitment to pro bono/access to justice/protection issues.
• Experience in preparing training projects.
• Experience in curriculum development and resource design.
• Teaching and presenting skills.
• Excellent legal, organizational, communication and project management skills.
• Strong English and Myanmar language (both written and oral), and if possible also proficient in Thai.
• Willingness to travel to the field and meet partners.
• Skilful user of MS Word, Outlook and Excel.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This position will be based in the IRC office, Mae Sot, working both inside and outside refugee camps, with occasional travel to Bangkok.
• This is a part time position (three days a week.) 
• The position will have a duration of approximately four months starting in January 2020 and ending in April 2020.
• Priority will be given to an applicant who is: (a) either is a refugee and/or migrant, or has been a former refugee and/or a migrant, and (b) an individual who is the beneficiary of humanitarian or international protection. The applicant must have the right to work in Thailand.
• The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the Senior Rule of Law and Legal Officer, IRC and the Pro Bono Counsel - Asia, DLA Piper.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send your CV (no more than two pages long) with the subject line "Know Your Rights Project Officer" and a cover letter or e-mail (no more than one page) to:

IRC Human Resources Department at Thailand.HR@rescue.org.

The cover letter should outline how you meet the specifications and why you would like to work with DLA Piper and IRC on this project.  Please send your application in English.

All applications will be treated confidentially and not returned. The IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or physical or mental disability. The IRC is an equal opportunity employer.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:       15 JANUARY 2020

Closing Date               :      19 April 2026 (11:59 PM, Bangkok Time)