Asylum Access, a US-based international refugee
rights organization, is seeking an experienced legal advocate to serve as Legal
Services Coordinator or Director of Asylum Access-Tanzania. AATZ is affiliated
with Asylum Access’s Headquarters in San Francisco, and works in conjunction
with Asylum Access offices in Thailand and Ecuador. Asylum Access envisions a
world where refugees are seen as people with rights, not just people with
needs. Asylum Access believes that by empowering refugees to assert their human
rights, we can support the creation of effective, lasting solutions for
refugees around the world.
rights organization, is seeking an experienced legal advocate to serve as Legal
Services Coordinator or Director of Asylum Access-Tanzania. AATZ is affiliated
with Asylum Access’s Headquarters in San Francisco, and works in conjunction
with Asylum Access offices in Thailand and Ecuador. Asylum Access envisions a
world where refugees are seen as people with rights, not just people with
needs. Asylum Access believes that by empowering refugees to assert their human
rights, we can support the creation of effective, lasting solutions for
refugees around the world.
With a team of national and international
volunteers, our work is enriched by the enthusiasm, experience and knowledge of
our volunteers. Furthermore, through quarterly trainings our team is able to
realize the general objective of capacity building regarding refugee rights
advocacy on both the local and international level.
volunteers, our work is enriched by the enthusiasm, experience and knowledge of
our volunteers. Furthermore, through quarterly trainings our team is able to
realize the general objective of capacity building regarding refugee rights
advocacy on both the local and international level.
The ideal applicant will be a lawyer with substantive
knowledge of international human rights and refugee law, including client
counseling and advocacy, who is able to build relationships and adapt legal
strategies to fit new and/or challenging circumstances. The ideal applicant
will have experience training and managing staff and volunteers and managing
client services, and will be able to work in a diverse and cross-cultural
organization. Experience providing legal aid and Swahili language skills are
especially desirable. Fluent professional English is essential. French
preferable.
knowledge of international human rights and refugee law, including client
counseling and advocacy, who is able to build relationships and adapt legal
strategies to fit new and/or challenging circumstances. The ideal applicant
will have experience training and managing staff and volunteers and managing
client services, and will be able to work in a diverse and cross-cultural
organization. Experience providing legal aid and Swahili language skills are
especially desirable. Fluent professional English is essential. French
preferable.
Detailed Job Description:
Recruitment, training and supervision of legal
services staff
services staff
- Play the lead role, in cooperation with other
relevant staff, in recruiting and training volunteer legal advisors and
paid staff who will work in the legal services program. - Interview all potential volunteers at AATZ,
direct logistical issues in hiring new volunteers and staff, conduct
mid-term evaluations and exit interviews with volunteers, and meet weekly
with volunteers to discuss legal and personal matters regarding work. - Plan regular training sessions for new and
current volunteers and staff, preparing AATZ’s legal team to engage in
effective advocacy in national and international forums. - Assure that all contractual obligations are
adhered to and making the necessary contacts and efforts to ensure
implementation meets AA’s legal services targets. - Regularly appraise legal services staff and
provide feedback and support to enable them to do their jobs better.
Legal services management
- Supervise all individual legal services
offered by AATZ legal advisors and staff on refugee status determination
claims and access to rights processes. - Approve all written work leaving the office,
and providing detailed feedback to AATZ legal advocates on the quality of
their work. - Manage and develop AATZ’s case management
system, including intake, the assignment of cases, and ensuring diligent
service to clients. - Supervise and ensure compliance with the
‘Nairobi Code’ and any other applicable ethical standards. - Seek additional expertise as needed to ensure
high quality ethical service to AATZ clients. - Develop and maintain constructive relations
with key governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental players in
Tanzania in order to facilitate effective legal representation. - Develop criteria and mechanism for case-matter
selection in order to allocate scarce legal aid resources in the most
effective manner to fulfill AATZ’s mission. - Develop ideas and plans for more effective
delivery of legal aid to refugees in Tanzania. - Directly handle complex cases, such as cases
in which clients’ lives, health or freedom are in immediate danger
Advocacy, Leadership and Administration
- Identify, in conjunction with Country
Director, priorities for strategic litigation and policy advocacy. - Direct strategic litigation projects,
including planning overall strategies, drafting complaints, motions,
briefs, etc., argue cases in national and international forums, and
coordinate communication and implementation strategies. - Represent AATZ in meeting with government
officials, UNHCR, NGOs and other civil society actors. - Direct weekly team meetings and brief AATZ
team on new developments. - Serve as a resource to all staff and
volunteers, keeping abreast of international standards and innovations in
refugee and human rights law, particularly in areas that effect AATZ
clients, policy advocacy and strategic litigation initiatives - Ensure that information regarding legal
services is up to date in client database. - Update orientation packets, training
materials, legal services protocols and other office management documents.
Reporting
- Report regularly to the Country Director and
Headquarters on the scope, nature, quality and challenges of AATZ’s legal
services. - Any other tasks necessary and reasonable for
ensuring the provision of high quality and ethical legal aid to AATZ
clients.
Qualifications
Minimum required qualifications:
- Professionally fluent in spoken and written
English. Swahili extremely desirable. - Experienced lawyer or legal advocate with at
least 2 years of experience in human rights issues, preferably regarding
refugee rights. - Deep knowledge and understanding of refugee
law and context - Intimate understanding of International
Refugee Law, including the 1951 Convention, the 1969 OAU Convention, and
their respective interpretations. - Experience supervising legal staff or
volunteers from diverse cultural backgrounds in an international setting - Advanced university degree in law (LLB, LLM,
JD, LLD, SJD, Ab., etc) - Comfortable working with people of different
backgrounds and cultures - Ability to work full-time, in a deadline
driven, high-stress environment - Ability to understand and develop creative
responses to a rapidly changing political situation. - Willingness to do what is needed to achieve
Asylum Access’s goals - Enthusiastic about the mission, vision, and
approach of Asylum Access
Desired qualifications:
- Familiarity with United Nations Agencies,
especially UNHCR - Experience advising and representing refugees
in Refugee Status Determination Proceedings. - Experience advising and representing refugees
in asylum proceedings and/or access to rights assistance - Expertise in forced migration, refugee, and
asylum issues - Prior experience working in diverse
cross-cultural environments - Prior experience providing services directly
to clients and/or working with vulnerable populations - Prior experience with relationship-building,
fundraising, and management of funds
Salary
Asylum Access will offer a salary package that is
locally competitive and commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience
and qualifications.
locally competitive and commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience
and qualifications.
Organizational relationships
The LSC/D will report directly to the Country
Director. The LSC/D will be ultimately responsible for the progress of AATZ’s
Legal Services Program and will be accountable to Asylum Access Headquarters
(AAHQ) and Board on operational progress, problems and strategy. The LSC/D will
directly supervise all VLAs providing legal services for AATZ.
Director. The LSC/D will be ultimately responsible for the progress of AATZ’s
Legal Services Program and will be accountable to Asylum Access Headquarters
(AAHQ) and Board on operational progress, problems and strategy. The LSC/D will
directly supervise all VLAs providing legal services for AATZ.
As part of the general leadership team of AATZ, the
LSC/D will thus render advice to the Country Director and Headquarters on
budget and resource needs, especially those related to legal services. Under
the leadership of the Country Director or Headquarters, the LSC/D will assist
in fundraising efforts for AA and in developing new institutional relationships
or networks to benefit AA programs. The LSC/D will consult with the policy
manager on the development of policy advocacy initiatives, and may participate
in their implementation.
LSC/D will thus render advice to the Country Director and Headquarters on
budget and resource needs, especially those related to legal services. Under
the leadership of the Country Director or Headquarters, the LSC/D will assist
in fundraising efforts for AA and in developing new institutional relationships
or networks to benefit AA programs. The LSC/D will consult with the policy
manager on the development of policy advocacy initiatives, and may participate
in their implementation.
The LSC/D may be asked to carry out the functions
of the country director in his/her absence.
of the country director in his/her absence.
About Asylum Access
Asylum Access is a US-based international NGO dedicated
to making refugee rights a reality in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Asylum
Access achieves this mission through legal aid, community legal empowerment,
policy advocacy, and strategic litigation to refugees in first countries of
refuge. Globally, Asylum Access also advocates for improved implementation of
refugee rights and helps to foster the growing refugee rights movement
worldwide.
to making refugee rights a reality in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Asylum
Access achieves this mission through legal aid, community legal empowerment,
policy advocacy, and strategic litigation to refugees in first countries of
refuge. Globally, Asylum Access also advocates for improved implementation of
refugee rights and helps to foster the growing refugee rights movement
worldwide.
Asylum Access currently has offices in Tanzania,
Thailand, and Ecuador, as well as a headquarters in the US. We advocate within
each of these countries and with the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees in Geneva. Through our efforts, hundreds of thousands of refugees
around the world are able to enjoy their fundamental human rights and begin to
rebuild their lives. Read more at www.asylumaccess.org.
Thailand, and Ecuador, as well as a headquarters in the US. We advocate within
each of these countries and with the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees in Geneva. Through our efforts, hundreds of thousands of refugees
around the world are able to enjoy their fundamental human rights and begin to
rebuild their lives. Read more at www.asylumaccess.org.
How to apply:
To apply, please send a cover letter clearly
indicating required qualifications with a curriculum vitae, a writing sample,
contacts of three references, and any other information the applicant considers
relevant to apply@asylumaccess.org no later than March 5, 2013. Only candidates
pre-selected for interviews will be contacted.
indicating required qualifications with a curriculum vitae, a writing sample,
contacts of three references, and any other information the applicant considers
relevant to apply@asylumaccess.org no later than March 5, 2013. Only candidates
pre-selected for interviews will be contacted.
