Job Description
Vacancy name: Legal Officer
Region: Kenya
Hours: 40hrs a week
Reports to: Area Manager
Positions: Two (2)
Application Deadline: 3rd February 2023
ABOUT
JUSTICE DEFENDERS
Picture this: an
overcrowded and under-resourced prison full of men, women, or even children who
have not been found guilty. This is the case for three million people around the
world currently affected by the excessive use of pre-trial detention.
In many countries, suspects are detained in prison almost automatically once they are arrested. Whatever the offence. Some, yes, are guilty. Many are poor and unjustly targeted. At Justice Defenders, we want to see justice served; it’s vital for all of us. What we don’t want to see is people filling our prisons simply because there was no one to equip them to fight for justice.
Justice Defenders is a
registered UK charity and US nonprofit. Founded in 2007, we work across Africa,
training incarcerated people and prison officers to become paralegals. Our 35
prison-based legal offices in Uganda, Kenya, and The Gambia are run by more
than 300 paralegals. By equipping justice defenders to facilitate a just legal
process, we help ensure a fair hearing at the point of greatest need. As
everyone deserves the right to tell their story.
JOB
CONTEXT
The Justice Defenders
Kenya office is looking for a Legal Officer, under the guidance and supervision
of the Area Manager, who will assist in systematizing the legal aid support
provided by the paralegals in handling cases within the legal offices in the prisons.
Duties &
Responsibilities
- Offer
legal services to Justice Defenders clients in prisons.
- Support
and supervise prison-based paralegals in offering legal services.
- Support
in continuous training of paralegals.
- Manage
the legal office and ensure that the operations are effective and
efficient and that activities are well managed.
- Engage
as assigned in appropriate committees, working groups, and other
activities to maintain strong and productive external networks.
- Responsible
for ensuring that standards and quality of legal services delivery are
maintained and developed.
- Support
the Area Manager in creating training materials and manuals in order to
conduct necessary training and workshops required for the efficient and
effective implementation of activities in the legal offices.
- Lead
on the filing, follow-up, and recording of cases, to ensure timely
outcomes.
- Support
the research on relevant cases and other supporting authorities/material
required within the legal office.
- Support
in the carrying out of research to understand the current situation
including; the prevailing challenges in accessing justice in the project
sites; recommend changes and improvements, work with key influencers in
the prison service and in the community to inform the design of relevant
interventions to address identified gaps.
Qualifications and
experience
- An
honors Degree in Law from a recognized university.
- At
least three years experience in criminal law practice.
- Experience
in managing a team.
- Proven
research skills.
- Proficiency
in working with the Microsoft Office suite.
- Proven
ability to take initiative in developing relationships, initiatives, and
options for action that might benefit the charity’s drop-in clinics aims.
Key competencies and abilities
- Excellent communication
skills oral and report writing.
- Excellent
interpersonal & networking skills.
- Ability
to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability
to work under pressure and to make informed and accurate decisions.
- Focused
and goal-oriented.
- Flexibility,
openness, and broad-mindedness.
- Possess
professional maturity, sensitivity to different cultures, and impeccable
integrity that exemplify JDs’ values of Bravery, Humility & Solidarity.
How to Apply