Legal Fellow at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

Position Summary: 

HIAS seeks a Legal Fellow for the Spring and Summer of 2017 to provide support to its global refugee rights programs in Nairobi, Kenya. S/he conducts interviews with refugees, completes legal and country conditions research, provides other resettlement-related legal services, and increases HIAS’ capacity to prepare resettlement cases for direct submission to the US and Canada for resettlement. In addition, s/he assists with other resettlement-related activities, including case identification and review. The duration of this assignment is 6-12 months and the end date is to be determined, upon agreement between the fellow and the Resettlement Manager, whom s/he will report to. This position starts January 16th, 2017 and summer applicants are to be considered as well. Please be advised that there is no relocation or housing assistance provided for this position and it is an unpaid fellowship.

Essential Functions:

• Conducts interviews with refugees identified by UNHCR and HIAS partners to be in need of third country resettlement (including refugees who are survivors of torture or sexual and gender-based violence, those with serious medical conditions, unaccompanied children, single-parent heads of households, women most at risk, older refugees, sexual and gender minorities, and other refugees who meet refugee resettlement criteria).

• Prepares refugee case files to be submitted by HIAS to third countries for resettlement.
• Conducts legal research and analysis of refugee-related matters, including of country conditions in refugee-producing countries.
• Drafts memos and other legal documents in support of refugee resettlement claims.
• Follows the status of refugee clients’ resettlement cases and meets with them to provide updates.
• Maintains file management protocols, by entering case information in client database.
• Responds to inquiries from various internal and external stakeholders.
• Attends refugee-related meetings and conferences.
• Performs other tasks as necessary.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations or a related field; completion of at least two years of an advanced degree in law.
• Excellent research, writing and communication skills.
• Previous legal interviewing skills a plus, particularly with vulnerable persons.
• Familiarity with refugee law and resettlement programs preferred; knowledge of refugee crises and human rights issues in Africa preferred.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-agency team in a multicultural environment, with sensitivity to age, gender and diversity.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills; able to work in a fast paced environment.