Legal Officer at RefuSHE

Position Summary

• The Legal Officer will support in delivering essential legal services to refugee clients, especially girls and young women, who are survivors of displacement, violence, and trauma. The role involves assisting with case management, conducting legal research, and liaising with various stakeholders to advocate for the rights of refugees and other vulnerable individuals. The Legal Officer will also provide legal expertise and support for the organization’s functions, management, compliance, and board correspondence.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Research and Documentation: 
• Conduct research on relevant national and international laws, including refugee rights, immigration policies, and gender-based violence statutes.
• Facilitate legal referrals to partner organizations and assist in coordinating support services, such as documentation, psychosocial counselling or medical assistance.
• Assist in monitoring and analysing legal developments that affect refugees in Kenya.
• Prepare briefs, minutes, resolutions and reports, ensuring compliance with legal standards.
• Draft and review legal documents, correspondence, Memorandums of Understanding and contracts for the organization.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy: 
• Liaise with government bodies, UN agencies, and other non-governmental organizations to support case advocacy and coordination. 
• Participate in community outreach initiatives, raising awareness of legal rights among refugees and vulnerable populations. 
• Represent RefuSHE in meetings, conferences, or legal aid networks, as required, to advance the organization's advocacy goals.
• Training and Capacity Building for clients and community members: 
• Assist in organizing and conducting legal rights workshops for clients, staff, and community members.
• Participate in organizing and facilitating legal awareness sessions for beneficiaries on topics such as their rights, legal processes, and available services
• Design the clinics to include both group sessions and one-on-one consultations 
• Support the development of training materials on refugee rights, gender-based violence, and other relevant topics. 
• Implement a system for follow-up consultations to ensure participants receive ongoing support for their legal issues. 
• Maintain detailed records of consultations and outcomes to track progress and identify any recurring legal challenges. 
• Conduct awareness campaigns to inform participants about the availability and benefits of the legal clinics.
• Periodic awareness creation and training staff on organization policies:
• Development of training materials 
• Conducting regular training sessions for all staff members, including new hires and existing employees. 
• Regularly update staff on any changes or new policies through emails, newsletters, and internal communication platforms 
• Implement assessments to evaluate staff understanding of the policies.
•  Contribute to identification of legal and advocacy gaps and corresponding mitigation measures:
• Conduct needs assessments to understand the legal and advocacy needs of program participants and analyse data from needs assessments to pinpoint specific gaps in legal protection, representation, and advocacy effort, where participants' needs are not being met. 
• Formulate strategies to address identified gaps, ensuring they are practical, sustainable, and aligned with organizational goals. 
• Propose new initiatives, programs, or policy changes to enhance legal support and advocacy efforts.
• Work with relevant departments and partners to implement the proposed mitigation strategies. 
• Ensure that new initiatives are integrated into existing programs and that staff are trained to support these efforts. 
• Establish metrics and indicators to monitor the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures. 
• Prepare detailed reports on identified gaps, proposed mitigation measures, and their outcomes, and share findings and recommendations with Interim Country Manager and other stakeholders to inform decision-making and policy development.
• Administrative Support:
• Manage scheduling, correspondence, and record-keeping, ensuring that Interim Country Manager’s calendars are organized and that all communications are handled efficiently.
• Assist in preparing, filing, and organizing Interim Country Manager’s Office documents, ensuring that all they are easily accessible and properly stored.
• Additional Responsibilities:
• Other duties as assigned to support the mission and goals of RefuSHE.

Qualifications & Skills

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, paralegal studies, or a related field; relevant certifications in refugee law or human rights are advantageous.

Experience:

• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in legal assistance, or similar role; experience working with refugees or vulnerable populations preferred.

Knowledge:

• Familiarity with Kenyan legal and judicial systems, international human rights, and refugee law; knowledge of protection frameworks and gender-based violence policies