3 Diploma Jobs – Legal Caseworker – ALIGHT

Job Title:  Legal Caseworker (3 Diploma NGO Jobs)

Organisation: ALIGHT

Duty Station: Yumbe, Rhino Camp and Adjumani, Uganda

About the Company:

ALIGHT, formerly the American Refugee Committee (ARC), is an international non-profit, non-sectarian organization that has provided humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries over the last 40 years. In 2011, Alight helped nearly 2.5 million people get essential services to regain their health and take back control of their lives. Alight works with its partners and constituencies to provide opportunities and expertise to communities of refugees and internally displaced persons in seven countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, including Iraq, Kosovo, and in the Darfur region of Sudan and is currently providing for emergency relief and recovery in Haiti. Alight provides shelter, clean water and sanitation, health care, skills training, microcredit education, protection to help survivors of war and natural disasters to rebuild their lives with dignity, health care, security and self-sufficiency.

Job Summary:   The Legal Caseworker will be responsible for providing support in the implementation of legal activities in the Legal sector. He/she will be responsible for conducting legal information sessions, legal case management and follow ups, detention facility visits, awareness creation on rights and obligations of refugees under Ugandan Laws. She/he will work with communities particularly Paralegals to ensure access to legal assistance is accessible by all. You will be part of an integrated protection team, working on issues on general protection and sexual and gender based violence issues.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor prisons within or around the Refugee settlement monthly in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders to interview imprisoned asylum seekers and/or refugees to establish reasons for their imprisonment and offer legal counseling. A report shall be submitted to the Donor on all imprisoned asylum seekers and/or refugees;
• Liaise closely with other implementing partners and ALIGHT program Services staff on reported cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) to ensure these incidents have been reported to the police in the settlement, and they have been followed up with district police, and actions have been taken to lead to prosecution;
• Conduct training and provide legal advice to refugees and asylum seekers in Nakivale in liaison with relevant local authorities as necessary on their rights and obligations in Uganda, importance of obtaining documentations from relevant national authorities such as birth certificates for the newly born children, marriage certificates, death certificate, and custody documentations; liaise with relevant local authorities as necessary to facilitate the issuance of these documents to the Donor’s persons of concern.
• Work closely with the GBV and CP sectors to ensure linkages and referrals are done in a safe, effective and timely manner.
• Conduct legal information sessions on the key laws of Uganda, Ugandan justice system, refugee rights and obligations, common offences and their punishments.
• Receive & register LPP clients at the protection desks.
• Support in interviewing clients and witnesses and prepare relevant reports and Notes for Files (NFFs).
• Accompany clients to record statements at police.
• Provide support in basic Legal & Psychosocial counseling for clients.
• Keep clients updated by communicating case progress.
• Provide, submit or make reports on any legal related issues in their communities/clusters on a daily, weekly and monthly basis depending on the urgency and priority.
• Collaborating with the RWC leaders, Community Legal Volunteers, police & other partners during case reporting, referrals, and follow up.
• To Duly follow and abide by the country’s laws & policies while carrying out their obligations/duties in the community.
• Immediate reporting of cases as and when they occur without discrimination.
• Identification of “danger zones” or “hotspots” within the community where most of the crimes i.e. protection legal vices mainly occur.
• Observe the code of conduct of Alight at the community as not and when at work.
• Support activities that build awareness on Ugandan laws, refugee rights, obligations& justice system within the community for prevention commission of crimes.
• Mobilize communities, identify, acknowledge and discuss local legal related protection issues through community dialogues/sensitization, door to door approach & peer to peer support groups.
• Ensure accessibility to legal services/remedies is visible within the community and that persons of concern know where to seek for help/guidance if they experience or become aware of any legal related concern e.g. through Alight legal sector, the refugee helpline 0800323232, police, the referral pathways, etc.
• Be a focal point within the community, through whom legal services/remedies can be accessed & brought nearer to the POCs, safely report cases of abuse, request information on services available and referral pathways without conflict of interest.
• Engaging with communities at the grassroots level to help address the root causes of increased crimes such as physical assault, early marriages, domestic violence, etc. and increase vigilance at the community level. An empowered community group can be very influential in changing community practices and putting in place prevention systems.
• Work closely and monitor the Paralegal community based workers in identification and follow up of cases at the community level.
• Establish contacts and empower community based structures through regular meetings so as to effect community based protection approach.
• Work and manage sector budget- quality implementation and spending.
• Participate in external meetings aimed at promoting access to justice for refugees and legal assistance such as district coordination committee meetings, Zonal meetings involving Donor, OPM and partners.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of a Degree in Law from a recognized University.
• At least 3 years’ working experience in a similar field.
• Previous exposure and experience in representing clients before any Quasi-Judicial and other governing bodies.
• Previous experience in engaging with key partners on legal-related issues.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• In addition to written and spoken English, fluency in Local Languages is an asset
• Experience of riding a motorcycle and having a valid riding permit is a MUST.

How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested applicants should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 19th March 2025

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