Legal Assistant job at Barefoot Law

Area of Responsibility

Kampala/Namutumba, Gulu, Kitgum and Mbale

Reports to

Senior Legal Officer

About BarefootLaw

BarefootLaw is a Ugandan-founded nonprofit which believes that for a society to thrive, people must be able to fully exercise and enjoy their rights. Bridging barriers to accessing legal information and services is foundational to building peaceful communities in which people can thrive.

Since 2013, we have used digital technology and community outreach to help people across Africa overcome barriers to accessing legal information and services.

To advance this mission, BarefootLaw seeks a qualified, experienced Legal Assistant to support operations and help promote access to justice for underserved and marginalised communities in Uganda.

About the project

BarefootLaw (BFL) and Penal Reform International (PRI) are implementing Promoting Justice for Peaceful Thriving Communities, a four-year project supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands that seeks to advance a just, peaceful, and inclusive society where people can access justice and thrive.

The project aims to reach 50,000 people with legal information, legal services, rehabilitation and reintegration support by 2030. The intervention tackles limited legal awareness, inaccessible justice services, unresolved disputes, insecure land rights, and barriers faced by women in conflict with the law. It combines community-based and digital legal information, BarefootLaw Boxes, mediation, legal consultations and representation, institutional engagement, and rehabilitation and reintegration support.

Purpose of the role

The Legal Assistant will provide specialised legal services under the EKN/Justice for Peace Project, working through the BarefootLaw Box offices to deliver legal information, legal consultations and mediation to underserved and marginalised communities in the assigned area of responsibility.

Key responsibilities

• Provide specialised legal services under the EKN/Justice for Peace Project and support other related legal activities within the organisation.
• Conduct legal consultations and provide legal guidance to underserved communities.
• Facilitate physical and virtual mediation sessions at BarefootLaw Box offices.
• Prepare legal documents, opinions, content and other relevant materials within the scope of the role.
• Conduct legal research and write articles for publication.
• Organise, attend and participate in legal trainings, community outreaches and sensitisation activities as part of the organisation’s programmes.
• Identify and document key legal challenges affecting underserved communities in Uganda.
• Respond to legal inquiries received through the organisation’s various platforms.
• Prepare clear and accessible legal information for dissemination to communities and relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare reports on field activities, including legal consultations, mediation sessions, trainings and community outreaches.
• Perform any other duties or assignments related to the role as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Working relationships

The Legal Assistant will report to the Senior Legal Officer and will work with BarefootLaw colleagues, project partners including Penal Reform International (PRI), community members and relevant local stakeholders.

Qualifications and experience

Mandatory requirements

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognised university.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre.
• Professional legal experience of at least 1-3 years of legal practice.
• Proficiency in the local language(s) of the area of responsibility, as set out in the language table below.
• Demonstrated interest in technology, digital innovation and the use of technology to improve access to justice.

Desirable (added advantage)

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders and the community.
• Self-driven, with a commitment to continuous learning.

Language requirement by area of responsibility

Safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection

The Legal Assistant will handle client information in strict confidence and in line with applicable data protection requirements and BarefootLaw policies. BarefootLaw maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and the post holder is bound by BarefootLaw’s Code of Conduct.

• Provide specialised legal services under the EKN/Justice for Peace Project and support other related legal activities within the organisation.
• Conduct legal consultations and provide legal guidance to underserved communities.
• Facilitate physical and virtual mediation sessions at BarefootLaw Box offices.
• Prepare legal documents, opinions, content and other relevant materials within the scope of the role.
• Conduct legal research and write articles for publication.
• Organise, attend and participate in legal trainings, community outreaches and sensitisation activities as part of the organisation’s programmes.
• Identify and document key legal challenges affecting underserved communities in Uganda.
• Respond to legal inquiries received through the organisation’s various platforms.
• Prepare clear and accessible legal information for dissemination to communities and relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare reports on field activities, including legal consultations, mediation sessions, trainings and community outreaches.
• Perform any other duties or assignments related to the role as may be assigned by the supervisor.

• Proficiency in the local language(s) of the area of responsibility
• Demonstrated interest in technology, digital innovation and the use of technology to improve access to justice
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders and the community
• Self-driven, with a commitment to continuous learning

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognised university.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre.
• Proficiency in Acholi for Gulu and Kitgum, Lusoga for Namutumba, or Lugisu and Lumasaba for Mbale, written and spoken.