Legal Advisor (alrp-mae Sot)

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks

Legal Advisor, ALRP, Mae Sot

Legal Services Team

About Asylum Access

We are human rights advocates who support forcibly displaced individuals and communities as they reclaim their rights, agency and power. 

Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and equips them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

The Legal Services Team at Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive legal support and assistance to refugees. The primary responsibilities of this team include:

• Ensuring refugees have access to justice and protection: The Legal Services Team works to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees by facilitating their access to legal remedies and safeguards.
• Supporting refugees during the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) process: The team provides essential guidance and support to refugees navigating the complex RSD procedures, helping them navigate the system effectively.
• Informing refugees about the National Screening Mechanism (NSM): The Legal Services Team is responsible for educating refugees about the NSM, its processes, and their rights and options within this framework.

The Legal Services Team is overseen by the Legal Services Coordinator and includes the team of Legal Status, Protection,  Interpreter and Paralegal, Screening and Intake, and  Volunteer Legal Advocates.

Advancing Legal Rights Protection for New Refugees Project (ALRP) is a project under the Protection Team, aiming to contribute to, protect and expand the rights of new refugees in Mae Sot District, Tak province, Thailand, especially those who fled because of exercising their basic rights and freedoms. To that end, the key interventions include providing legal assistance, training community members as paralegals and community representatives, and advocating for improved protections.

Position Description

Under the guidance of the AAT Protection Team Lead, the Legal Advisor will be responsible for providing legal assistance to the new refugee populations in the Mae Sot District, and other nearby areas in Tak Province of Thailand. The Legal Advisor acts as legal representative of clients when engaging with the justice system for the protection and expansion of the rights of new refugees. Key duties include researching the law and consulting with AAT partners to provide clients with legal advice; enabling access to safety and basic needs coverage through advice, networking and referrals; and conducting group legal clinics in collaboration with and following training of community paralegals. The area to be cover are:

Key Responsibilities

Case Management and Legal Assistance  (70%):

• Conduct intake and screening interviews for, and provide individualized legal advice and assistance to, refugee clients facing protection concerns and issues involving Thai law (depending on urgency of the matter, advice may need to be provided on a walk-in basis, as on-call legal advisor);
• Undertake research on country of origin information (COI) to determine refugee claim and assess credibility, and for general research purposes;
• Conduct group workshops for clients on long-term legal solutions, protection issues and Thai law;
• Provide full legal representation and short services for clients facing protection concerns and issues involving Thai law . This may include (but is not limited to):
  • Preparing client and witness statements, including reviewing and providing feedback on client-drafted statements;
  • Drafting legal case materials;
  • Obtaining documents to support client cases such as witness statements, medical reports, etc.;
  • Preparing clients for and accompanying clients to interviews;
  • Following-up with external organizations on the status of client cases;
  • Representing and visiting clients in Immigration Detention Centers; and
  • Accompanying clients to the courts or police stations.
• Identify cases appropriate for special consideration by UNHCR and undertake inquiries to UNHCR;
• In the course of undertaking legal assistance, briefly identify clients’ extra-legal needs (e.g. education, financial assistance, housing, healthcare), and refer clients to external organizations working in these areas to ensure these needs are met;
• Undertake comprehensive case management practices, including maintaining database records and keeping detailed notes of all case work activities;
• Maintain good working knowledge of relevant guidelines, processes and procedures;
• Maintain good working knowledge of current political and social situation in Country of origin;
• Assist in developing and implementing team policies and procedures;
• Assist in developing and maintaining data collection and trends analysis;
• Attend and contribute to team meetings and other trainings and orientations as required; and
• Adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, and AAT Code of Conduct, policies, and manuals.

Relationship Building, Networking, Advocacy and Training Support (30%):

• Support the Executive Director  in:

  • Policy and advocacy efforts on issues affecting new refugees, via domestic networks and international human rights mechanisms;
  • Developing and delivering training modules for community paralegals;

• Build and maintain strong relationships with staff and operational partners to ensure smooth running of operations;

• Build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Mae Sot, and facilitate communication of accurate information so as to enable the fulfillment of refugee rights; and

• Other work as assigned by the supervisor.

Reporting to: 

AAT Protection Team Lead

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated working experience or demonstrated knowledge of the refugee context and framework internationally and in Thailand;

• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills;

• Strong initiative and ability to take ownership of projects, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively with a high attention to detail;

• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Powerpoint and Google Slides;

• Intermediate working knowledge of Gmail, Google Drive, and related tools (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.);

• Ability to speak and write fluent English and Thai is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduated from law school or equivalent;

• At least 2 years of experience in legal case management, especially case intake interview, and case monitoring

• Experienced in working with human rights and refugees’ issues.

Salary and Benefits

The legal advisor will receive a monthly payment of THB 25,000-30,000 per month, health insurance and vacation and other leave days.

Hours and Location of Work

The legal advisor is a full-time, one-year contract position based in our office in Mae Sot, Thailand, working 40 hours a week.  Candidates should be aware that travel to Bangkok or other provinces in Thailand is required from time to time and some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take off-hour calls and meetings with clients, and different networks. 

Application Instructions to Candidates

Upload your resume and a cover letter via Asylum Access online portal BambooHR.  In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, preferred start date, and how you learned about the position. 

Deadline of application: until the position is filled and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.

For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org.