Legal Services Programme Coordinator

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks

Legal Services Programme Coordinator in Bangkok, Thailand

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 Programme at Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive legal support and assistance to refugees in Bangkok and Mae Sot, Tak. The primary responsibilities of this programme include:

• Ensuring refugees have access to justice and protection: The Legal Services Programme works to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees by facilitating their access to legal remedies and safeguards.
• Supporting refugees during the Legal Status processes, including, Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and National Screening Mechanism (NSM) processes: The program provides essential guidance and support to refugees navigating the complex RSD and NSM procedures, helping them navigate the system effectively.
• Informing refugees about the legal status process, including but not limited to RSD and NSM: The Legal Services Programme Team is responsible for educating refugees about the processes and their rights and options within this framework.

The Legal Services Programme is overseen by the Legal Services Programme Coordinator and includes the Bangkok team of Legal Status, Protection, Interpreter and Paralegal, Screening and Intake, and Volunteer Legal Advocates; and the Mae Sot team of Protection.

Position Description

The Legal Services Programme Coordinator leads the legal services programme team in Bangkok and in Mae Sot, Tak. The position ensures that AAT legal services for asylum seekers and refugees seeking international protection in Thailand are provided with proper adherence to the organization’s protocols and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Oversight of Legal Services Programme (70%)

Overall responsibilities:

• Supervise Team Lead of the Legal Status, Protection, Screening and Intake, Paralegal and Interpreter Project Assistants.
• Ensure all case files, records of services rendered and outcomes are input accurately by quarterly reporting deadline to ensure the timely completion of necessary reports measuring deliverable outcomes needed for funder reporting.
• Develop methods of, and conduct, M&E on various parts of the Legal Solutions Program
• Playing the manager role, in association with Operations Coordinator and other relevant team members, in recruiting, training, and supervision of legal services staff and volunteers.
• Inform and train AAT staff with relevant information of local, national, and international legal and policy developments.
• Develop and review assessment criteria to prioritize the caseload and oversee mechanisms for managing the caseload of the team while adapting to new/challenging circumstances.
• Ensure accurate and timely recording of client and casework data for the purposes of monitoring and evaluation, swiftly identify database needs or challenges.
• Provide regular feedback on interpretation services to the Interpreter Project Assistant to improve the quality of the services and to contribute to the development of appropriate trainings for interpreters
• Act as Legal Services team budget holder. Develop team annual budget and monthly forecast, monitor the team spending and ensure cost effectiveness.
• Maintain strong financial records and procedures as per the AAT Finance policy, and ensure proper financial documentation of all activities
• Lead the AAT Quarterly Impact Survey and Report
• Contribute to the supervision of full and part-time VLAs on the legal status and protection team in their work by providing advice and expertise on legal counselling and legal representation for asylum seekers and refugees

Legal Status

• Oversee the implementation of AAT strategies and best practices in legal services to ensure the effective legal representation of refugee clients in UNHCR’s refugee status determination (RSD) process and the Thai Government Regulation on National Screening Mechanism (NSM) and any other relevant legal status processes in the future.
• Review all legal briefs, country of origin information research, declarations and other submissions to the UNHCR
• Review legal screenings at first instance and appeal stages where required
• Oversee the legal services program’s proper adherence to office protocols and procedures, including organizational database and case maintenance, and client screening.
• Oversee legal counselling and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees, for RSD applications with the UNHCR and NSM application with the Thai Immigration Bureau.

Protection

• Oversee the implementation of AAT strategies and best practices in legal services to ensure the effective legal counselling and representation in the area of protection of refugee clients under the Thai Government legislation.
• Ensure that all legal assistance are adhered to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, AAT Code of Conduct, policies, and manuals
• Keep apprised of local, national, and international legal and policy developments and revise AAT Legal Services Strategies and implementation for the best interest of refugee clients.
• Overseeing the protection services provided to refugee clients for effective protection in line with international standards under the existing Thai legislation.

Interpretation/Paralegal/Community Outreach

• Provide regular feedback on interpretation services to the Interpreter Project Assistant to improve the quality of the services and to contribute to the development of appropriate trainings for interpreters
• Ensure effective implementation of paralegal project with a particular view to alleviating resource constraints in the legal status and protection teams while enabling the empowerment of refugee paralegals
• Liaise with Community Engagement Programme Team to ensure smooth coordination in community legal empowerment between Legal Services Programme Team and Community Engagement Programme Team, including on the utilisation of interpreters

Strategic Litigation

• Keep track of legal status and protection litigation cases as evidence for future cases in similar situations, and for advocacy for legislation and policy changes

Myanmar Response

• Oversee the implementation of the legal services for new Myanmar refugees in association with the legal status and Protection Team according to the nature of the response
• Ensure timely, effective and appropriate legal services provided by team members while being quick to adjust to the emerging situation. The legal services includes, but not limited to, Country of Origin Information development, information session, individual legal counselling, legal representation for litigation process, referral for humanitarian assistance and durable solutions.

Overall Strategy (10%)

• Contribute to overall AAT National Strategy Development and Implementation
• Develop Legal Services Strategies for legal status process including but not limited to RSD, NSM and Protection of asylum seekers and refugees that contribute directly to AAT Theory of Changes
• Reporting regularly to the Executive Director and Headquarters on the scope, nature, quality and challenges of AAT’s legal services and community legal empowerment programs.
• Meet with and report to donors quarterly or as required by Executive Director and/or AAHQ.
• Develop, write and/or review grant or funding proposals with Executive Director and AAHQ Development.

Relationship and Networking (10%)

• Promote networking and capacity strengthening among Thai lawyers and Pro Bono lawyers in representing urban asylum seekers before UNHCR or Thai courts and provide relevant training/ briefings/community presentations, where possible.
• Build relationship and Networking with different networks of CSOs, UN, INGOs and GOs working for the human rights for refugees.
• Serving as an organizational ambassador and represent AAT at various external events

Advocacy (10%)

• Contribute to relevant policy advocacy led by the Executive Director with network such as CRSP, MRN and APRRN, government and diplomatic mission in Bangkok
• Advocate, particularly with UNHCR on RSD and Thai Government on NSM and protection issues relating to asylum seekers and refugees in Bangkok and Mae Sot, Tak.
• Work as assigned by supervisor

Reports to: Director of Programs

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate degree in human rights law, public policy, public administration or other relevant degree;
• Thorough knowledge of the context of refugees in Thailand, including both national and international legal frameworks;
• Thorough comprehension and knowledge of RSD and NSM process
• Demonstrated ability to comprehend and develop creative responses to frequently changing political and legal environments;
• Experience in team management including staff and volunteers;
• Interest in creating and maintaining organizational stability through strong operational practices;
• Strong planning skills and the ability to manage many disparate priorities simultaneously;
• Awareness of the impact of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, legal status and other personal characteristics may have on access to rights and the ability to promote impartiality;
• Familiarity and comfort working with a multicultural and international environment;
• Professional fluency in English.

Work Experience

• 5 – 7 years of increasingly high-level experience in refugee response or related fields;
• Experience in providing legal advice to vulnerable population and review/analysis of legal documents
• Experience in program management, including human resources, budget and proposal development
• Experience in community legal empowerment

Preferred Qualifcations

• Communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with others
• Decision-making skills. Ability to assess different options and choose the best course of action, often daily.
• Leadership skills. Ability to coordinate policies, people, and resources.
• Management skills. Ability to shape and direct the operations of the organization. For example, manage program plans, team members, and budgets.
• Problem-solving skills. Ability to identify and resolve issues within the team. Recognize shortcomings and effectively carry out solutions.
• Time management skills. Ability to work with multi-tasks autonomously. Ensure that work gets done and meet the goals.

Salary and Benefits

The Legal Services Programme Coordinator will receive a monthly payment of THB 50,000 per month.

Hours and Location of Work

The Legal Services Programme Coordinator is a one-year contract position based in our offices in Bangkok, Thailand, working 40 hours per week. Candidates should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take off-hour calls and meetings with colleagues at HQ, clients, and different networks.

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.