Legal Officer in Kuala Lumpur

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Legal Officer in Kuala Lumpur

About Asylum Access

Asylum Access believes it’s time to put power back in the hands of people who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries.

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. By supporting refugees as they assert their rights, we help restore their power and agency. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and empowers them to make choices about their own lives.

Founded in 2014, Asylum Access Malaysia (AAM) is a locally registered NGO and a part of the Asylum Access family of organizations. AAM provides individualised legal services and community legal empowerment programming to refugees primarily in the Klang Valley, ensuring that they are able to access their rights and working to expand protections for all refugees. Through all their work, AAM engages in advocacy, promoting system change in the environment to ensure that all refugees in Malaysia are able to live safely, move freely, work fairly and rebuild their lives.

Department Description

The AAM Legal Services team provides legal aid to refugee clients through individualised legal assistance, community outreach and advocacy initiatives. The team works to identify refugees with heightened vulnerabilities, assist people and communities in navigating the UNHCR process, as well as provide information on their rights and responsibilities under certain domestic laws and policies. Through its legal empowerment activities and advocacy tools, the team seeks to encourage systemic change and increase access to rights for refugees in Malaysia.

Position Description

The Legal Officer is a member of AAM’s Legal Services team. The Legal Officer maintains their own caseload and provides legal services to those who require assistance with expedited registration and/or the RSD process before UNHCR. They also engage in community legal education through group workshops. They assist in coordinating the RSD caseload and developing legal service strategies. The Legal Officer has the ability to work in a diverse and multifunctional team to achieve common goals and results.

Key Responsibilities

1. Individualised legal assistance  (85%)

• Conducting client intake and screening interviews, assessing needs, identifying vulnerabilities and referring cases to relevant service providers as necessary;
• Drafting legal briefs and declarations on behalf of those undergoing RSD procedures before the UNHCR, while adhering to strict filing deadlines;
• Undertaking factual research on country of origin information (COI) and legal research on refugee law jurisprudence;
• Providing personalised legal advice on the RSD process and preparing clients for RSD interviews;
• Assisting in advocacy initiatives with the UNHCR and other relevant organisations;
• Communicating updates to clients on a timely basis;
• Maintaining records of interactions with clients and services provided;
• Other duties as assigned.

1. Community Legal Education (10%)

• Assisting the Legal Services team in conducting workshops for refugee communities on various topics;
• Developing and updating workshop materials in response to the changing protection environment and needs of communities;
• Ensuring accurate dissemination of information on the RSD process and protection issues through community messaging.

1. Case management, planning and general administrative duties (5%)

• Assisting the RSD Supervisor in coordinating the RSD caseload to ensure timely submission of relevant documents to UNHCR;

• Contributing to the design and implementation of strategies and best practices to ensure legal services are timely and effective;

• Assisting in client outreach strategy in coordination with the AAM team;

• Adhering to office protocols and procedures, including organizational database and case management;

• Where necessary, assisting with the general administrative duties of the AAM office.

Reports to: AAM RSD Supervisor

Minimum Qualifications

• Education in law or experience in legal work is desirable, while candidates of other backgrounds can be considered depending on relevant experience.

• Minimum of six (6) months demonstrated experience working in refugee or human rights field, including internship and volunteer experiences;

• Professional fluency in English (oral and written) and excellent communication skills is a must;

• Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills;

• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to meet strict deadlines;

• Strong people skills, with the ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment

• Ability to serve clients with the highest ethical standards;

• A positive personality and is able to work in and adapt to an ad-hoc environment, where difficult situations may arise unexpectedly;

• Basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Drive and related tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in providing direct legal services, particularly in refugee or human rights law;
• Demonstrated experience in engaging directly with vulnerable groups and marginalised communities, including survivors of trauma;
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement;
• Demonstrated experience working in a non-profit or legal aid setting with limited resources;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the local context and protection needs of refugees in Malaysia;
• Demonstrated knowledge of other languages (Malay, Burmese, Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Persian) is an asset.

Salary and Benefits

The position comes with a competitive nonprofit salary, and a robust benefits package including paid time off and professional development funds. The monthly gross salary is MYR 3,500.00.

Hours and Location of Work

This is a full-time position based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Due to current visa restrictions, only candidates who are currently locally based will be considered.

Start Date: As soon as possible, latest by September 2022.

Application Instructions

Send 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 this position. The final deadline for applications is on 10 August 2022. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis.

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_._