Program Assistant, Legal Affairs and Access to Justice at Kenya Human Rights Commission

Overall Purpose

To contribute to the fulfilment of the organization’s Vision, Mission, and Strategic Objectives by providing technical expertise and prompt actions over systemic and emerging human rights violations through providing legal and judicial actions and enhancing institutional and programmatic liaison and accountability.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

 Legal Affair and Actions 

• Support in receiving, compiling, and addressing complaints and violations from the diverse KHRC sources.
• Provide quarterly, bi-annual, and annual legal aid briefs that inform KHRC periodic human rights and institutional reports.
• In liaison with the Communications Officer, draft case summaries of wins/losses for KHRC social media handles.
• Support in drafting and reviewing of advocate contracts, processing payment documents, and tracking contract performance.
• Assist in conducting legal aid training on law, human rights, and other areas for various interest groups.
• Assist in processing court fees and other court documents and maintaining organized and up-to-date files and databases.
• Provide legal support and response to emerging situations through court actions, bailing out the arrested among other critical work.
• Assist in the tracking of the return of KHRC’s funds paid as bails in court to the finance department.
• Assist in legal research and development of legal opinions in preparation of strategic litigation.

Legal Research and Documentation

• Support in updating on a monthly basis the legal tracker ensuring all legal actions undertaken by the organizations are followed up.
• Provide support in the organizing and implementation of urgent action responses to emerging human rights violations.
• Assist in the documentation and maintenance of the database on the emerging human rights violations.
• Support in undertaking at least 2 fact finding missions on key human rights in the country and beyond.
• Support in coordinating engagements with international human rights treaty bodies and commemoration of human rights days relevant to KHRC’s mandate.
• Provide support in the monitoring and reporting on the judicial, legislative, and regulatory actions relevant to the work of KHRC.
• Monitor changes in law and regulations to ensure timely updates, support in development of legal petitions.

Administrative and Other Responsibilities

• Support in the design and implementation of projects within areas of work.
• Developing and sustaining strategic partnerships with relevant state and non-state actors
• Represent KHRC within key networks related to the position.
• Provide support on resource and fund mobilization for the growth and sustainability of KHRC’s work on legal affairs, human rights monitoring, and refugee protection.
• Representing KHRC in the different advocacy networks and spaces it is involved in at all levels.
• Assist in maintaining a database of relevant contacts within areas of interventions.
• Assist in preparation of timely, periodic narrative and financial reports for both donors and internal organizational reporting.
• Comply with the policies, practices, and values of the commission.
• Participate in and support other projects and activities of the organization.
• Undertake other tasks as may be assigned by the supervisor or management.

Required Competencies

Professionalism

• Knowledge of organizational legal frameworks, relevant legal processes, procedures and terminology for review, examination, preparation, and processing of legal documents.
• Ability to review and synthesize information and present findings and recommendations in a required format.
• Ability to show tact and discretion in dealing with high-ranking officials and with confidential matters and materials.
• Ability to perform analysis, modeling, and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matters, is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
• Holds self to high levels of integrity, accountability, and transparency.

Teamwork

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise.
• Willing to learn and receive criticism.
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
• Identifies priority activities and assignment.
• Adjusts priorities as required and allocates appropriate amount of time and resources to completing work.
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions and uses time efficiently.

Qualifications and Experience

• LLB., an activist lawyer with a minimum of 2 - 3 years’ experience in the human rights sector.
• An advocate of the High Court of Kenya, with a valid practicing certificate and in good standing.
• Experience in working with grassroot communities and most vulnerable groups.
• Experience in undertaking legal research, and drafting legal opinions, petitions, and advocacy tools.
• Proven track record in undertaking policy research, advocacy, and partnership at different levels.
• Proficiency in Ms. Office, with the ability to write high-quality reports.
• Good understanding of programs and project management.