Justice Centres Uganda (JCU) is a Project of the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) hosted and supervised by the Judiciary to provide Legal Aid. JCU through its 13 Centres and National Coordination office, is continuing to implement its JLOS mandate of delivering holistic legal aid services to vulnerable communities in accessing Quality Gender Based Violence (GBV) Services.
The Spotlight Initiative Joint Programme of the Gender for Development Uganda (G4DU) project and the Justice for Her project under ADA have a primary goal to eliminate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Harmful Practices (HP) against women and girls and to promote Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), through awareness creation and provision of quality justice services.
The project will be implemented in the districts of Kampala, Tororo Kasese (G4DU) and Masaka High Court circuit for ADA; where the focus will be on women, girls and other marginalized groups in the districts of Kampala, Kasese, Masaka High Court circuit and Tororo. These are districts with high incidents of GBV and have JCU Centres already established.
Against the above background, Justice Centres Uganda hereby invites applications from suitably qualified Ugandans to fill up the PARALEGAL OFFICER position to be based at the JCU Masaka Centre.
The Paralegal officer will report to the Assistant Legal Officer (ALO)
Key duties and responsibilities:
- Receive clients and manage the Centre front desk.
- Conduct ‘Means and Merit Tests’ with clients to ascertain eligibility for Legal Aid services.
- Conduct detailed interview to establish facts and issues for clients.
- Manage filing system in office.
- Provide basic legal advice.
- Undertake investigation and research to provide the Assistant Legal Officers with information when required.
- Conduct Paralegal Outreaches and Clinics with Masaka district communities.
- Attend court to identify persons who need Legal Aid.
- Participate in awareness sessions for clients e.g. in communities.
- Prepare weekly output reports
- Supervise Community Based Volunteers (CBVs).
- Participate in awareness sessions for clients e.g. in communities.
- Update the Information Clients Management System (ICMS).
- Filing of court documents and effecting services of court process.
- Conduct mediations with the guidance and recommendation of the ALO.
- Maintain data base of referrals for follow up.
- Maintain data base of Lawyers on Pro bono and appointment schedules.
- Maintain data base of other legal aid service providers including NGOs, CBOs & UN Agencies, schools and hospitals.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The Paralegal Officer at JCU should preferably hold a Diploma in Law with a minimum of one (1) year’s experience working with a legal Aid organisation or Law Firm.
Competencies:
- Good planning and mobilisation skills.
- Excellent facilitation skills.
- Experience in public speaking an asset.
- Good team player.
- Ability to ride and possession of valid riding documents (for motorcycles) is an added advantage.
- Willingness to be in the field for up to 60% of the working time.
- Dedication to working for and with the poor.
- Familiar with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet.
- Fluently spoken local languages will be an added advantage.
Personal Attributes:
- Ability to work under high pressure;
- Strong interpersonal and inter-cultural skills;
- Strong communication and networking skills;
- Strong interest in the fields related to JCU legal aid mandate;
- Strong team player and ability to work independently.
HOW TO APPLY:
Candidates with the necessary qualifications, competences, skills and experience should submit an application letter, a current CV and copies of their academic/professional certificates. Applications should indicate a daytime telephone contact, email address and include three professional referees.
Applications should be addressed to the National Coordinator; and hand delivered at The Judiciary Registry of Planning & Development, Plot 6, George Street, P.O. Box 26365 Kampala, Uganda. Applicants outside Kampala can send their applications to [email protected]
The closing date for receiving of applications is September 27, 2024 at 2.00pm
While we thank all applicants for their interest in working with JCU,
ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
