Program Advisor, 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 

• Design and implement KHRC interventions related to legal affairs and access to justice.
• Oversee the review and implementation of KHRC’s public interest litigation strategy.
• Provide legal leadership in the implementation of institutional urgent action strategy.
• Receive, compile and address complaints and violations from the diverse KHRC sources.
• Oversee the provision of legal support to the victims of emerging human rights violations.
• Organize and manage legal aid clinics at the different spaces of engagements.
• Develop and dispatch periodic legal briefs and case digests on KHRC’s areas of work.
• Lead in the identification of case summaries (wins/losses) for KHRC social media handles.
• Draft, review, and contract advocates as per KHRC needs
• Advise and support KHRC to meet its legal and regulatory obligations at all levels.
• Represent KHRC in the relevant partnership and networks including the critical interventions under the National Council in the Administration of Justice among others.

Legal Research and Documentation

• Provide legal reviews, opinions and advisories to KHRC reports and statements.
• Ensure that the KHRC legal tracker is up to date with all legal actions undertaken
• Lead in legal research and development of opinions, briefs, and petitions for litigation.
• Track and ensure the return of KHRC’s funds paid as bails in court to the finance department.
• Prepare KHRC annual access to justice report for incorporation into the NCAJ’s annual state of administration of justice report.
• Oversee the compilation of the human rights violations reported in the docket to inform the development the periodic state of human rights report by the research and response team.
• Provide legal support to the research and response advisor in monitoring and government’s human rights obligations at the national and transnational levels
• Monitor and report on the legal, policy and judicial actions relevant to the work of KHRC.

Administrative and Other Responsibilities

• Design and implement projects within areas of work.
• Develop and sustain strategic partnerships with relevant state and non-state actors
• Actively lead in resource mobilization for the growth and sustainability of KHRC.
• Establish and maintain a database of relevant contacts within areas of interventions
• Prepare timely, periodic narrative and financial reports for both donor and internal organizational reporting.
• Supervise researchers, interns and other staff or human resources assigned to you.
• 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.
• Ability to multi-task and undertake various activities and support various teams with their work.

Qualifications and Experience

• LLB., an activist lawyer with a minimum of 4 - 5 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 mostly vulnerable groups – previous experience in handling of GBV cases will be an added advantage.
• Experience in undertaking legal and policy 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.