9:24 AM
maboko
Closing Date: Friday, 11 May 2012
Asylum Access, a US-based international refugee rights
organization, is seeking experienced legal profession als to serve as Volunteer
Legal Advocates (VLAs) in its office in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
Asylum Access envisions a world where refugees are seen
as people with rights, not just people with needs. Asylum Access believes that
by empowering refugees to assert their human rights, we can support the
creation of effective, lasting solutions for refugees around the world. Asylum
Access achieves this partly through the work of national and international
volunteers that join the VLA program.
VLA's have the opportunity to help make refugee rights
a reality in Africa. Our global VLA team is made of lawyers and
highly-qualified law students who commit to spending at least 6 months in
Asylum Access offices abroad. They provide direct legal advice and representation
to refugees seeking asylum or other legal status . VLAs receive intensive
training in international refugee law, and practice before local offices of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or local refugee status
adjudicators. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to engage in policy
advocacy at a national or international level.
The ideal applicant will be a legal profession al with
substantive knowledge of international human rights and refugee law, including
client counseling and advocacy. The candidate should be able to build
relationships and adapt legal strategies to fit new and/or challenging
circumstances. Client service experience and past work with vulnerable
populations is a plus.
Asylum Access Tanzania (AATZ) solicits applications
from well-prepared candidates with impeccable writing, persuasive advocacy
skills and a passion for social justice who are ready to commit themselves to
spending six months or more in Tanzania. Volunteer Legal Advocates (VLAs) will
provide legal counsel, advice and advocacy on behalf of refugees seeking
asylum, resettlement or the assertion of other legal rights. VLAs play an
integral part of AATZ's team and will get the opportunity to work with UNHCR
and Tanzanian Government representatives to coordinate and strengthen the
involvement of AATZ in decisions affecting refugee rights.
Position Responsibilities:
VLAs are
responsible for the following duties:
Advise
refugees and assist them in understand their rights;
Interview
refugees and advocate for them regarding their individual RSD and/or
resettlement;
Maintain a
high caseload of RSD cases in a fast paced, demanding environment while
adhering to strict filing deadlines;
Conduct
client intake and screening interviews, assess needs, and refer to other
service providers as needed;
Where
possible, develop unique and innovative legal tactics to assist clients with
other legal needs, including assistance to assert rights to movement, security,
humanitarian aid, education and social services;
Conduct
research on "country of origin" situations and refugee law
jurisprudence;
Develop
material for "Know Your Rights" workshops for refugees both in camps
and urban settings, as well as teach and/or participate in the workshops;
Occasionally,
represent AATZ at events, conferences and meetings, and/or assist in other
publicity and/or fundraising efforts;
Assist with
the general administrative duties of the office, including helping to build
administrative capacity within the office to meet demand as AATZ grows.
Preferred
Qualifications:
A positive,
flexible personality and attitude;
English is
required. Intermediate to proficient French or Swahili are very helpful.
A Bachelor of
Laws, JD or equivalent is preferred, but other degrees or equivalent experience
in a related field will be considered. Exceptional law students will be
considered;
Experience
working in direct clients services, ideally with asylum seekers or in human
rights, as well as a strong passion for social justice work;
Experience
working with vulnerable populations and/or survivors of trauma;
International
experience living and working cross-culturally in developing countries,
preferably in Africa;
Experience
working in a non-profit setting with limited resources, ideally in the global
south;
An easygoing
personality with the demonstrated capacity to handle living and working in an
ad-hoc environment where difficult situations and crises can develop at a
moment's notice;
Aptitude to
successfully complete assigned tasks with minimal oversight while serving
clients with the highest ethical standards;
Understanding
of the importance of working as part of a team and the ability to carefully and
faithfully follow the direction of AATZ management staff;
Ability to
commit to at least 6 months of full-time work. Between the months of May to
August, exceptional, experienced law students who are only able to commit to
working at AATZ for their summer break will be eligible for admission into the
VLA program if they can commit to a minimum of 12 weeks.
Program
Highlights:
Development
Training Throughout your work with us, Asylum Access will support you with a
series of tools to maximize your programmatic work and your understanding of
refugee law and practice. Regular training and debriefing sessions will offer
you the chance to enhance and process your experience and share insight about
cross-cultural issues.
Casework Once
you join our team, you will be responsible for your own casework, which you
will see through intake, preparation, submission and results. This will give
you an invaluable experience and lasting ties with your clients.
Joining our
Network After working with us, you will be connected with an ever-growing
network of refugee legal advocates around the world, which circulates job
openings, research opportunities, refugee news, and more.
How to Apply:
Because of
space limitations, AATZ VLA positions are awarded on a very competitive basis.
Each year Asylum Access receives hundreds of applications coming from all over
the globe for a handful of VLA positions. It is best, therefore, for applicants
to submit polished, complete applications as early as possible. We accept
applications on a rolling basis.
To apply,
please send a cover letter, resume, and a legal writing sample to VolunteerTz@asylumaccess.org.
Please be sure to specify in your cover letter what makes you uniquely
qualified to be a VLA with AATZ, how volunteering with us fits into your career
plans, and the dates that you expect to be available.
*Please note
that all Asylum Access VLA positions are unpaid; we are happy to work with
successful applicants to arrange for funding or school credit where available.
If selected, VLA's are responsible for obtaining their visa and work permit, if
applicable.
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