Legal Protection Officer

Department Description

The AAM Legal Protection team provides legal aid to refugee clients through individualised legal assistance, conducts community outreach activities, and participates in AAM’s advocacy initiatives. The team works to identify those with heightened vulnerabilities, assist individuals and communities in navigating the UNHCR process, as well as provide information on their rights and responsibilities under 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 forcibly displaced individuals and communities in Malaysia.

Job Description

The Legal Protection Officer is a member of AAM’s Legal Protection team. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining their own caseload and providing individualised legal services to those undergoing the UNHCR process, including but not limited to, the RSD process before UNHCR, and/or cases requiring solutions within the domestic legal and administrative framework. They will liaise with national agencies/local authorities and coordinate legal representation where necessary. They will engage in community legal education and outreach activities, as well as assist in the development of legal strategies. The Legal Protection Officer must have the ability to work in a diverse and multifunctional team to achieve common goals and results.  

Key Responsibilities 

Individualised legal assistance [80%]

• Conducting client screening interviews, assessing needs, identifying vulnerabilities and  legal issues;
• Carrying out direct interventions as necessary. This includes: accompaniments to police stations, immigration offices, courts, and/or medical facilities; 
• Providing personalised legal advice on the UNHCR process, including RSD, and specific areas of Malaysian laws and/or policies;
• Drafting partner referral submissions requiring UNHCR intervention, primarily in cases requiring protection; 
• Undertaking factual research on country of origin information (COI) and legal research on refugee law jurisprudence;
• Drafting legal briefs and declarations on behalf of those undergoing RSD procedures before the UNHCR, while adhering to strict filing deadlines;
• Liaising with national agencies and/or local authorities for information and/or
  protection solutions; 
• Coordinating work and communication with lawyers for clients where AAM has
  identified a need for legal representation in court;
• Referring cases to relevant service providers as necessary;
• Communicating updates to clients on a timely basis; 
• Maintaining records of interactions with clients and services provided; 
• Assisting in advocacy initiatives with the UNHCR and other relevant organisations;
• Other duties as assigned. 

Community Legal Education and Outreach (15%)

• Developing and updating workshop materials in response to the changing protection environment and needs of communities;
• Conducting workshops and other capacity-building activities for refugee communities and focal points;
• Ensuring accurate dissemination of information on the UNHCR process and protection issues through community messaging;
• Conducting community outreach in coordination with the AAM team.

3.0  Reporting, planning and general organisational and/or administrative duties (5%)

• Contributing to the design and implementation of strategies and best practices to ensure legal services are timely and effective;
• Contributing to AAM’s advocacy initiatives to encourage systemic change in the refugee protection environment in Malaysia;
• Supporting the Head of Legal Protection in AAM’s Legal Aid programme, which include but is not limited to, the training of pupils and overseeing their daily caseload;
• Adhering to office protocols and procedures, including organisational database and case management;
• Assisting in monitoring and evaluation and reporting obligations;
• Where applicable, assisting with the general administrative duties of the AAM office.

Reports to: AAM's Head of Legal Protection and AAM’s Legal Protection and Policy Coordinator

Minimum Qualifications

• University degree in Law, with demonstrated knowledge of domestic laws and procedures in Malaysia, particularly in arrest and detention;
• Knowledge of the local context and protection needs of refugees in Malaysia;
• At least two (2) years of direct working experience in the refugee protection sector and familiarity with the UNHCR process in Malaysia;
• Professional fluency in English and Malay (oral and written) and excellent communication skills. (Please note: Candidates who are not able to speak both languages will automatically not be considered for this position);
• Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills;
• Strong planning and organisational 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 AAM’s clients with the highest ethical standards;
• Able to work in and adapt to an ad-hoc environment, where difficult situations may arise unexpectedly;
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professionally qualified as an Advocate and Solicitor in Malaysia [either in the High Court of Malaya or the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak];
• Experience in Refugee Status Determination (RSD) processes and procedures;
• Experience in providing direct legal services, particularly in refugee or human rights law;
• Experience in legal advocacy and engaging with national agencies and local authorities;
• Experience in engaging directly with vulnerable groups and marginalised communities, including survivors of trauma;
• Experience in community engagement;
• Experience working in a non-profit or legal aid setting with limited resources;
• Knowledge of other languages is an asset but not a must.

Salary and Benefits

The position comes with a competitive non-profit salary, and a robust benefits package including paid time off and professional development funds. The monthly gross salary, depending on experience, is MYR 3,800.00 - MYR 4000,00.

Hours and Location of Work

This is a full-time position based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We anticipate this position will require 40 working hours per week, with the occasional requirement to work outside of normal business hours for events, workshops, and other work-related commitments. Partial remote work arrangement is possible.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

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, and preferred start date. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the recruitment process. 

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.