Upload your resume and cover letter in the BambooHR Portal Asylum Access system explaining:

• Reasons for applying
• Related properties 
• Desired date to start work 
• Desired salary 
• the way to get information about this position in a letter of recommendation.

Application deadline: open until filled. Only finalists will be contacted. 

Asylum Access is an organization that cares about equality. Embracing diversity in the organization by striving to create a work environment that respects all employees. and recognizes the value in the skills of those who have experienced displacement. therefore inviting people with such experience to join us For more information Please have a look at the website. www.asylumaccess.org

Those selected as legal advisors will receive a monthly salary of 25,000 baht, health insurance, annual holidays and other leave.

Work and place of work 

The legal advisor position is a full-time job. Employment contract for 1 year, will be stationed in Mae Sot, Thailand. Applicants should also be aware that working hours require some flexibility as there is work that needs to be done outside of office hours.

Legal Advisers are responsible for providing legal assistance to the refugee population in Mae Sot District, Thailand. They work under the guidance of AAT Emergency Response Team Leaders and represent them when refugees are required to seek justice. To receive the protection and access to the fundamental rights that refugees are entitled to. Its main responsibility is to study the law and consult with relevant authorities in order to be able to provide effective legal advice to refugees. In addition, legal counsel must help ensure that refugees are provided with appropriate security and basic services. This includes networking and coordination to refer cases to relevant agencies that can assist refugees. and training for community representatives to be able to act as assistants to legal counselors Including providing legal clinics for people in the refugee community.

Main Responsibilities 

Case management and legal assistance (70%)

Those serving in this position are advised by AAT, HRDF and RRLP staff, as well as mentored by MRN members in the following areas:

• Interview and screen refugees who are in trouble and need help. To provide personalized legal advice and assistance to refugee clients facing security risks and related to Thai law. (Providing services depends on the necessity and urgency of the problem. There are both telephone counseling and direct counseling with refugees in some cases where needed).
• Conduct research on the situation in the country of origin of refugees (Country of origin information) to assess the safety situation. and the credibility of the claims made by the refugees. and finding facts about the situation that occurred
• Organize training sessions to provide information on long-term legal solutions, safety issues and solutions. and information about Thai law to the refugees
• Acting as a legal representative and assisting refugees who are at risk of safety and are deprived of the basic protection they would be entitled to, including problems with Thai law. The scope of responsibility may include but is not limited to the following functions:
  • Prepare testimony for clients and witnesses in the defense of the case. Including reviewing expressions and giving advice to clients to adjust the draft testimony
  • Draft documents about the case
  • Provide supporting documents such as testimony of witnesses medical reports, etc.
  • Assist clients in preparing and accompanying clients in case of interviews or testimony.
  • Follow up on the status of the client's case with the relevant departments.
  • Represent clients and visit clients in detention centres for illegal immigration; and
  • Travel to the court or police station with the client
• Identify cases where UNHCR is likely to consider providing assistance. and contact UNHCR when necessary.
• Legal counsel is necessary to provide assistance and other advice to clients during the legal assistance process, such as education, finance, housing. and health services and refer cases to relevant agencies to ensure that clients receive the necessary assistance.
• Implementation and management of casework to be complete, including maintaining databases and recording various details in a timely manner.
• Maintain a level of knowledge standards and operate according to the operational guidelines of the organization.
• Stay informed about the current political and social situation in the country of origin of the refugees.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the Working Group's policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development and systematic storage and collection of data. Including analyzing situation trends
• Participate in working group meetings, other training and orientation sessions as assigned.
• Comply with the Nairobi Code of Ethics and the AAT Code of Conduct, Policies and Procedures Manual.

Network work, policy advocacy work and training (30%) to support MRN in: 

• Planning and advocating the implementation of policies to assist refugees through domestic networks and international human rights mechanisms.
• Develop and implement training programs for refugee community representatives to serve as assistants to legal counselors.
• Build and foster relationships among staff and operators from other departments to ensure smooth operations.
• Build and maintain strong ties between the refugee communities in Mae Sot. and help provide accurate and reliable information about the fundamental rights of refugees to refugees in the area.
• Other tasks assigned by the supervisor

The Advancing Legal Rights Protection for New Refugee program aims to support and assist new immigrants in Thailand to gain access to protection and access to basic refugee rights based on human rights principles. Especially groups where refugees who have had to flee their countries due to involvement in advocating for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of people in their countries of origin. to achieve such objectives The project therefore plays a key role in providing legal assistance. Train community representatives of refugees to act as assistants to legal counselors. and representing the community calling for the development of a better refugee protection system.

This project is a collaboration between AAT (Asylum Access Thailand) and MRN (Myanmar Response Network) to achieve the objectives of the project. Therefore, there is a need for collaboration between MRN members to exchange expertise and help promote the development of strategies for effective implementation of projects and activities. In implementing this project, AAT played a key role in working with HRDF(Human Rights Development Foundation) and RRLP(Refugee Rights Litigation Project) in providing legal services. In addition, MRN members provide support in overall project management.

Work directly under the Refugees Response Team Lead

Preliminary qualifications 

• Be a licensed lawyer in Thailand or obtain a Bachelor of Laws degree or a related field in Thailand.
• Have an understanding and/or experience working in the legal field in Thailand (e.g. criminal law, employment law, immigration law including arrest, detention and bail)
• Skilled in interviewing clients and analyzing situations Skilled in drafting testimony and advocating for the use of the law or have a commitment to develop these related skills
• Good communication skills both written and spoken.
• Have the ability to initiate and take responsibility for tasks and projects, as well as carry out follow-up work on their own. Ability to manage time to complete tasks on time Work with efficiency and attention to detail.
• Use Microsoft Office programs, Gmail, Google Drive and related programs. (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.) very well.
• Speak and write Thai fluently (Due to the need to coordinate with various agencies in Thailand)

Desired properties 

• Understand and be able to address security risks and protection for refugees in Thailand.
• To assist vulnerable groups of non-Thai nationals to access necessary social services and assistance in Thailand.
• Implementing programs on empowering community representatives to provide information or provide basic legal assistance to their communities (Community paralegal programs) or knowledge of building mechanisms to protect refugee communities with Cooperation of people in the community (community protection mechanisms)
• Assisting vulnerable groups (e.g. victims of crime, Gender and gender violence Torture Human trafficking Trauma and/or groups facing food insecurity homelessness and lack of medical care workers involved in risky work)
• Work with interpreters in a professional manner and maintain ethical conduct.
• Prepare project reports for donors and carry out the project according to the objectives
• Build relationships and cooperate with relevant external agencies.
• Able to communicate in English or Burmese (Because English is the main language used by AAT to communicate)