Staff Attorney (Clinical Programmes) - Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre - Hong Kong

The Staff Attorney (Clinical Programmes) (SA(CP)) is responsible for relating at an operational level to HKRAC’s university partners and prospective partners. The SA(CP) oversees the work of clinic students, provides direct legal services, and contributes to the work of the legal team.

Reporting relationships:

The SA(CP) is managed by the Executive Director (ED) for tasks related to university relationships and human resource matters. The SA(CP) is supervised by the Legal Director for all technical matters related to HKRAC’s refugee legal aid services.

Duration of position:

12 months, with review after that date.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee, coordinate and manage legal services provided by clinic students as part of overall HKRAC refugee legal aid service provision;
• Act as primary contact and develop and maintain positive working relationships with universities in relation to operational aspects of HKRAC’s clinical programmes;
• Manage the recruitment, selection, training, supervision and evaluation of clinic students, including developing and managing outreach, classes and assessments in consultation with university partners;
• Contribute to HKRAC’s monitoring and evaluation system, including developing and maintaining a data collection and reporting system relating to work with clinic students;
• Develop materials for and participate in annual review meetings with university partners;
• Provide assessment; direct legal services, including advice, limited and full representation; and referrals, and manage a caseload assigned by the LD;
• Contribute to training, supervising and overseeing legal services provided by other members of the legal team, including community legal volunteers and volunteer legal advisors, pro bono partner volunteers, and staff;
• Participate in refugee legal aid training weekends by presenting at least one core session and contribute to other HKRAC trainings;
• Contribute to maintaining positive working relationships within the staff team and with UNHCR, NGOs, and other stakeholders;
• Contribute to developing organisational strategy, networking with strategic partners, fundraising, and whole-of-office initiatives when appropriate;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the ED.

Minimum qualifications:

• Qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction;
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in refugee or human rights law, including law school clinic or other relevant experience;
• A minimum of 1 years’ experience in an academic teaching environment, or experience in managing and supervising students, volunteers, staff or pro bono work;
• Excellent interviewing skills, preferably including through interpreters, and legal research and drafting skills;
• A demonstrated commitment and sensitivity toward vulnerable and/or displaced people, including women, children, and families, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds;
• Fluent in both spoken and written English, and preferably one or more refugee languages;
• Strong public speaking, training and group facilitation skills.

Salary:

HK$19,000 per month plus insurance and pension benefits.

To apply:

Please send your statement of interest, CV, and a 5-page legal writing sample to info@hkrac.org.org by 9 November 2012 with the subject line “Staff Attorney (Clinical Programmes)”.  Interviews will be conducted mid-November, with overseas candidates being interviewed via Skype.  The selected candidate is expected to commence employment in early 2013.