Legal Counsel

Role Overview

The Legal Counsel will provide high-quality legal representation, legal advice, and legal aid services to women and girls. The role involves supporting strategic litigation and advocacy initiatives, strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and contributing to FIDA-Kenya's mission of promoting access to justice and gender equality.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Representation and Legal Aid

• Provide legal advice and legal aid services to clients in accordance with FIDA-Kenya's mandate.
• Represent clients before courts, tribunals, and quasi-judicial bodies.
• Prepare pleadings, affidavits, submissions, witness statements, and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and provide sound legal opinions.
• Support strategic litigation aimed at advancing women's rights and gender justice.

Case Management

• Manage an assigned litigation portfolio and ensure timely progression of cases.
• Maintain accurate client records and case management information.
• Monitor court schedules and the virtual justice system and ensure compliance with procedural timelines.
• Prepare regular reports on case outcomes and emerging legal trends.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Facilitate mediation, Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), and other appropriate dispute resolution processes.
• Promote amicable settlement of disputes where appropriate.
• Support community-based dispute resolution initiatives.

Community Legal Empowerment

• Conduct legal awareness and civic education programmes.
• Support community outreach activities, legal clinics, and mobile legal aid initiatives.
• Develop simplified legal information materials for public education.

Advocacy and Policy

• Contribute to legal and policy research.
• Participate in advocacy initiatives aimed at promoting legal and policy reforms affecting women and girls.
• Prepare briefing notes, legal analyses, and policy submissions.

Partnerships and Organizational Support

• Build collaborative relationships with the Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, National Police Service, County Governments, civil society organizations, and other justice sector actors.
• Represent FIDA-Kenya in stakeholder forums as assigned.
• Contribute to programme design, resource mobilisation, proposal development, and donor reporting where required.
• Undertake any other duties assigned in support of FIDA-Kenya's mandate.