About the role

Legal Services Coordinator leading a team providing legal aid and support for refugees. Overseeing legal representation and ensuring compliance with standards in Thai immigration policies.

Responsibilities

The Legal Services Coordinator leads AAT’s legal services team, ensuring high-quality legal aid to refugees and asylum seekers with proper adherence to the organization’s protocols and procedures.
Oversee the legal services team in Bangkok and in Mae Sot offices.
This role combines direct legal representation, program management, case management and capacity building to strengthen refugee rights protection in Thailand.
Supervise the teams of Legal Status, Protection, Paralegal, Screening and Intake/interpreter, Volunteer Legal Advocates; and the Mae Sot Protection team.
Lead recruitment, training, and professional development initiatives.
Ensure the effective legal counseling and legal representation of refugee clients in UNHCR’s RSD process, the Thai Government Regulation on NSM, and any other emerging legal status processes.
Interview clients to understand their claim and analyze the screening document to make recommendations on further steps.
Review legal briefs, country of origin research, and declarations.
Oversee the provision of full legal representation and short services for legal status.
Implement protection strategies under Thai legislation.
Drive strategic development through monitor legal and policy developments at local, national, and international levels.

Advanced knowledge of refugee law and protection standards
Experience in legal program management and team leadership
Strong understanding of UNHCR procedures and Thai immigration policies
Proven track record in advocacy and stakeholder engagement
Graduate degree in human rights law, public policy, public administration or other relevant degree
Thorough knowledge of the context of refugees in Thailand, including both national and international legal frameworks
Thorough comprehension and knowledge of RSD and NSM process and case management
Demonstrated ability to comprehend and develop creative responses to frequently changing political and legal environments
Experience in team management including staff and volunteers
Strong planning skills and the ability to manage many disparate priorities simultaneously
Awareness of the impact of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, legal status and other personal characteristics may have on access to rights and the ability to promote impartiality
Familiarity and comfort working with a multicultural and international environment
Professional fluency in English.
A minimum 5-year of increasingly high-level experience in refugee response or related fields
Experience in working with and provide legal support to vulnerable population
Experience in review/analysis of legal documents
Experience in program management
Experience in community legal empowerment.