The Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) is hiring a ‘Legal Refugee Support Consultant’ to assist and assess the legal needs of refugee-led organisations and initiatives (RLO/Is) in Asia in order to harness free legal help to strengthen their organisational and programmatic capacity. The ideal candidate will have legal expertise and/or experience in providing organisational support for RLO/Is and knowledge regarding the types of legal problems RLO/Is experience. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from individuals with a lived experience of displacement.

APNOR

APNOR is a network of refugee-led groups established in 2018. APNOR’s objective is to build a sustainable and inclusive network for refugee-led organisations/initiatives (RLO/Is) in the Asia Pacific region, to set the regional agenda for refugee policy that draws on the collective voice of lived experience to influence stakeholder and decision-making priorities, and to support the development of stronger national refugee-led structures that can influence national policy reform.

THE PROJECT

Many of APNOR’s members and other RLO/Is face a range of legal challenges which impact on their organisational and programmatic capacity. Expert legal support can be costly and while there are law firms willing to provide this support pro bono, many RLO/Is do not know how to access this free legal help. Additionally, law firms are often unaware of RLO/Is’ unique legal needs and the support they seek. It is important to bridge these gaps between the law firms and RLO/Is to address their unmet legal needs.

APNOR is to conduct an assessment of the legal needs RLO/Is required and to partner with PILnet and other relevant institutions to provide these organisations with assistance in scoping pro bono projects. We now seek a Consultant to support this work.

The Consultant will work with APNOR, and the RLO/Is in their network, to identify their legal needs, and partner with PILnet to co-design pro bono project descriptions and begin brokering partnerships with members of the legal community to address these legal challenges.

This will involve three main areas of work:

1. Identifying specific RLO/Is who need legal assistance (e.g. through individual consultations and/or as a result of promotion of the availability of pro bono resources).
2. Consulting with RLO/Is in APNOR’s broader network to identify key organisational legal gaps experienced by RLO/Is in the region. (e.g. through individual and/or group consultations).
3. Supporting APNOR to define and prioritise its own pro bono legal needs and working with PILnet and others to scope pro bono project descriptions for APNOR and other RLO/Is.

This position is home-based and requires consistent access to the internet for consultations and meetings. The consultant will liaise with APNOR’s coordinator and maintain online communication, and attend agreed upon check-in meeting(s).

APNOR is looking for an applicant able to commit from early January 2023 until 31 March 2023.

Salary

250 USD per day.

Hours

8 hours per day, 20 days (spread over January - March 2023).

Length of role

Approximately 2.5 months.

KEY DELIVERABLES

• Development of a legal needs interview template.
• 10 -15 documented interviews or group discussions with RLO staff.
• Drafting of a brief report on legal needs of RLOs in Asia to inform future programming/fundraising.
• Support the lead-up, and throughout, the implementation of the consultancy.

The Consultant carries out tasks in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The 20 days will be broken down approximately as follows:

• 1-2 days orientation meetings and review of existing materials.
• 1-2 days for developing legal needs interview template and project information material.
• 7-10 days for individual consultations or group discussions with RLO/I representatives.
• 1-2 days for meetings with legal representatives.
• 3-5 days for drafting summary report of legal needs.