The global justice gap disproportionately affects the poorest and most marginalised populations, particularly those in custodial settings. We are living amidst a global justice crisis. We believe that everyone has the right to tell their side of the story before being convicted of a crime or punished. Justice Defenders works with defenceless communities to provide world-class legal education, training, and practice. Training paralegals within defenceless communities provides access to free legal services at the point of greatest need. We work for justice for everyone, without breaking fellowship with anyone. Incarcerated people, formerly incarcerated people, and prison staff offer unique perspectives on legal systems. Yet their experiences are rarely listened to. Bringing them together with prosecutors, the police, judges, experienced lawyers, and academics creates remarkable possibilities for good.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Justice Defenders, in partnership with the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), is implementing a two-year project titled "Enhancing access to fair trial and timely justice delivery for inmates at Jinja and Kalangala prisons" under the Community Justice Program Phase II (CJP II), 2025–2030. This sub-project aims to strengthen access to fair trial rights and timely justice delivery for inmates by addressing the legal, procedural, and institutional barriers that contribute to prolonged detention, particularly for remand prisoners, including women and other vulnerable groups.

Job Summary
The Assistant Legal Officer will provide day-to-day operational and administrative legal support to the Jinja-based Legal Officer. This role focuses on hands-on inmate interfacing, primary file tracking across local justice institutions, managing the daily operations of the prison paralegal network, and running primary preparation clinics for self-representation.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Officer Support: Directly assist the Legal Officer in preparing case files, drafting preliminary legal documents (bail and other forms of applications, appeals mitigation statements), and scheduling court fixtures/appearances.
• Self-Representation Support: Lead Justice Defenders prison based legal offices and coach inmates on self-representation, guiding them through basic court etiquette, mock trial sessions, and building confidence.
• Paralegal Network Oversight: Serve as the primary, on-ground contact for prison-based paralegal networks (inmates and staff) in Jinja; coordinate their daily logs, handle basic legal queries, and track their performance.
• File Tracing & Surety Verification: Conduct field visits to local Jinja police stations, court registries, and state attorneys' offices to trace missing files and locate sureties.
• Rights Education Campaigns: Organize regular on-site rights awareness sessions inside prisons and distribute simplified legal information materials.
• Case Tracking & Data Management: Maintain up-to-date, accurate, and highly confidential database logs of all inmate files, tracking system responses and identifying delayed cases.
• Feedback Mechanism Coordination: Assist in organizing structured feedback dialogues and accountability sessions between inmates and local duty bearers.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized university. A Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from LDC is an added advantage but not mandatory.
• Experience: Minimum of 1–2 years of relevant experience working in legal aid delivery, within the prison community, paralegal management, or criminal law practice in Uganda.
• Language Skills: Professional mastery of English, alongside high working fluency in Luganda.
• Skills: Strong interpersonal skills, passion for social justice, high empathy, and proficiency in basic data management tools (Excel, Word).

• Legal Officer Support: Directly assist the Legal Officer in preparing case files, drafting preliminary legal documents (bail and other forms of applications, appeals mitigation statements), and scheduling court fixtures/appearances.
• Self-Representation Support: Lead Justice Defenders prison based legal offices and coach inmates on self-representation, guiding them through basic court etiquette, mock trial sessions, and building confidence.
• Paralegal Network Oversight: Serve as the primary, on-ground contact for prison-based paralegal networks (inmates and staff) in Jinja; coordinate their daily logs, handle basic legal queries, and track their performance.
• File Tracing & Surety Verification: Conduct field visits to local Jinja police stations, court registries, and state attorneys' offices to trace missing files and locate sureties.
• Rights Education Campaigns: Organize regular on-site rights awareness sessions inside prisons and distribute simplified legal information materials.
• Case Tracking & Data Management: Maintain up-to-date, accurate, and highly confidential database logs of all inmate files, tracking system responses and identifying delayed cases.
• Feedback Mechanism Coordination: Assist in organizing structured feedback dialogues and accountability sessions between inmates and local duty bearers.

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Passion for social justice
• High empathy
• Proficiency in basic data management tools (Excel, Word)

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognized university.
• A Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from LDC is an added advantage but not mandatory.
• Professional mastery of English
• High working fluency in Luganda