About this role:

The Head Legal Aid and community Justice has a primary responsibility to technically backstop all legal officers, legal assistants and Legal Associates, mobilise resources for continuity and set standards for legal aid, initiate training and capacity building for the team and, build capacity of community structures.

Job Purpose

The Head of Legal Department provides strategic leadership and oversight of the organization’s legal aid, litigation, advocacy, and legal empowerment programs. The role ensures high-quality, ethical, and impactful legal services for vulnerable and marginalized populations while strengthening the organization’s influence on access to justice and law reform.

2. Legal Aid & Case Management

• Oversee legal advice, representation, and referral services for clients.
• Supervise strategic litigation, public interest cases, and impact litigation.
• Ensure proper case documentation, reporting, and data management.
• Establish quality assurance systems for legal services delivery.

3. Litigation & Legal Representation

• Lead and coordinate court litigation, including constitutional, civil, criminal, and human rights cases.
• Appear in court for high-impact or complex cases when required.
• Mentor junior lawyers on litigation strategy, legal drafting, and advocacy.

4. Advocacy, Policy & Law Reform

• Lead legal research and policy analysis on access to justice, human rights, and rule of law.
• Contribute to law reform initiatives, strategic advocacy, and public interest campaigns.
• Represent the organization in legal networks, coalitions, and policy dialogues.

5. Legal Education & Community Outreach

• Guide the design and implementation of legal awareness and legal empowerment programs.
• Support training of community paralegals and local justice actors.
• Promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms where appropriate.

6. Partnerships & Representation

• Liaise with JLOS, Uganda Law Society, Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET), CSOs and other government institutions.
• Represent the organization in stakeholder meetings and donor engagements.

7. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Prepare technical legal reports for management, donors, and regulators.
• Contribute to proposal development, donor reports, and program evaluations.
• Track legal outcomes, impact indicators, and lessons learned.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Management

• Lead the overall legal strategy in line with the NGO’s mission and strategic plan.
• Develop departmental work plans, budgets, and performance targets.
• Provide technical leadership to Legal officers, Legal Assistants, paralegals, and legal interns.
• Ensure compliance with national laws, donor requirements, and professional ethics.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognized institution.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bar Course).
• Master’s degree in Law, Human Rights, or related field is an added advantage.

Professional Requirements

• Enrolled Advocate of the High Court of Uganda (or relevant jurisdiction).
• Valid practicing certificate.

Experience

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible legal practice.
• At least 3–5 years in a leadership or supervisory role, preferably in legal aid, human rights, or public interest law.
• Demonstrated experience in litigation, legal aid programming, and advocacy.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent legal drafting, research, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making ability.
• Strong understanding of Access to Justice, human rights, and legal aid frameworks.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• High ethical standards and commitment to social justice

• Oversee legal advice, representation, and referral services for clients.
• Supervise strategic litigation, public interest cases, and impact litigation.
• Ensure proper case documentation, reporting, and data management.
• Establish quality assurance systems for legal services delivery.
• Lead and coordinate court litigation, including constitutional, civil, criminal, and human rights cases.
• Appear in court for high-impact or complex cases when required.
• Mentor junior lawyers on litigation strategy, legal drafting, and advocacy.
• Lead legal research and policy analysis on access to justice, human rights, and rule of law.
• Contribute to law reform initiatives, strategic advocacy, and public interest campaigns.
• Represent the organization in legal networks, coalitions, and policy dialogues.
• Guide the design and implementation of legal awareness and legal empowerment programs.
• Support training of community paralegals and local justice actors.
• Promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms where appropriate.
• Liaise with JLOS, Uganda Law Society, Legal Aid Service Providers Network (LASPNET), CSOs and other government institutions.
• Represent the organization in stakeholder meetings and donor engagements.
• Prepare technical legal reports for management, donors, and regulators.
• Contribute to proposal development, donor reports, and program evaluations.
• Track legal outcomes, impact indicators, and lessons learned.
• Lead the overall legal strategy in line with the NGO’s mission and strategic plan.
• Develop departmental work plans, budgets, and performance targets.
• Provide technical leadership to Legal officers, Legal Assistants, paralegals, and legal interns.
• Ensure compliance with national laws, donor requirements, and professional ethics.

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent legal drafting, research, and oral advocacy skills.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making ability.
• Strong understanding of Access to Justice, human rights, and legal aid frameworks.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• High ethical standards and commitment to social justice

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a recognized institution.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Bar Course).
• Master’s degree in Law, Human Rights, or related field is an added advantage.
• Enrolled Advocate of the High Court of Uganda (or relevant jurisdiction).
• Valid practicing certificate.