Project Legal Advisor Based in Mae Sot, Thailand

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Project Legal Advisor Based in Mae Sot, Thailand

About Asylum Access

We are human rights advocates who support forcibly displaced individuals and communities as they reclaim their rights, agency and power. 

Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees' freedom, dignity and autonomy, and equips them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access' global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees' human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

The Legal Services Team at Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive legal support and assistance to refugees in Bangkok and Mae Sot, Tak. The primary responsibilities of this team include:

• Ensuring refugees have access to justice and protection: The Legal Services Team works to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of refugees by facilitating their access to legal remedies and safeguards.
• Supporting refugees during the Legal Status processes, including, Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and National Screening Mechanism (NSM) processes: The program provides essential guidance and support to refugees navigating the complex RSD and NSM procedures, helping them navigate the system effectively.
• Informing refugees about the legal status process, including but not limited to RSD and NSM: The Legal Services Team is responsible for educating refugees about the processes and their rights and options within this framework.

The Legal Services Team is overseen by the Executive Director and includes the Bangkok team of Legal Status, Protection, Interpreter and Paralegal, Screening and Intake, and Volunteer Legal Advocates; and the Mae Sot team of Protection.

Position Description

Under the guidance of the Executive Director, the Project Legal Advisor will be responsible for the implementation of Mae Sot paralegal project. The project's goal is to enhance legal protection for Burmese refugees in Mae Sot, through legal empowerment and self-protection, focusing on building paralegal capacity, conducting a study on deportation for the development of internal SOP, and providing direct legal assistance and case management to Burmese refugees. The areas to be covered are:

Key Responsibilities

Project Management  

• Lead the implementation and development of the Mae Sot paralegal project
• Assess paralegal training needs and identify suitable topics and trainers
• Support the development of paralegal training curriculum and materials
• Develop training agenda, materials and organize paralegal trainings
• Plan and coordinate legal clinic schedules, topics, and logistics with paralegals
• Collaborate on cross-functional initiatives with other AAT Teams
• Development of the Study Report and AAT Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on deportation of the new Burmese refugees.

Monitoring and Evaluation  

• Evaluate and provide constructive feedback on community presentations
• Maintain comprehensive program documentation and records
• Monitor and improve the quality of community paralegal training project through curriculum development and material enhancement
• Contribute regular updates for donor reporting
• Support program evaluation through data collection and analysis

Case Management and Legal Assistance

• Provide full legal representation and short services for clients facing protection concerns and issues involving Thai law.
• Identify cases appropriate for special consideration by UNHCR and undertake inquiries to UNHCR;
• Undertake comprehensive case management practices, including maintaining database records and keeping detailed notes of all case work activities;
• Maintain good working knowledge of relevant guidelines, processes and procedures;
• Maintain good working knowledge of current political and social situation in Country of origin;

Relationship Building, Networking, Advocacy and Training Support

• Support the Executive Director in Policy and advocacy efforts on issues affecting new refugees, via domestic networks and international human rights mechanisms;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with staff, operational partners and networks to ensure smooth running of operations;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Mae Sot, and facilitate communication of accurate information so as to enable the fulfillment of refugee rights; and
• Other work as assigned by the supervisor.

Reporting to: 

Executive Director

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated working experience or demonstrated knowledge of the refugee context and framework internationally and in Thailand
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills
• Strong initiative and ability to take ownership of projects, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively with a high attention to detail
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides
• Intermediate working knowledge of Gmail, Google Drive, and related tools (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.)
• Ability to speak and write fluent English and Thai is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduated from law school or equivalent
• At least 2 years of experience in organizing workshops and legal case management, especially case intake interview, and case monitoring
• Strong knowledge in SGBV case management
• Experienced in working with human rights and refugees' issues.

Salary and Benefits

The Project legal advisor will receive a monthly salary of THB 30,000 per month.

Hours and Location of Work

The Project Legal Advisor is a full-time, fixed-term four-month contract position based in our office in Mae Sot, Thailand, working 40 hours a week.  Candidates should be aware that travel to Bangkok or other provinces in Thailand is required from time to time and some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take off-hour calls and meetings with clients, and different networks.

Application Instructions to Candidates

Send your resume and a cover letter via Asylum Access online portal BambooHR by 31 October 2025. In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, preferred start date, expected salary and how you learned about the position.

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.

For more information about our organization, visit .