Job Purpose

• The Legal Counsel will provide high-quality legal representation, legal advice and legal aid services to women and girls, support strategic litigation and advocacy initiatives, strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and contribute to FIDA- Kenya's mission of promoting access to justice and gender equality.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Representation and Legal Aid Provide legal advice and legal aid services to clients in accordance with FID Kenya's mandate.
• Represent clients before courts, tribunals and quasi-judicial bodies.
• Prepare pleadings, affidavits, submissions, witness statements and other legal documents.
• Conduct legal research and provide sound legal opinions.
• Support strategic litigation aimed at advancing women's rights and gender justice.

Case Management

• Manage an assigned litigation portfolio and ensure timely progression of cases.
• Maintain accurate client records and case management information.
• Monitor court schedules and the virtual justice system and ensure compliance with procedural timelines.
• Prepare regular reports on case outcomes and emerging legal trends.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating recruitment, performance management, employee relations, board coordination and office administration.
• Experience using HR Information Systems (HRIS), Enterprise Resource Planning
• (ERP) and Microsoft Office applications.

Competencies
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• High standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• Strong communication and report-writing skills.
• Good planning, organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Sound knowledge of Kenyan labour laws and HR best practices.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to teamwork, continuous learning and service excellence.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Facilitate mediation, Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) and other appropriate dispute resolution processes.
• Promote amicable settlement of disputes where appropriate.
• Support community-based dispute resolution initiatives.
• Community Legal Empowerment
• Conduct legal awareness and civic education programmes.
• Support community outreach activities, legal clinics and mobile legal aid initiatives.
• Develop simplified legal information materials for public education.

Advocacy and Policy

• Contribute to legal and policy research.
• Participate in advocacy initiatives aimed at promoting legal and policy reforms affecting women and girls.
• Prepare briefing notes, legal analyses and policy submissions.
• Partnerships and Organizational Support
• Build collaborative relationships with the Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public
• Prosecutions, National Police Service, County Governments, civil society organizations and other justice sector actors.
• Represent FIDA Kenya in stakeholder forums as assigned.
• Contribute to programme design, resource mobilisation, proposal development and donor reporting where required.
• Undertake any other duties assigned in support of FIDA Kenya's mandate.

Person Specifications

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognized university.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a current practising certificate.
• Member of the Law Society of Kenya in good standing.
• Training in mediation or alternative dispute resolution will be an added advantage.

Experience

• At least three (3) years of relevant post-admission experience.
• Demonstrated experience in litigation and legal advisory services.
• Experience in gender justice, human rights, family law, succession, children's rights or public interest litigation will be an added advantage.
• Experience working with civil society or development organizations is desirable.

Competencies

• The successful candidate should demonstrate:
• Excellent legal drafting and analytical skills.
• Strong litigation and courtroom advocacy skills.
• Sound knowledge of Kenyan constitutional, civil and family law.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple cases and competing deadlines.
• High ethical standards, professionalism and integrity.