Refugee Status Determination

**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 honours 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 organisations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organisations 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 catalyse and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

**Department Description**

The AAM Legal Services team provides legal aid to refugee clients through individualised legal assistance, community outreach and advocacy initiatives. The team works to identify those with heightened vulnerabilities, assist individuals and communities in navigating the UNHCR process, as well as provide information on their rights and responsibilities under certain domestic laws and policies. Through its legal empowerment activities and advocacy tools, the team seeks to encourage systemic change and increase access to rights for forcibly displaced individuals and communities in Malaysia.

**Position Description**

The RSD Officer is a member of AAM’s Legal Services team. The RSD Officer will maintain their own caseload and provide individualised legal services to those undergoing the RSD process before UNHCR. They will engage in community legal education through group workshops. They will also assist in managing the RSD caseload and developing legal service strategies. The RSD Officer must have the ability to work in a diverse and multifunctional team to achieve common goals and results.

**Key Responsibilities**
- _ Individualised legal assistance (85%)_
- Conducting client intake and screening interviews, assessing needs, identifying vulnerabilities and referring cases to relevant service providers as necessary;
- Drafting legal briefs and/or declarations on behalf of clients undergoing RSD procedures before the UNHCR, while adhering to strict filing deadlines;
- Undertaking factual research on country of origin information (COI) and legal research on refugee law jurisprudence;
- Providing personalised legal advice on the RSD process and preparing clients for RSD interviews;
- Assisting in advocacy initiatives with the UNHCR and other relevant organisations;
- Communicating updates to clients on a timely basis;
- Maintaining records of interactions with clients and services provided;
- Other duties as assigned.
- _Community Legal Education (10%)_
- Conducting workshops for refugee communities on the UNHCR process and RSD interviews;
- Developing and updating workshop materials in response to the changing protection environment and needs of communities;
- Ensuring accurate dissemination of information on the RSD process and protection issues through community messaging.
- _Case management, planning and general administrative duties (5%)_
- Assisting the RSD Supervisor in coordinating the RSD caseload to ensure timely submission of relevant documents to UNHCR;
- Contributing to the design and implementation of strategies and best practices to ensure legal services are timely and effective;
- Assisting in client outreach strategy in coordination with the AAM team;
- Adhering to office protocols and procedures, including organisational database and case management;
- Where necessary, assisting with the general administrative duties of the AAM office.

**Reports to**: AAM RSD Supervisor

**Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of six (6) months demonstrated experience working in refugee or human rights law, which may include internship and volunteer experiences;
- Professional fluency in English (oral and written) and excellent communication skills is a must;
- Strong legal research, writing and analytical skills;
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to meet strict deadlines;
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment;
- Ability to serve clients with the highest ethical standards;
- A positive personality and is able to work in and adapt to an ad-hoc environment;
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

**Preferred Qualifications**
- Demonstrated experience in providing direct legal services