FIDA-Kenya is a non-profit organization that seeks to increase access to justice by women through formal and informal justice systems. FIDA-Kenya envisions a society that respects and upholds women’s rights. The mission of FIDA Kenya is to promote women’s individual and collective power to claim their rights in all spheres of life.

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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.