District Project Officer-DPO

Job Description

Title: District Project Officer-DPO

Company Name: Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)

Vacancy: 1

Age: At most 45 years

Job Location: Narsingdi

Salary: Tk. 38000 - 39670 (Monthly)

Experience:

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO, Development Agency

• At least 5 years
• The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO, Development Agency

• Age At most 45 years

• At least 5 years for Male candidates and 3 years for Female candidates of legal practice in subordinate Courts.     

• Must be enrolled with the Bangladesh Bar Council as an Advocate.

• Strong managerial skills and the ability to work independently.

• Strong knowledge of criminal and family laws.

• Commitment to managing BLAST cases.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse colleagues.

• Proficient in communication skills, with drafting and report writing capabilities in Bangla and English.

• Knowledge in computer operations, particularly in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as email communication.

• Preference will be given to applicants who are members of the Narsingdi Bar Association.

• Women are encouraged to apply.

Job Context: BLAST is one of the leading legal services organizations in Bangladesh and the only one that provides access to legal aid across the spectrum, from the frontlines of the formal justice system to the apex court. It prioritizes support to women, men, and children living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination. It also provides legal aid, advice, and representation across a range of areas, including civil, criminal, family, labor, and land law, as well as on constitutional rights and remedies, providing access to judicial remedies alongside alternative dispute resolution wherever appropriate. Alongside individual legal aid, BLAST undertakes strategic litigation, or public interest litigation, as a key part of its advocacy for law and policy reforms to ensure effective legal protection of rights. Currently operating in 23 districts across the country, BLAST works through its staff lawyers (and paralegals) at headquarters and in each district office/unit office, in collaboration with its enlisted panel of about 2600 lawyers across the country who provide legal redress to clients on a pro bono basis, with a nominal honorarium.

Position Description: It is a mid-level position based at the Narsingdi Project Office. The District Project Officer will be responsible for managing a district-level project, focusing on the supervision of Paralegals and Case Management Forums. Key tasks include organizing daily meetings, facilitating case referrals, enhancing the District Legal Aid Office's capacity for sustainable support, and fostering collaboration between various legal and social service entities. Additionally, the role involves compiling data for reports, ensuring effective communication within the project team, and maintaining proper documentation while being sensitive to issues of safeguarding, gender, disability, and diversity.

Job Responsibilities:

• To take charge of the project at the district level.

• To convene daily meetings with the Paralegals and supervise their day-to-day activities.

• To facilitate and represent in Case Management Forums, e.g., PMC and DLAC meetings. 

• Provide support to start referring appropriate cases to the concerned institution. 

• Support Case Management Forums also as a forum for case diversion. 

• Support to build the capacity of the District Legal Aid Office (DLAO) to ensure the sustainability of the paralegal support to the DLAC. 

• Ensure Paralegals jointly work with the District Legal Aid Office.

• Strengthen the linkage among DLAO, Courts, Prison, and GRO section to ensure effective and efficient legal aid for vulnerable justice seekers, especially women, children, and persons with disabilities. 

• Communicate with other team members of the project as and when required. 

• Compiling data and preparing reports for the use of the Project, the criminal justice system, and other stakeholders.

• Meet with the Judiciary, Prison, Administration, Police, District Legal Aid Committee, Lawyers, Health Department, Women and Children Affairs Department, Social Service Department, and other Institutions of the Criminal Justice System to implement project activities smoothly and effectively. 

• Ensure appropriate documentation and information flow.

• Adequate sensitivity towards safeguarding, gender, disability, and diversity.

• To carry out other activities as and when required by the Management.

• Mobile bill,Weekly 2 holidays,Tour allowance,T/A
• Salary Review: Yearly
• Festival Bonus: 2