Job Description

Title: Paralegal

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

Vacancy: 1

Age: at least 20 years

Location: Chattogram

Minimum Salary: Tk. 17259 (Monthly)

Experience:
∎ At least 2 years

Published: 13 Jun 2024

Education:
∎ Bachelor/Honors

Requirements:

Additional Requirements:
∎ Age at least 20 years
∎ Relevant work experience is preferable.
∎ Should have significant experience working on Worker's Rights/ Industrial relations issues.
∎ Experience in using mobile apps.
∎ Have knowledge of the RMG industry in Bangladesh.
∎ Self-motivated and organized.
∎ Able to work quickly and well under pressure, both independently and as a team member, juggling multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines.
∎ Communication skills, drafting, and report writing capability in Bangla/ English.
∎ Computer operating knowledge especially in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and in email communication.
∎ Relevant work experience is preferable.
∎ Should have significant experience working on Worker's Rights/ Industrial relations issues.
∎ Experience in using mobile apps.
∎ Have knowledge of the RMG industry in Bangladesh.
∎ Self-motivated and organized.
∎ Able to work quickly and well under pressure, both independently and as a team member, juggling multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines.
∎ Communication skills, drafting, and report writing capability in Bangla/ English.
∎ Computer operating knowledge especially in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and in email communication.

Responsibilities & Context:
∎ BLAST’s core strength lies in the provision of pro-bono legal services to the most marginalized.
∎ Our network of staff lawyers, paralegals, mediation officers, panel lawyers, and experts have years of experience in providing legal aid services (advice, referral, information, mediation, litigation).
∎ Many workers have in the past been able to access justice services and receive remedies because of the legal support provided by BLAST.
∎ There is still a high demand for these services among workers and no other specialist services are in place.
∎ BLAST will continue providing legal services to settle work-related disputes as well as ensure access to justice for more workers.
∎ Our services have proven to be useful in ensuring access to legal information and remedies to workers while using courts as a last resort.
∎ One effective way of ensuring that workers, especially women, can reach out for legal support easily and in a more cost-efficient way, is to provide the service within their living area.
∎ While mobile apps and hotline services exist, often in-person interaction is preferred by the workers.
∎ Paralegals will work to fulfill this requirement maintaining close communication with workers ‘ help groups, worker’s organizations, and local service providers.
∎ Arrange and conduct awareness sessions in the community to increase awareness of workers on the use of the Sromik jigyasha app as well as the protection of GBV, rights, and responsibilities at the workplace, arrange different meetings, and ensure the implementation of other project activities.
∎ The paralegal will receive instant applications from the workers who seek legal aid and also make referrals to other service providers such as health services, and promote the Sromik Jigyasha app to increase its user.
∎ The app has proven to be a useful and sustainable tool for providing legal information to workers.
∎ Form community-based Self-help groups (SHGs) of garment workers in project areas, and meet them regularly to lead them towards sustainable groups.
∎ Ensure and oversee Group meetings of the SHGs. Make them capable of getting legal information using the Sromik Jigyasha app and sharing information with their co-workers.
∎ Conduct Awareness sessions among workers involving members of self-help groups.
∎ Handle queries of the workers on workplace and GBV issues, use the Sromik Jigyasha app, provide solutions and legal advice to clients, and communicate with respective supervisor/Lawyer.
∎ Regular field visits and communication with SHG members, workers, Trade union leaders, GO/NGO offices, and relevant stakeholders. Arrange meetings as required and ensure project visibility in the project area.
∎ Ensure implementation and reporting of project activities and achieve project objectives. Prepare monthly reports, event reports, and other data reports, as required.
∎ Receive complaints and applications from clients in the project area.
∎ Send monthly progress reports and attend NGO coordination meetings at respective UNO/DC offices.
∎ Meet and network with business bodies, local authorities, service providers, and community leaders for wider outreach of the Sromik Jigyasha app and to enhance cross-referrals for comprehensive support to victims.
∎ Make internal referrals to Dhaka Head Office, Legal Cell for pursuing mediation and litigation in appropriate cases and accompany clients to the Head Office if necessary.
∎ Make necessary referrals to other service-providing organizations for legal aid or other servicer seekers on workplace, family/land/health matters or livelihood issues.
∎ Liaise between lawyers and clients, other service providers, and community leaders for victim support and regular follow-up on cases.
∎ Assist in advocacy activities at the local and national level aimed at better protection of workers’ rights.
∎ Maintain and preserve necessary registers and files including an applications register, and copy of each application form in the respective office.
∎ Update CMS regularly and maintain office discipline.
∎ Promote the Sromik Jigyasha app among workers to increase its users.
∎ Carry out any other activities as and when required.
∎ BLAST’s core strength lies in the provision of pro-bono legal services to the most marginalized.
∎ Our network of staff lawyers, paralegals, mediation officers, panel lawyers, and experts have years of experience in providing legal aid services (advice, referral, information, mediation, litigation).
∎ Many workers have in the past been able to access justice services and receive remedies because of the legal support provided by BLAST.
∎ There is still a high demand for these services among workers and no other specialist services are in place.
∎ BLAST will continue providing legal services to settle work-related disputes as well as ensure access to justice for more workers.
∎ Our services have proven to be useful in ensuring access to legal information and remedies to workers while using courts as a last resort.
∎ One effective way of ensuring that workers, especially women, can reach out for legal support easily and in a more cost-efficient way, is to provide the service within their living area.
∎ While mobile apps and hotline services exist, often in-person interaction is preferred by the workers.
∎ Paralegals will work to fulfill this requirement maintaining close communication with workers ‘ help groups, worker’s organizations, and local service providers.
∎ Arrange and conduct awareness sessions in the community to increase awareness of workers on the use of the Sromik jigyasha app as well as the protection of GBV, rights, and responsibilities at the workplace, arrange different meetings, and ensure the implementation of other project activities.
∎ The paralegal will receive instant applications from the workers who seek legal aid and also make referrals to other service providers such as health services, and promote the Sromik Jigyasha app to increase its user.
∎ The app has proven to be a useful and sustainable tool for providing legal information to workers.
∎ Key Responsibilities:
∎ Form community-based Self-help groups (SHGs) of garment workers in project areas, and meet them regularly to lead them towards sustainable groups.
∎ Ensure and oversee Group meetings of the SHGs. Make them capable of getting legal information using the Sromik Jigyasha app and sharing information with their co-workers.
∎ Conduct Awareness sessions among workers involving members of self-help groups.
∎ Handle queries of the workers on workplace and GBV issues, use the Sromik Jigyasha app, provide solutions and legal advice to clients, and communicate with respective supervisor/Lawyer.
∎ Regular field visits and communication with SHG members, workers, Trade union leaders, GO/NGO offices, and relevant stakeholders. Arrange meetings as required and ensure project visibility in the project area.
∎ Ensure implementation and reporting of project activities and achieve project objectives. Prepare monthly reports, event reports, and other data reports, as required.
∎ Receive complaints and applications from clients in the project area.
∎ Send monthly progress reports and attend NGO coordination meetings at respective UNO/DC offices.
∎ Meet and network with business bodies, local authorities, service providers, and community leaders for wider outreach of the Sromik Jigyasha app and to enhance cross-referrals for comprehensive support to victims.
∎ Make internal referrals to Dhaka Head Office, Legal Cell for pursuing mediation and litigation in appropriate cases and accompany clients to the Head Office if necessary.
∎ Make necessary referrals to other service-providing organizations for legal aid or other servicer seekers on workplace, family/land/health matters or livelihood issues.
∎ Liaise between lawyers and clients, other service providers, and community leaders for victim support and regular follow-up on cases.
∎ Assist in advocacy activities at the local and national level aimed at better protection of workers’ rights.
∎ Maintain and preserve necessary registers and files including an applications register, and copy of each application form in the respective office.
∎ Update CMS regularly and maintain office discipline.
∎ Promote the Sromik Jigyasha app among workers to increase its users.
∎ Carry out any other activities as and when required.

Compensation & Other Benefits:
∎ Festival Bonus: 2
∎ Costs in relation to any field work will be borne by the organization.
∎ Costs in relation to any field work will be borne by the organization.

Employment Status: Full Time

Job Location: Chattogram

Read Before Apply:

BLAST is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all religious, gender, and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. However, qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to achieve significant gender equality at all levels of the organization.

Company Information:
∎ Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
∎ YMCA Development Center, 1/1 Pioneer Road, Kakrail, Dhaka-1000.
∎ 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 prioritises 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, labour 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.

Address::
∎ YMCA Development Center, 1/1 Pioneer Road, Kakrail, Dhaka-1000.
∎ 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 prioritises 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, labour 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.

Application Deadline: 26 Jun 2024

Category: NGO/Development