Description:

Location: Suitable candidate to be based in either the Western Cape or Gauteng Province

About NACOSA: 

We started as a convention intent on bringing together organisations working on HIV. We now render services and disburse funds towards a coordinated response to HIV, TB and GBV as public health threats. As an organization, we work at national, provincial local and community levels and strive to embody the ideal spirit of NACOSA. We strive to live our values and philosophy in every interaction and task. 

Our Values 

We recognize and respect the agency, dignity and strength of communities and people, we are connected to and grounded in communities, we value and embrace inclusion, diversity, and transformation, we put people first,

The duties and responsibilities of the Paralegal will include, but not limited to:

Programme Support

• Provide innovative solutions and gives legal advice and guidance to human rights and Advocacy project teams based on human rights violations findings analysis
• Facilitate Human Rights Toolkit training and mentoring sessions
• Conduct gap analysis based on the needs of key populations
• Perform research, check the facts of a case by interviewing key populations and witnesses
• Conduct court preparedness and support to key populations and attend court and certain procedural meetings
• Perform validation and interrogation of those human rights violations
• Analyse reported human rights violations for proper referrals
• Summarise key populations testimonies
• Conduct case management and keep statistics of reported cases
• Conduct interventions from referrals received from Human Rights Ambassadors
• Assist Human Rights Programme team in drafting legal documents and applications for mass marches

Reporting and Accountability

• Compile and submit monthly/quarterly narrative reports
• Document and submit monthly human rights violations
• Manage communication internally and externally, with relevant Human Rights stakeholders

Court preparation or referral to legal practitioners

• Collect, examine, and organize evidence and supporting documents for review and court preparation
• Draft and proof-read correspondence from lawyers and service providers

Case Management and Filing

• Organize documents in paper and computer filing systems
• Communicate with victims of human rights violations, schedule meetings for feedback and follow up sessions on referred cases

Requirements:

Required Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Bachelors degree in law (LLB) or equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years working experience as a legal secretary or in a similar role
• Advanced training on a legal /social /behavioural or health-related course is advantageous
• Good knowledge of human rights law/legal
• Detail-oriented and highly organised
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge and experience in community-based planning
• Understanding in conducting legal research and identifying Human Rights and Advocacy issues
• Experience with key populations, HIV/AIDS and monitoring and evaluation in the NGO sector preferred

Skills and attributes

• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work independently, manage large workloads, and keep deadlines
• Ability to plan and organise time effectively
• Ability to demonstrate cultural sensitivity when working with others and respect for the dignity of all persons, especially key populations including, for example sex workers and people who use drugs. 
• Knowledge of the Western Cape/Gauteng/ KwaZulu-Natal province/s and community resources in the province/s is advantageous
• A Driver’s License is required

PLEASE NOTE: 

Preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants who are members of the designated groups in line with the employment equity plan and targets of NACOSA.  We also encourage people with disabilities to apply. NACOSA is guided by the principles of Employment Equity. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply and an indication in this regard will be appreciated 

In the event that you do not hear from us after 2 weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful. NACOSA reserves the right to amend and/or withdraw adverts at any time without notification. NACOSA respects the privacy of its stakeholders and will treat all personal information provided in line with our recruitment policy and in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act