Protection Legal Assistants at Future Resilience and Development Foundation (FRAD) 4 Openings

Purpose of the Position

• The Legal Assistant will support the delivery of legal aid and protection services at the community level in Gwoza, MMC, Gusau and kaura namuda LGAs. Working under the supervision of the Roving Legal Officer, the Legal Assistant will help provide mobile legal services, conduct legal awareness activities, support case documentation and referrals, and engage closely with communities and relevant authorities. The role is designed to ensure that vulnerable individuals can safely access legal information, assistance, and protection services in line with FRAD Foundation’s standards and humanitarian principles.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Service Delivery & Field Support

• Support the provision of mobile legal information, counselling, and assistance to individuals and communities within assigned LGAs.
• Assist in identifying, documenting, and following up on legal and protection cases, including issues related to civil documentation, legal identity, housing, land and property (HLP), GBV-related legal concerns, and other rights violations.
• Support community legal awareness and sensitization sessions on basic rights, legal procedures, and available services.
• Assist with referrals of cases to appropriate government institutions, legal service providers, and protection partners.
• Ensure that all interactions with beneficiaries are conducted respectfully, confidentially, and in line with survivor-centred and protection principles.

Case Documentation, Monitoring & Reporting

• Maintain accurate and organized records of cases, referrals, follow-ups, and legal assistance provided, using FRAD-approved tools.
• Support basic tracking of legal service activities and emerging protection or legal trends in the community.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly activity reports by providing timely and accurate field information.
• Support MEAL teams during assessments and data collection exercises when required.
• Help document challenges, lessons learned, and notable success stories from field activities.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with community leaders, traditional authorities, women and youth groups, and other community-based structures.
• Support engagement with relevant government institutions such as civil registry offices, customary dispute resolution bodies, and protection-related agencies at LGA level.
• Participate in community meetings, sensitization events, and coordination activities as assigned.
• Support community-based dispute resolution processes where appropriate, lawful, and in line with protection principles.

Awareness, Training & Inclusion

• Support delivery of awareness sessions on:
• Legal identity and civil documentation
• Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights
• GBV legal issues and referral pathways
• Child protection and basic legal safeguards
• Assist in distributing and explaining user-friendly legal awareness materials.
• Help ensure inclusive participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in all activities.

Operational & Logistical Support

• Support planning and coordination of field visits and mobile legal activities within assigned LGAs.
• Ensure proper documentation of attendance, activity reports, and case files.
• Support basic logistics and administrative processes related to legal activities in line with FRAD and donor guidelines.
• Adhere strictly to safeguarding, accountability, and protection mainstreaming standards always.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Diploma or bachelor’s degree in law, Social Sciences, Social Work, Human Rights, or a related field.
• At least 1–2 years’ experience supporting legal aid, protection, or community-based humanitarian services.
• Experience working in humanitarian or development settings in Northeast Nigeria.
• Basic understanding of legal aid, protection principles, GBV, child protection, or HLP issues.
• Experience in community mobilization, awareness-raising, or field-based support roles.
• Ability to document cases and activities accurately and responsibly.
• Proficiency in English; knowledge of Hausa and/or Kanuri is a strong advantage.
• Willingness to work in remote and hard-to-reach locations.

Desirable

• Experience supporting mobile legal clinics or roving legal services.
• Familiarity with customary and statutory legal systems in Borno State.
• Experience working on donor-funded projects (NHF, UN agencies, INGOs).
• Awareness of safeguarding, protection mainstreaming, and gender inclusion.

Key Competencies

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong sense of ethics and respect for confidentiality
• Community engagement and culturally sensitive approaches
• Basic problem-solving and organizational skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Commitment to FRAD Foundation’s values, safeguarding, and accountability standards