Programme Manager – Legal

Position Overview

• Purpose: Provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and national coordination for Kituo’s Legal Aid and Empowerment Programme (LAEP).
• Core Goal: Ensure legal aid interventions are professional, client-centred, rights-based, and aligned with Kituo’s mission of advancing access to justice and human rights.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Case Management and Quality Assurance

• Oversee legal services nationally (client screening, advice, counseling, pleadings, court representation, and complaint handling).
• Conduct legal research and represent clients in court, tribunals, high-profile matters, and public interest litigation.
• Provide case assessments on land rights, labor/employment, succession, criminal defense (human rights dimension), and civil disputes for marginalized persons.
• Develop workflow systems, client feedback mechanisms, and monitoring & evaluation frameworks.
• Coordinate mobile legal aid clinics and set professional quality/confidentiality standards for case files and registers.

Programme Strategy, Partnerships, and Resource Mobilisation

• Develop implementation frameworks (workplans, budgets) to expand pro-bono networks and legal aid services.
• Coordinate fundraising strategies, alternative revenue sources, and visibility campaigns with the Executive Director.
• Build sustainable networks with legal aid institutions, the Judiciary, National Legal Aid Service, donors, and stakeholders.
• Research public interest legal problems and develop multi-pronged impact litigation and systemic solutions.

Volunteer Advocates Network

• Develop work schedules and allocate continuous court cases to volunteer advocates.
• Lead the recruitment, induction, training, mentorship, and management of the pro-bono advocate roster and referrals.

Legal Empowerment

• Design and oversee implementation of legal literacy and awareness campaigns.
• Run capacity-building programs for paralegals, community justice centers, and alternative justice systems.

Legal Advisory Services

• Serve as senior internal legal advisor to the Executive Director, Board, and colleagues on institutional, contractual, and employment matters.
• Advise the organization on legal risks.

Team Supervision and People Management

• Provide technical supervision and coordination for LAEP staff and regional legal officers.
• Supervise, mentor, and train junior legal staff, paralegals, interns, and volunteers.
• Contribute to staff performance appraisals, capacity recommendations, and recruitment.

Planning, Budgeting, and Reporting

• Develop and execute annual/quarterly work plans and manage approved programme budgets.
• Review operations and provide periodic impact reports to the Executive Director, Board, and donors.

Legal Research and Documentation

• Conduct legal research on legislative changes and precedent affecting clients.
• Prepare legal documents, policy briefs, position papers, and maintain a comprehensive legal resource library.

IOther Duties

• Perform any other duties assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications

Academic & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognized institution.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
• Admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a current practicing certificate.
• Added Advantage: Master’s degree in Law, Human Rights, or related field; training in non-profit leadership, programme management, or governance.

Required Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of post-qualification experience in legal practice.
• 5–6 years of experience in programme coordination/management, budget oversight, and staff supervision.
• Depth of knowledge in civil, criminal, public interest, and strategic litigation law.
• Experience managing legal aid or access-to-justice programs at a national/multi-site scale.
• Independent external representation experience (courts, government, donors).