Legal Officer

About Penal Reform International

Penal Reform International (PRI) works to promote fair, effective, and proportionate criminal justice systems that uphold human rights and dignity. In Uganda, PRI supports access to justice initiatives aimed at reducing unnecessary detention, improving detention conditions, promoting fair trial rights, and strengthening legal assistance services for indigent and marginalised persons in conflict with the law.

Position Purpose

The Legal Officer will provide legal aid, representation, case management, detention monitoring, and advocacy support to indigent and marginalised persons in conflict with the law.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Interview, assess, counsel, and provide legal advice to detainees and accused persons
• Represent eligible clients before courts of law and tribunals
• Prepare legal pleadings, bail applications, submissions, and mitigation statements
• Conduct prison and detention facility legal aid clinics
• Facilitate diversion, mediation, reconciliation, and non-custodial justice processes
• Maintain accurate, confidential, and up-to-date client files and records
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and activity reports
• Participate in monitoring visits to detention facilities
• Conduct legal and policy research on criminal justice and detention issues
• Contribute to reports, briefing papers, policy memoranda, and advocacy materials
• Participate in national and sub-national advocacy initiatives
• Support awareness-raising activities and community dialogues
• Represent PRI at stakeholder meetings and workshops
• Supervise interns, volunteers, and support staff where assigned
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies

Location

Mbarara, Masindi, and Fort Portal, Uganda

Employment Type

Full-time