Uttaran
Requirements
Education
Bachelor of Law (LLB)
Bachelor or Master’s degree in law (LL.B or LL.M), Environmental Law, Human Rights, or Development Studies is preferred.
Enrollment as an Advocate with the Bangladesh Bar Council is a strong advantage.
Experience
At least 5 years
The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO
Additional Requirements
Age At most 40 years
Maximum age limit 40 years
Experienced working in NGO or development Agency
Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Minimum 5 years of professional experience in legal aid, field of rule and law, justice sector coordination, legislative reform, human rights advocacy, environmental law, or community-based legal empowerment within an NGO/CSO setting.
Strong understanding of Bangladesh’s land laws, environmental regulations, local governance structures, and human rights frameworks.
Hands-on experience in dealing with grassroots communities, conducting mediations, managing legal documentation, and engaging with local government authorities.
Ability to review complex land, environmental, and social disputes, evaluate evidence, and formulate sound legal and advocacy strategies.
Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills to engage constructively with local administration, line departments, panel lawyers, and civil society partners.
Responsibilities & Context
Job Location: Tala (Satkhira) with frequent travel across project working areas
Job Context
Uttaran is an NGO working in Bangladesh since 1985 to uphold rights and entitlements and to improve the socio-economic condition of the poor and disadvantaged community people. Uttaran is a people-centered organization using a rights-based approach to alleviate poverty, diversify livelihood opportunities and empower poor communities of Bangladesh.
Uttaran is inviting applications for the vacant position titled – Legal Aid and Advocacy Officer for the Uttaran under the project – Empowering Civil Society for Climate Justice and Environment Protection. This position will lead strategic initiatives to safeguard environmental human rights, secure land and water governance, and ensure legal redress for climate-vulnerable communities, CSOs, and EHRDs. She/he will manage the integration of frontline community realities with legal remedies and policy advocacy by directing legal aid mechanisms, panel lawyer coordination, and high-level LGI engagement.
Reports to: Project Coordinator
Key Responsibilities:
Legal Support & Access to Justice
Set up, manage, and oversee community legal aid referral and counseling mechanisms for climate-vulnerable populations, CSOs, and frontline Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs).
Provide legal advice, conduct initial screenings, and facilitate mediation for land rights disputes, illegal waterlogging issues, and environmental rights violations to NGOs, CSOs, CBOs, CSGs, and other community groups and organizations.
Liaise with panel lawyers, District Legal Aid Committees (DLAC), and local administration to support litigation, bail, or formal case filings when local remedies are exhausted.
Maintain confidential legal case files, registers, and case management systems to track legal aid support and court progress.
Facilitate implementation of the Legal Aid and Access to Justice Component of the project
He/she will responsible for case receives from the field and case distribution to the panel lawyers of Uttaran in lower and higher court both.
He/She will work through guidance with Uttaran legal aid committee and will heavily engage with the GoB legal aid cell at district level
Develop specific manuals for criminal justice defenders and materials explicating difference between legal aid, informal justice, and criminal defense as methods to increase access to justice in collaboration with the senior management staff of this project
Policy Advocacy & Network Building
Lead local and regional policy advocacy efforts focused on land rights, water governance, Tidal River Management (TRM), and climate justice.
Organize multi-stakeholder dialogues, roundtables, and public hearings with Local Government Institutions (Union Parishads, Upazila administration) and national line departments.
Build strategic alliances and maintain linkages with civil society networks, legal aid organizations, environmental networks, and media representatives.
Contribute to the drafting of evidence-based policy briefs, position papers, and issue memos to inform ongoing policy reforms and national governance discussions.
Civil society mobilization through functioning different committees (such as pani committee, Bhumi committees)
Liaise with local authorities to ensure coordination
Advise on building synergy between CSOs, government institutions, and other stakeholders working in the field of legal aid provision
Capacity Building & Community Mobilization
Conduct legal literacy and human rights awareness sessions for CSOs, CBOs, youth groups, and community platforms.
Train local climate activists and EHRDs on environmental legal frameworks, social accountability mechanisms (SAT), and basic legal safety protocols.
Coordinate public awareness campaigns, mass mobilization events, and solidarity platforms for community climate rights.
Shalish demonstrate at field level for staff capacity building.
Provide technical advice for implementation of legal aid activities and reform to maximize impact and
ensure realization of expected outputs
Monitoring, Compliance, & Reporting
Prepare analytical weekly, monthly, and quarterly legal and advocacy progress reports for the Project Coordinator and consortium co-applicants.
Monitor local policy dynamics, environmental regulatory updates, and legal risks affecting project areas and partner CSOs.
Ensure strict adherence to organizational safeguarding, PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), and legal ethics across all field activities.
Safeguarding and Compliance
Ensure compliance with Uttaran’s Code of Conduct, Safeguarding, PSEA, Child Protection, Gender Equality, Anti-Fraud, and organizational policies.
Promote accountability to affected populations (AAP) in all project interventions.
Ensure ethical conduct and confidentiality while working with vulnerable communities.
Other Responsibilities
Perform any other duties assigned by the senior management in support of organizational objectives
Skills & Expertise
Other Relevant Skills
Reporting and Documentation
Legal Affairs
Stakeholder Management
case management skills
Legal Aid & Services
policy advocacy
Capacity Building
Compensation & Other Benefits
Compensation & other benefits: As per Uttaran`s Policy and Project Design
Workplace
Work at office
Employment Status
Contractual
Job Location
Satkhira (Tala)
To apply for this job email your details to apply@chakricircular.com