Trainee (Student)

Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria (CLA) in partnership with Bulgarian Lawyers for Human Rights (BLHR) are currently implementing the PROJECT: "Protecting migrants with precarious status: decreasing the use of detention and applying community-based alternatives" funded by the European Programme for Integration and Migration (EPIM), a collaborative initiative of the Network of European Foundations (NEF).

The mission of Center for Legal Aid – Voice in Bulgaria is to promote the rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers on the territory of Bulgaria, through legal aid and advocacy. Since 2009, the CLA has promoted progressive legislative reform and raised awareness on asylum, migration and integration. We provide pro bono legal consultations to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, as well as legal representation in administrative and judicial proceedings on the national and European levels. We also engage in research and monitoring, to support our advocacy initiatives, and participate in national, regional and Europe-wide networks.

The mission of Bulgarian Lawyers for Human Rights is to perform activities aimed at bringing Bulgarian law and practice in accordance with international human rights standards through strategic litigation before national and international tribunals and specialized legal advice in cases of human rights violations; elaboration of general measures for the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) against Bulgaria, and monitoring of domestic law and practice in view of the requirements of the ECHR, and providing and distributing information and education in human rights law and standards for the Bulgarian legal community.

DURATION: 6 months (March 1, 2017 – August 31, 2017)

POSITIONS:2 (1 with CLA and 1 with BLHR)

WORK CONDITIONS: part-time flexible on a schedule agreed on with the Case Manager and Case Manager assistant, 48 hrs/month, €3/hour, on a civil contract

START: as soon as possible

WE OFFER:

- Opportunity to acquire experience and knowledge in the area of migration and refugee law;

- Creating contacts among the multicultural communities, civil society and the instituions;

- Small dynamic teams and offices in the centre of Sofia;

- Recommendation Letter with successful completion of the traineeship.

The Case Management component of the Project consists of supporting in a holistic and individualized manner a selected number of migrants with precarious status. It aims to achieve successful case resolution.

DUTIES:

• Provides assistance to the work of the Case Manager and Case Manager Assistant in carrying out the interventions under the Individual Client Plan (finding housing, accessing psychological, medical, legal and other help; finding employment, getting involved in the community, completing administrative procedures, etc.)
• Together with the interpreters as required, works directly with the Clients (foreign nationals at risk of detention and/or in precarious situation) by making referrals and following up, accompanying the Clients to appointments when appropriate, assisting them in their interaction with the institutions and in the community, etc.
• Participates in implementation of the Individual Client Plan for each Client
• Other Case Management tasks as assigned by the Case Manager and/or the Case Manager Assistant

REQUIREMENTS:

To apply for this position, please send us your CVin European pass format and motivation letter in English on hrlawyer@blhr.org and/or voiceinbulgaria@gmail.com by 5:00 p.m. on 26^th of February 2017.

Please note that your CV and motivation letter are the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your motivation, experience and qualifications.

(Applications will be considered jointly, regardless of which of the two organizations received the application)

The selected candidates will be invited for interview that will be held on 1^st of March 2017.