Position Title: Paralegal Officers
About Bridge International Academies
Bridge International Academies is a for-profit startup company revolutionizing education across Africa with a unique business model.
The company runs a large-scale network of low-cost primary schools in Kenya that significantly outperforms other primary schools in the same areas because of our “school in a box” systems.
Our schools profitably deliver this high-quality education for less than $4 per child per month, which enable the schools to cover all their costs and create a profitable central organization at scale.
We have launched 37 schools in Kenya, we will double in size in the next 6 months, and plan to rapidly scale the company to serve more than 1 million students across the continent.
About this position
We have and are continuing to develop one of the most sophisticated approaches to providing affordable education to MILLIONS of children in one of the most challenging environments in the world.
This position within the finance and administration environment, will report to the Senior Legal Officer and be responsible for offering detailed field legal support across the company.
In particular, the paralegal officers will play a major role in following up issues within the communities where we work and ensuring a professional approach to monitoring, following up, reporting and documenting arising legal issues.
Key Areas of Responsibilities:
- Support the development of the company’s legal structures and systems
- Developing and implementing action plans in consultations with department heads and the Senior legal Counsel
- Visit construction sites, schools and training sites to build adequate information on potential legal issues for discussion with respective heads of departments and Senior Legal Counsel
- Trainee contract reviews and follow up any defaulters in a structured way
- Handling correspondences on legal aspects and recommending appropriate legal actions
- Participate in drawing and vetting staff and commercial contracts, leases and other legal instruments while working closely with the lands department legal support team
- Train a team of champions within departments basic legal procedures and incident reporting.
- Ensure proper records and action based minutes of all legal matters handled at community and site levels
- Accompany staff on field activities where disputes and conflicts occur to guide discussions and collate all pertinent information to be used for decisions and actions.
Required qualifications, Skills and attributes
- Diploma or Certificate in Law from the Kenya School of Law
- Paralegal training with specializations in land, labour, children’s rights, arbitration or commercial areas
- Exposure successful resolution of labour issues and disputes within informal communities will be valuable
- Possession of strong and positive and reliable networks within major urban settlements in Kenya is highly desirable
- At least 3 years experience in a similar position in middle level management within a corporate NGO or working in a busy legal practice specializing in community support
- Qualified or well exposed arbitrator with proven negotiation skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word and Excel required)
About You
- Must have strong knowledge of customer relations/satisfaction as they relate to legal and commercial concepts
- Works well in an environment with firm deadlines; results oriented
- Perform multiple tasks effectively
- Able to work both independently and as part of a team
- Strong analytical skills required
- Capable of making timely, independent decisions while consulting as appropriate
- Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communications skill with excellent Kiswahili language skills
- Confident, courageous and persuasive in court and during negotiations
- Provides weekly and monthly reports and goes over with department heads and Legal team leaders
- Maintains strict confidentiality in all matters
- Opens and closes all legal files
- Responsible for overall coordination of legal issues
- Performs other related duties as assigned
- Possess advanced skills in customer service and provides effective solutions
- Ability to work long hours including weekends
- Passionate about children and education in Africa
- Must be well organized , detail-oriented and personable with a professional demeanor
- Excellent communication skill necessary to interact with other attorneys/lawyers and clients by both telephone and written correspondence
