Ms. Itae Jane Francis
Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and all courts subordinate thereto
Areas of Practice:
Brief Overview And Experience
She is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and all courts subordinate thereto. Professional lawyer with exceptional skills, personality, a good team player who enjoys working in a dynamic environment. With good team building skills, able to work with minimum supervision for long hours, with Amulti-cultural experiences from various trainings and researches with NGOs, and local governments ranging from peace building, environmental issues, food and security and human rights advocacy which has rendered a great opportunity. I am a quick learner and a good communicator who likes sharing ideas with others.
Academic Record
- Post Graduate Diploma in legal practice, Law Development Center-Kampala. [2017 – 2018]
- Bachelor of Laws (Degree), Uganda Christian University – Mukono. [2013-2017]
- Uganda Advanced Certificate Of Education ( U.A.C.E), St. Mary’s Kitende [2011 – 2012].
- Uganda Certificate of Education (U.C.E), Our Lady Queen of Africa- Rubaga Girls [2007- 2010]
Short Courses / Trainings Attended
- November 2018: Attended one week training on Natural Resource Management (DADO) Kaabong District
- June 2018: Facilitating access to justice for persons in detention facilities in Karamoja sub-region By Uganda Human Rights Commission and UN Women (Moroto).
- June 2017: Attended one week Training on Nutrition and Food security By IBFAN Uganda.
- 2016: Attended 3 days training on Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms By ALARM Uganda.
Work Experience
August 2022 to Date: Legal officer at the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society – Moroto Clinic.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Interviewing, counseling and provision of general legal counsel to indigent, vulnerable and marginalized persons.
- Drafting and preparation of legal and court documents.
- Representing the Employer’s clients in courts of law, mediation/arbitration proceedings and or other tribunals.
- Representing the employer at forums and meetings with donors, partners etc.
- Formulation of articles for the Employer’s journals and newsletters.
- Supervise pro bono activities generally.
- Preparation and submission of monthly progress and activity reports.
- Ensure proper use and care of all assets belonging to the employer.
- Supervise and appraise staff under my supervision.
- Managing the Legal Aid Office.
- Any other duty assigned by the Chief Executive officer, Head of Department Legal Aid and Pro bono Services and or any other supervisor.
January 2021 to July 2022 – Assistant Legal Officer at the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society – Moroto Clinic.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Receiving and interviewing clients.
- Conducting mediations.
- Representing clients in court.
- Conducting prison visits.
- Conducting community sensitizations.
- Making and submitting reports.
- Counseling and giving clients legal advise
October 2019 to December 2020 – Legal Officer FIDA (U) Napak Field Office.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Receiving clients in the legal aid clinic.
- Making sure clients are given a warm welcome and good reception in the legal aid clinic.
- Conducting mediations and carrying out court representation for indigent clients.
- Making and submitting reports on the progress of the project.
- Accounting for the funds provided for project implementation.
November 2018 – January 2019: Volunteer, Governance and Advocacy. DADO-Kaabong.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Create networking and partnership with relevant partners operating within the district level to enhance peace development.
- Plan, facilitate and conduct Animal health activities using CLTS approach in transportation with community animal health workers.
- Advocating for pastoralists and animal Rights.
- Facilitate data collection, analysis and interpretation of Animal Rights data at district and village levels and safekeeping gathered information in the ANIMAL RIGHTS database.
Major achievements in the position includes the following:
- As a volunteer – Governance and Advocacy, I ensured that there was timely communication with other partners on the project implementation progress.
- The reports are submitted to project officer timely.
- Maintained records, files of intervention conducted in the community Linked with security providers (Soldiers and Police) to ensure information coordination between the community and the security providers.
- Conducted and facilitated Monthly meetings between local leaders and the community on issues concerning hygiene and sanitation.
- Ensured weekly work plans are followed and all activities implemented as per the monthly work plan issued by coordinator DADO-Kaabong.
April 2018 – June 2018: Legal Intern at Uganda Human Rights Commission, Moroto Regional Office.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Perusing files and writing legal opinions.
- Interviewing clients as when they come.
- Preparing witnesses for tribunal sessions.
- Facilitate advocacy workshop aimed at armed violence reduction, Conflict management education, conduct workshops on better liaison between the community and the security providers, and small arms sensitization etc.
- Carrying out inspection of detention facilities in the Karamoja sub region.
- Carrying out sensitization of the mining community in Moroto.
- Writing and submitting field reports.
- Conducting Human Rights Education through community barazas and Radio Talk Shows in the different districts of Karamoja.
- Attending and participating in different meetings with security providers in the region.
Major achievements in the above positions included the following;
- Coordinated with local authorities in Communities on community safety and security.
- Conducted successful human Rights Education without any loss of and equipment or security incident in the field.
- Held community barazas with other staff which led to good team work and working relation.
- Maintained records, files of intervention conducted in the community.
- Linked with security providers (Soldiers and Police) to ensure information coordination between the community and the security providers.
- Conducted and facilitated Monthly meetings between security providers and the community through what we called “community regular meetings”.
- Share the information collected was confidential and only viewed by the supervisor and the organization.
May 2016 – August 2016: Legal Intern, Chief Magistrates Court, Kotido.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Perusing files and writing legal opinions.
- Compiling and writing of monthly returns.
- Conducting and participating in mediations.
- Conducting legal research.
- Attending and interpreting during court sessions.
- Interviewing witnesses.
- Providing legal advice to clients.
August 2014 – September 2014: Parish Supervisor, UBOS-Uganda, in charge of Kasimeri Parish, Kaabong District.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Acted as primary link between the assigned target communities and TPO.
- Liaised with local leaders especially the district leaders and national government authorities in organizing the communities for the census activities.
- Ensuring that the Enumerators leave for the field in time.
- Ensuring that the Enumerators get the right and essential data as required by UBOS questionnaire.
- Filling in community questionnaires with the help of the local leaders.
- Ensuring payment of local leaders.
- Compiled and filled weekly reports with the sub county chief.
Work Experience
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to lead and work effectively as part of the team
- Strong numerical and PC skills; Word, excel, access, PowerPoint.
- Ability to work under pressure and to take on a wide range of tasks.
- Highly self-motivated with the ability to motivate others.
- Flexible, quick learner and adapts easily to change
Language Proficiency
- English (With very high proficiency)
- Ngakarimojong (With high Proficiency)
- Kiswahili (Good)
- Luganda (Fair)
- Luo (Fair)