Legal Officer- Qayyarah

Khartoum

Organization: DRC - Danish Refugee Council
Location: Khartoum
Grade: Mid/Senior level - Mid/Senior - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Legal - Broad
Closing Date: Closed

Legal Officer

Duty Station [Qayyarah with travel to surrounding areas]

We are looking for a highly qualified Legal Officer with minimum 3 years of experience as lawyer. The selected candidate is required to work in Qayyarah and Southern Ninawa.

Who are we?

Danish Refugee Council is a leading protection agency pursuing our mandate to protect and promote durable solutions to displacement-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), DRC apply a regional approach with operational presence in Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Iraq.

Present in Iraq since 2003, DRC is today operational in the Kurdish governorates, in and around Baghdad and in several South-Central governorates. Focused both on the influx of Syrian refugees and the current IDP crisis, DRC is providing assistance in a range of sectors including Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Protection, Livelihoods, Emergency Response (including food security, cash, and NFIs), WASH, Shelter and Mine Action. The Iraq programme presently employs some 450 national staff and 45 international staff, and is growing to meet new, emerging needs associated with ongoing and recent conflict in multiple locations.

About the job

The Legal Officer is responsible for the provision of legal aid services - including legal information, counseling, assistance, training and court representation - to beneficiaries in the communities where DRC works, in accordance with DRC’s organizational mandate, priorities and donor agreement.

Reporting lines

Reports to: Senior Legal Officer and Protection Project Manager
Subordinates: No direct subordinates

Duties and Responsibilities

Disseminate accurate and impartial information to the beneficiaries through individual and group counseling sessions, advisories and leaflets.
Undertake individual sessions providing legal information and legal counseling as per the established work plan.
Organize, lead, participate in awareness raising activities related to legal information and assistance; \
Attend relevant coordination meetings and report back to the office.
Guide, aid in filing complaints and advocate before judicial, administrative or other bodies, according to the rules and procedures pertaining to provision of legal services
Conduct legal protection discussions with varied target groups – using an age, gender and diversity perspective.
With approval from the protection manager, advocate on behalf of individual clients, make direct interventions with local authorities (e.g. phone calls, letters or meetings) or other organizations (NGOs) or international organization (IOs), where appropriate;
Refer beneficiaries/clients to other DRC team members or other agencies offering the required assistance;
Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a referral pathway for protection and legal assistance, respectful of the confidentiality and consent principle and DRC Standard Operating Procedures.
Update case files on individual developments, following DRC Standard Operating Procedures and ensuring beneficiary’s data are protected.
Coordinate and maintain constructive relationships with municipalities, other local government institutions, local NGO partners, other international organizations, in coordination with the other team members.
Prepare activity, weekly and monthly reports.
Implement DRC legal fees guidelines and keep records for each payment.
Promptly inform the Protection Project Manager of urgent protection cases and/or issues.

Other

Any other duties as may be assigned by the Line Manager;
Conduct duties in accordance with DRC Iraq programme Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
Conduct duties in strict accordance with DRC Code of Conduct and the principle of confidentiality.
Ensure transparency and DRC’s positive regard and reputation within communities.

About you

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

University degree in Law;
Relevant professional experience of three (3) years as a lawyer; \
Familiarity with the Court system and the Civil Affairs Offices in Ninewa Governorate and in Qayyarah area in particular;
Familiarity with the legal procedures applied to both displaced and local communities, with specific focus on civil documentation cases (issuance/replacement of Civil IDs, Nationality IDs, Passports, Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death certificates, Residency Permits, etc.), and property rights;
Familiarity with international protection and human rights legal standards, with special emphasis on women rights and SGBV, is required; \
Excellent spoken and written Arabic and relevant computer skills.
Full respect for client/organization confidentiality.
Demonstrated interpersonal skills and respect for people with special needs and other vulnerability
Ability to work in field locations on a daily basis \
Ability to work in a multicultural context as a flexible and respectful team player.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

Advanced university degree would be an asset.
Prior experience or familiarity with DRC and/or persons of concern (including internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees) would be a distinct advantage
Report writing skills.
Experience of work in the UN or NGO or voluntary sector.

Competency profile:

Strong legal background and understanding of legal procedures
Strong knowledge and understanding of local communities and customary rules;
Excellent analysis and reporting skills;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Punctuality and respect for applicable rules and procedures;
Ethical and transparent decision-making;
Computer/IT literacy (OS Windows/Vista/Linux, MS Office, Internet etc.);
Independent work, i.e. with minimal supervision and under pressure;
High regard toward preserving confidentiality of work-related information and data;
Self-motivation, goal/result-orientation and team work;
Flexibility, creativeness, tolerance and maturity.

Languages:

Spoken and written Arabic are essential, spoken and written English are an advantage

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values.

We offer

DRC will offer the successful applicant a contract until 31-December-2017, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work from 20-August-2017.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level C1

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button.

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV only applications will not be considered.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk

Applications closes on 12-August-2017. The interviews are expected to take place from 14 to 16 August 2017.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website www.drc.ngo

This vacancy is now closed.
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