Legal Aid Team Leader- National Contract

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

DRC has been operating in Greece since November 2015, providing support to the Greek Ministry of Migration Policy in ensuring dignified reception conditions for refugees and migrants arriving on Lesvos island. In March 2016, DRC expanded its operations in Athens, in response to the changing context and the build-up of refugee population on mainland Greece.

Purpose

Under the close cooperation of the Protection Manager of Central Greece, the Legal Aid Team Leader will be coordinating the legal aid project in Central Greece, based from the DRC Greece Larissa office. Furthermore, the Legal Aid Team Leader will develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s Legal Aid program. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited, to the following:

• Organisation, administration and personnel management
• Ensures that an adequate legal aid officer human resources structure is in place, with clear identification of roles and responsibilities, tasks and work plans.
• Overall responsibility for the recruitment, management, capacity building, supervision and mentoring of legal aid staff.
• Ensure the observance of the DRC Code of Conduct, Code of Conduct of Lawyers in the European Union and the Code of Conduct of Greek Lawyers (Law 4194/2013) throughout activity implementation.

TECHNICAL

Taking into account Standard Operating Procedures of Legal Aid Unit:

• Manage and counsel on the identified legal cases from the sites
• Provide guidance to legal aid officers, regarding individual counselling and management of cases, on the asylum procedure/international protection/ family reunification/detention and cases that need legal assistance 
• Provide guidance for legal assistance in administrative procedures regarding issuing of birth certificate, tax number, work permit, social security number among others
• Provide guidance for legal aid group info sessions regarding the asylum procedure, rights and obligations of asylum seekers and recognized refugees and other relevant legal topics
• Provide inputs to reporting via tracking tools and support the development of legal aid statistics 

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Provision of periodic updates and inputs for donor reporting that is put in place.
• Provision of written reports regarding challenges or improvements concerning the legal aid components as relevant, including advise and direction for further development.
• Work in the field to be able to address the gaps and needs to improve the legal aid program.
• Any other tasks assigned by the Protection Manager of Central Greece to support DRC’s program.

Required Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer registered with Greek Bar Association
• Law degree and relevant experience with refugee/migration law and humanitarian law 
• Excellent verbal and written English and Greek skills 
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; working knowledge of Arabic or Farsi is a very good advantage 
• At least three years working experience as lawyer in a related field; previous working experience with local or international NGOs will be considered as a strong advantage 
• Strong computer skills 
• High professional ethics 
• Good training skills and a commitment to national staff capacity development 

• Excellent management and personnel skills to enable the motivation, encouragement and participation of team 
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, working with different groups, partners and nationalities  
• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principles 
• Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritize a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines 
• Ability to cope with high workload and stress and identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required 
• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues  
• An understanding of and commitment to DRC Cores and Values 
• Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others 
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment 

General Regulations

• The employee shall follow DRC instructions on safety, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
• The employee shall follow Code of Conduct of Lawyers in European Union and Code of Conduct of Greek Lawyers (Law 4194/2013, as amended)
• Employee should not engage in any activity that could harm DRC or the implementation of any project during the DRC contract period.
• Employee should not give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior authorization.
• Employee shall return all borrowed equipment for the project to DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law, and all allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus).

Additionally, the employee will be entitled to receive a DRC mobile phone and a laptop.

DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.

The position will be based in Larisa (Central Greece) and national terms and conditions apply

Application Process

Interested? Then apply for this position on line: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

Applications close on the 13^th of August 2018.

Due to the urgency of the position DRC reserves the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.