Legal Officer

Major Responsibilities:
Field activities:

• Conduct Mobile Field Visits 3-4 times per week to education programming sites in villages, urban areas, and informal settlements/tent clusters to meet with refugees and vulnerable Lebanese within the community according to the weekly work plan in order to:
• Deliver information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements, legal status, statelessness and other issues as dictated by the needs at field-level;
  
• Identify legal needs in the field and provide on-site counseling to Persons of Concern; and,
  
• Work to strengthen IRC’s relationship with refugees, refugee/host community leaders and municipal actors in order to promote positive outcomes for clients.

Assistance and representation:

• Under the guidance of their direct supervisor, assist persons of concern by representing them in relevant administrative and judicial bodies; and,
  
• Engage in mediation and negotiation as needed (e.g. on labor law and in relation to ID confiscation by service providers).

Data collection, analysis and reporting:

• Conduct case intake on site utilizing the applicable digital data collection system;
  
• Analyze data and highlight trends and legal protection needs
  
• Produce weekly reports on activities based on IRC tools;
  
• Under the guidance of direct supervisor, facilitate one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with refugees, host community members, state actors and service providers in the field on selected protection and legal concerns;
  
• Keep records of the urgent legal needs identified and the actions taken to assist clients; and,
  
• Conduct other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Legal Team Leader (North) Position directly supervises: NA

Indirect Reporting: Other Internal and/or external contacts:
Internal: Protection Monitors (North); Information Officer (North); Protection Manager (North); Emergency Cash Officer (North); Field Coordinator (North); Safety & Security Officer.
External: Mukhtars and Nofous offices in relevant areas of coverage.

Work Experience: At least two years of prior professional experience in a similar post, preferably with an international organization.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Belief in human rights including gender equality.
  
• Strong communication skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities.
  
• Strong understanding of International Human Rights and Refugee Law, and Lebanese law with special focus on Family Law;
  
• Familiarity with the Lebanese legal community;
  
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft Word.
  
• Experience in regular report writing.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
  
• Flexible and able to work in a dynamic and diverse environment.

Language Skills: High standard of spoken and written Arabic is required, and good spoken and written English is strongly preferred.

Certificates or Licenses: Registration at one of the Lebanese Bar Associations is strongly preferred.

Attention Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Syria Response Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Working Environment: Standard office environment with daily travel to the field, around North Lebanon (security conditions permitting).