Legal Aid Officer

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. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. 

 

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. 

 

  

 

DRC has been operating in Greece since December 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. 

 

 

Under the line management of the legal aid team leader, and under the supervision of the Attica Field Protection Co-ordinator, the Legal Aid Officer will receive referred cases to be followed up on site, provide individual counselling and case management as well as deliver info sessions on asylum-related legal matters and assist with different cases regarding the rights of applicants of international protection and refugees, in close coordination with the DRC Protection Teams. 

 

Furthermore, the Legal Aid Officer will develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support high quality implementation and coordination of DRC’s Protection and Legal Aid activities  

 

 

 

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

 

• Work within the scope of the legal aid team in Attica and in close cooperation with the protection teams in Attica and with DRC’s legal aid partner; continuously monitor and document the needs of the Persons of Concern (PoC). 

• Identify cases in need of legal aid to be referred. 

• Handle identified cases according to the needs. 

• Collaborate with legal aid partners to provide individual counselling and information about international protection, including access to asylum. 

• Provide individual counselling and legal assistance to Persons of Concern in asylum and family reunification related cases as well as in administrative procedures regarding issuing birth certificate, tax number, work permit and the like. 

• Provide group legal info sessions regarding the asylum procedures, rights and obligations of international protection applicants or other relevant legal topics. 

• Monitor and analyse the legal procedures, closely follow legal updates and practices for advocacy purposes. 

• Provide legal aid statistics.  

• Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned from each of the activities implemented. 

• Any other duties as may be assigned, relevant to the achievement of protection objectives.  

 

 

In addition to the above, the Legal Aid Officer may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Legal Aid Team Leader , Protection Field co-ordinator or Area Manager  

 

 

 

• License to practice law in Greece 

• Strong verbal and written English skills.  

• At least one year working experience in a related field; previous working experience with local or international NGOs will be considered as a strong advantage  

• Experience of working with vulnerable groups will be considered as a strong advantage 

• Strong computer skills  

• 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 prioritizing a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines  

• Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues   

• An understanding of commitment to DRC Cores and Values  

• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment 

 

 

 

• Core Competencies of DRC:  

o Striving for excellence 

o Collaboration 

o Taking the lead 

o Communication 

o Demonstrating Integrity 

• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration 

• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to humanitarian principle and high sense of ethics 

• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are needed 

• Ability to cope with high workload and stress and identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required 

• Multi-tasking and organizational skills is a must, and a good sense of humor 

 

 

 

• The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)  

• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus) 

• 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 Attika (Greece) and national terms and conditions apply 

 

 

Are you 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. 

 

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process. However, applicants must be aware that DRC cannot systemically sponsor non-EU citizen or non-Greek resident for all the steps of legal process to get a work permit and/or a residency permit in Greece.  

 

Applications close on the 26th  of March. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.