Legal Assistant (Paralegal)

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title:  Legal Assistant (Paralegal)
Employment category: I
Reporting to: Legal Team Leader    
Unit/department: Legal
Location: Nyarugusu and Nduta camps
Authorization level: N/A

Overall purpose of the role: 
The paralegal in support with legal officer will raise awareness to PoCs on humanitarian cases and offer legal training in Nduta and Nyarugusu camps. He/She will strengthen capacity of national staffs, organize trainings and work closely with partners in preparation of events for legal awareness.

Responsibilities and tasks
•    In collaboration with legal officer, will provide legal advice and support to PoCs when  litigating refugee rights.
•    Work with legal officer in drafting legal documents and organizing case files, statutes and other legal documents 
•    Raising awareness to refugees and host community about GBV, child protection to refugees and asylum seekers
•    Directing PoCs to legal help desk when in need of legal representation and advice.
•    Keep law library up to date by monitoring legal statutes.
•    Work with Legal officer in preparing case details and preparing witnesses.
•    Linking GBV victims to case management officer and with legal help desk for more awareness and assistance.
•    Assist in preparing relevant reports as needed and share to legal officer.
•    Conduct community visits, focus group discussions with beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries to receive feedback on project activities.
•    Identifying and linking refugees to UNHRC to obtain refugee status, and help refugees to get permits of going outside the camp.
•     Take over any other task designated by legal officer.
•    Ensure DRC’s accountability commitments are mainstreamed into all protection activities.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience) 
•    Additional legal trainings will be an added advantage
•    Minimum two years of relevant experience in humanitarian context
•    Excellent knowledge of international refugee law and human rights law.
•    Familiarity with judicial systems across Tanzania;
•    Previous experience with electronic or mobile data collection software like KOBO Toolbox/Open Data Kit (ODK).  
•    Good understanding of the law and practice of the Tanzanian courts;
•    Experience of working in host community will be an added advantage
•    Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to consistently meet deadlines under pressure.
•    Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.
•    Full proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, as well as demonstrated experience in advanced data analysis or capacity to learn appropriate software.

Education: 
•    Certificate/Diploma in law with additional legal trainings.    
Languages: 
•    Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English and Swahili, knowledge of Kirundi is an advantage.    

Key stakeholders: 
•    DRC Protection staff, refugees and donors
•    Local Government (refugee camp) and host Community representatives.
•    Community groups. 
•    Other NGOs and relief actors. 

Core competencies    Basic    Advanced    Expert
Striving for excellence    ☐            ☒             ☐

Collaborating                  ☐            ☐             ☒

Taking the lead               ☒            ☐             ☐

Communicating              ☐            ☐             ☒

Demonstrating integrity  ☐            ☐            ☒

•Basic: I master the essentials, but may at times need help from others
•Advanced: I can work independently at full professional level.
•Expert: I am the go-to person when others need help.