Legal Specialist

INTERSOS is a non-profit humanitarian aid organisation that works to bring assistance to people in danger, victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Established in 1992 with support from the Italian Federation of Trade Unions, its actions are based on the values of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equal rights and opportunities for all people and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable and the unprotected.

INTERSOS identifies with the core values of CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs; it adheres to international codes of conduct for humanitarian organisations and the values and principles expressed within those codes. INTERSOS is recognised by the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the European Commission and the principal UN agencies; it is privileged to hold an advisory status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
INTERSOS is an independent association which, through its own humanitarian operators, intervenes to effectively answer the needs of people in serious crises situations, mainly in the world's poorest regions, who are suffering, deprived of rights, dignity and essentials goods. It maintains a flexible operating structure. The head office in Italy coordinates, supports and monitors the planned activities in the countries of intervention carried out by decentralised offices.

Job Purpose:

Under the supervision of, and in close collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, the position is aimed at ensuring technical support and quality of INTERSOS protection activities on the legal component, with a focus on quality legal case management and development of INTERSOS - Lebanon’s legal assistance strategy. 

Generic Duties:

1.    To contribute to the definition of the protection strategy, notably the legal component, for INTERSOS mission

2.    Responsible for the appropriateness and quality of legal interventions

3.    In coordination with the Protection coordinator, contribute to INTERSOS representation before protection relevant authorities, and in the legal coordination mechanism

4.    Coordinate and build the capacity of the protection legal team

5.    Provide support to the HOM, the Protection Coordination and Program Coordinator on drafting new projects and budget preparation regarding the legal aspects

6.    Provide technical guidelines and support to PM on legal technical aspects and project management

Specific Duties:

1. To contribute to the definition of the protection strategy, notably the legal component, for INTERSOS mission
   1. Support the development of new project and programme proposals by providing technical legal input to and feedback about the project/programme approach and methodology
   2. Under the Protection Coordinator, contribute to the development of legal component of the mission protection strategy
   3. Work with Protection and Project Managers to develop quarterly technical support and learning exchange plans among the regions, based on needs/interests of the teams and/or individuals
   4. Promote harmonization of the legal assistance program methodologies by developing and monitoring, in collaboration with legal field staff, the use of common tools

1. Responsible for the appropriateness and quality of legal interventions
   1. Monitor and update the national legal context
   2. Ensure a qualitative implementation of INTERSOS program through the regular supervision of the project, the team and the activities
   3. Ensure at the national level the good implementation of harmonized SOP, policies and ethical code

3.         In coordination with the Protection Coordinator, contribute to INTERSOS representation before protection relevant authorities, and in the legal coordination mechanism

1. Proactively engage with donors, international NGO and other actors participating in relevant coordination meetings (e.g. PWG, Legal Actors, Technical Durable Solutions).
2. Participate to bilateral meetings with donors when relevant

4.         Coordinate and build the capacity of the protection legal team

1. Support in the recruitment and selection of legal staff
2. Ensure the legal assistance staff adheres to international legal professional standards and principles in the context of service delivery
3. According to identified needs and resources available, conduct trainings, workshops, and seminars for national and international staff on legally related issues and interventions
4. Follow up on internal and external local training opportunities and shares information/coordinates with the POs/PMs or any other relevant team member. Support in the identification of possible training needs/interest (by team/individual), taking into consideration program/project needs and capacity building/training plans, and that training/workshop learning is cycled back to the team, including training evaluations and inclusion of learning in regional quarterly technical support and learning exchange plans
5. In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator and relevant PMs/POs, ensure that all relevant legal staff are trained on basic GBV, PWSN, and CP case management, safe identification and referral, and general protection principles.

5.         Provide support to the HOM, the Protection Coordination and Program Coordinator on drafting new projects and budget preparation

a. Contribute to the need assessment and proposal design when needed

b. Contribute to the project planning process (logical framework, budget, proposal writing)

c. Contribute to the quality of the reporting process by supervising the report and ensuring consistent and appropriate content

6.         Provide technical guidelines and support to PM on legal technical aspects and project management

1. Ensure that all materials (e.g. tools, PowerPoints) created and/or used for trainings or workshops (internal and external) are shared nationally and/or between/among regions
2. Conduct regular legal assistance team meetings, based on team needs and availability, but at least once a quarter, and ensure that information from regional legal assistance team meetings is shared at the national level on an on-going basis (e.g. email/WhatsApp updates) and shared, as necessary, to the proper group (e.g. PWG, Legal actors, etc…)
3. Finalize and roll out the Legal Assistance SOPs in collaboration with the PMs/POs and legal field teams. Ensure quality of implementation through regular spot checks on implementation of legal tools (e.g. legal and ECA case tracking sheets). Work with the PMs/POs to develop a national plan of support from regional field teams (e.g. rotating staff members weekly/monthly to do spot checking for regions other than their own)
4. Prepare case audits (in collaboration with Protection Officers and the Protection Coordinator) to evaluate the quality of services provision
5. Evaluate tools for utility, time consumption and need, explore opportunities to improve level of confidentiality and centralization of beneficiary information (e.g. Knack for legal), as well as how to better utilize tools for analysis, especially for report writing and proposal development

Competencies: (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

Professional Competencies:

• At least 5 years of experience in humanitarian assistance on similar component.
• Good knowledge of the PCM approach.
• Expertise in legal aspect in Lebanon and international humanitarian law.
• Proposal writing skills and donor guidelines knowledge.
• Budget management (construction, follow up).
• Expertise in monitoring of projects.

Behavioural Competencies:

• High level of planning and organizing; ability to manage multiple activities and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills
• Very good interpersonal and diplomatic skills, and ability to negotiate on complex issues
• High level of flexibility and adaptability
• Teamwork
• Initiative
• Problem solving and decision making
• Strategic vision
• Leadership: developing and motivating staffs
• Driving and achieving results
• Humanitarian motivation and commitment to INTERSOS values
• Respect of Intersos policies and procedures