In-house Lawyer – Beirut, Mount Lebanon (BML)

BACKGROUND: 

The Lebanese Center for Human Rights (CLDH) is a local non-profit, non-partisan Lebanese human rights organization based in Beirut. CLDH was created in 2006 by the Franco-Lebanese Movement SOLIDA (Support for Lebanese Detained Arbitrarily), which has been active since 1996 in the struggle against arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and the impunity of those perpetrating gross human rights violations.  

CLDH monitors the human rights situation in Lebanon, fights enforced disappearance, impunity, arbitrary detention and racism, as well as offering rehabilitation for victims of torture. CLDH regularly organizes press conferences, workshops and advocacy meetings on human rights issues in Lebanon and collects, records and documents human rights abuses in reports and press releases.  

CLDH team on the ground supports initiatives aimed at determining the fate of all missing persons in Lebanon.  

DH regularly follows up on numerous cases of arbitrary detention and torture in Lebanon in coordination with Lebanese and international organizations, and with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.  

CLDH currently has four different offices in Baouchrieh (HQ), Dora, Beqaa and Tripoli. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Under the supervision of the Head of the Legal Department, the In-House Lawyer will be requested to:  

Legal assistance, including both counselling and representations:  

Assess the legal need of the identified or referred beneficiaries through a first intake; 

Provide legal advice, offering tailored legal guidance to the beneficiaries on their case; 

Identify potential legal risks in decisions or actions and recommend preventive measures; 

Advise on mediation formulas before escalating matters to litigation, when possible; 

If the case proceeds to legal action, represent the beneficiaries before civil courts, administrative bodies, General Security Office (GSO), Noufous, Embassies, or other relevant institutions, including mediation or arbitration hearings, provided that a Power of Attorney (PoA) has been obtained; 

Draft and/or review legal documents related to the cases upon need; 

Follow-up regularly on the cases and update the persons concerned; 

Produce legal reports on the cases, when required; 

Ensure proper documentation of the legal steps taken, as well as a proper filing system; 

Refer cases to Social Workers, other lawyers, or other team members upon need. 

Legal information sessions:  

Collaborate with the Social Workers and team members in the preparation of legal information sessions, including drafting and reviewing materials, content, and outlines for the sessions; 

Collaborate in training the facilitators, when required; 

Conduct information sessions on specific topics, when required. 

Reporting mechanisms: 

Register the legal interventions effectuated on CLDH’s internal database (Activity Info) and keep all the documentation of the cases updated; 

Provide regular updates on the cases to the Head of the Legal Department. 

Internal liaison and external representativity: 

Coordinate with CLDH’s relevant departments, upon need and when required; 

Report cases of gross Human Rights violations to CLDH’s Advocacy team; 

Attend CLDH’s monthly staff meetings, CLDH Legal Department periodical meetings, and other relevant internal meetings; 

Participate in events, training initiatives and external meetings, when required;  

Attend relevant clusters’ meetings, when required. 

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required: 

3 to 5 years of experience in similar fields 

Fluency in English and Arabic, French is a plus  

Excellent communication skills (spoken and written) and ability to work well within a team  

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications  

Education: 

University Degree in Law 

Further specialization in Human Rights Law, preferred      

Lawyer must be registered at the Bar Association 

Location: 

The In-House Lawyer will work upon appointment scheduled in CLDH’s center in Dora, then he/she will be required to follow up on legal cases in civil courts, administrative bodies, GSO, Noufous, Embassies or other relevant institutions within the areas of Beirut and Mount Lebanon.  

The In-House Lawyer will also be required to attend the periodical meetings of the Legal Department (in CLDH’s center in Dora or online) and other relevant meetings upon need.