Legal Officer

BACKGROUND: Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.theIRC.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 25 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and life saving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies. The IRC has been working in Lebanon since 2012 to provide support to refugees and vulnerable host community members in the areas of women’s protection, children’s protection and cash assistance. In the third quarter of 2013, the IRC has started up a Protection Monitoring and Information Dissemination project (PMI) in Mount Lebanon to assist thousands of refugees and other Persons of Concern (PoCs). The project promotes a protective environment for adults and children, especially those identified through monitoring to be most at-risk of rights violations and problems in accessing services, through reporting and referral of protection concerns faced by vulnerable groups and individuals. The second phase of the PMI programme will continue to focus on ensuring that PoCs have increased access to rights and entitlements through monitoring, information provision, advocacy, and other support as needed; it will also include the provision of legal counselling and representation services – a new addition to the programme. SCOPE OF WORK: Under the supervision of the Protection Team Leader, the Legal Officer will identify legal needs in the field and provide counselling and representation in relevant administrative bodies. The Legal Officer will conduct direct case intake on site and will also receive referrals from other IRC sectors such as the Street Children team, UNHCR, and other INGOs. Legal Officers will refer cases requiring representation in religious courts to their direct supervisor.  The Legal Officer will be responsible for conducting information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements, legal status, statelessness and other issues as dictated by the field. As part of a mobile team, the Legal Officer will be focused on a particular location, enabling he/she to conduct consistent follow-up with clients if and as needed. The Legal Officer will work with community leaders to support advocacy at the community level and engage in mediation and negotiation as needed (around housing land and property). RESPONSIBILITIES: -       Conduct Mobile Field Visits 3-4 times per week to villages, urban areas, and informal settlements/tent clusters to meet with PoCs within the community according to monthly work plan; -       Identify legal needs in the field and provide on-site counseling to PoCs; -       Under the guidance of direct supervisor, assist persons of concern by representing them in relevant administrative bodies; -       Conduct case intake on site utilizing digital data collection system; -       Receive and attend to referrals from other IRC sectors, UNHCR and other INGOs; -       Deliver information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements, legal status, statelessness and other issues as dictated by the field; -       Work with community leaders to support advocacy at the community level; -       Engage in mediation and negotiation as needed (e.g. around housing land and property); -       Analyze data and highlight trends and legal protection needs in reporting to Protection Team Leader; -       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 through the digital system of the urgent legal needs identified and the actions taken to assist affected PoCs; -       Produce weekly reports on activities based on IRC and UNHCR tools; -       Work to strengthen IRC’s relationship with refugees, refugee/host community leaders and municipal actors in order to maintain good access to POCs; -       Supports Information Officers and Protection Team Leader to conduct advocacy on behalf of the community; -       Conducts other duties as assigned by supervisor. Professional Standards All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies. REQUIREMENTS: Previous working experience with an NGO and/or international organization in legal case management; Good Understanding of International Human Rights, Refugee Law and Lebanese law with special focus on Family Law; Familiarity with the Lebanese legal community; Ability to interpret, analyze and synthesize information in a fast-paced environment; Excellent organizational skills, timeliness, ability to determine priorities and great attention to detail Fluency in both English and Arabic; Proactive, flexible, team spirited and willing to learn; Good computer skills including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.   Travel and other requirements: Staff will be based in Beirut office, with frequent field visits between Mount Lebanon governorates