Legal Assistant

INTERSOS is a non-profit humanitarian aid organization 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 organizations and the values and principles expressed within those codes. INTERSOS is recognized 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 decentralized offices.

Job Title      : Legal Assistant

Reports to         : Protection Manager

Duty Station       : Beirut, Mount Lebanon, with regular field visits

Position Type    : Full time

Job Purpose:

The Legal Assistant is responsible for supporting the Legal Consultants and the Protection Manager in providing legal information, and counseling to vulnerable persons, in accordance with INTERSOS’ mandate, priorities and donor agreements.

Main Duties:

• Legal identity including obtaining civil documentation necessary to access rights and services (birth registration, marriage registration)
• Citizenship and statelessness issues related to displacement
• Family Law
• Labor Law
• Legal Residency

Exceptionally, the team may engage in other thematic areas based on needs and external requests.

Generic Duties:

1. Conduct basic interviews with PoCs in order to assess legal and urgent protection needs.
2. Provide legal information to beneficiaries on main legal issues encountered.
3. Carry out all tasks respecting key protection principles, including but not limited to: do no harm, non-discrimination, confidentiality, accountability and need-to-know principles
4. Provide counselling on main legal issues identified
5. Plan, organize and facilitate awareness legal sessions in the area of operation according to identified needs
6. Be involved in the office organization of awareness sessions or any other topic to be decided according to the need, in close coordination with the Legal Consultant.
7. Attend meetings and workshop/training as requested by the line manager or Project Manager.
8. Respect deadline for the delivering of weekly and monthly reports and any kind of urgent reporting to the Project Manager or Protection Manager.
9. Document cases under his/her responsibility on the internal legal platform/database and ensure that any progress on action plan and any significant change in client’s overall situation is timely and duly recorded
10. Ensure proper and safe filing and archiving of legal cases files maintaining data confidentiality
11. Any other task not listed here but necessary to the project and activities and available to work extra hours and/or at the weekend for emergency cases.

Competencies: (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

Professional Competencies:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant working experience.
• Previous experience in humanitarian Work (working on stateless community related legal problems).
• Prior experience in working with governmental authorities is added value.
• Familiarity with international protection and human rights legal standards.
• Knowledge on how to communicate with vulnerable population groups, such as women, children, youth, elderly, disable and refugees.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of local communities and customary rules.
• Excellent analysis and reporting.
• Good understanding of the humanitarian context.
• Computer/IT literacy (OS Windows/Linux, MS Office, Internet etc.).
• Driving License.

Behavioural competencies:

• Teamwork
• Initiative
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Respect and  non-discriminatory attitude
• Planning and Organizing
• Flexibility and adaptability and Ability to work under pressure
• Strongly objective and impartial reasoning
• Ethical and transparent decision-making
• Independence, i.e. conducting tasks with minimal supervision, and stress resilience
• Self-motivation, goal/result-orientation.
•  Cultural awareness; excellent knowledge and understanding of local communities and customary rules.
• Empathetic
• Humanitarian motivation and commitment to INTERSOS values
• Respect of Intersos policies and procedures