Legal Consultant

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 Consultant

Reports to         : Protection Manager

Duty Station       : Beirut, Mount Lebanon with regular field visits

Position Type    : Consultancy

Job Purpose:

The Legal Consultant is responsible for providing legal information and counseling to vulnerable persons, in accordance with INTERSOS mandate, priorities and donor agreements. The Legal Consultant directly reports to the INTERSOS Protection Manager.

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.

Specific Duties:

1. Provide legal services including legal representation in court.
2. Inform of the individual progressive legal cases conditions on a weekly basis to protection manager.
3. Conduct intake interviews with beneficiaries in order to assess legal needs and provide legal counselling and/or representation with regards to the main issues identified
4. Undertake home visits to clients in specific cases, e.g. where the client’s mobility is reduced
5. Provide legal assistance (e.g. to obtaining civil or legal documentation or identification documents) to beneficiaries with legal or urgent protection needs, also by accompanying them to the relevant offices
6. Provide legal information and legal advice to beneficiaries on main legal issues encountered
7. Ensure the proper filing and archiving of individual legal files, maintaining data confidentiality
8. Support Legal Assistants in planning, organizing and facilitating awareness legal sessions in the area of operation according to identified needs
9. 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 Protection manager
10. Meet regularly with protection manager  to discuss about ongoing issues and strategy for the team
11. Attend meetings and workshop/training as requested by the Protection Manager or the Project Manager.
12. Perform any other relevant task not listed here but necessary to the project and activities
13. Available to work extra hours and available at the weekend for emergency cases.
14. Carry out all tasks respecting key protection principles including but not limited to: PSEA, do no harm, non-discrimination, confidentiality and accountability and need-to-know principles

Competencies: (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience as lawyer
• Legal authorization to practice as a lawyer, registered at local bar association (practicing civil and family law)
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of local communities and customary rules
• Excellent knowledge of the local legal system and legal procedures
• Previous working experience with IDPs, refugees and returnees
• Strong knowledge of international protection and human rights legal standards
• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Prior experience in working with governmental authorities is a plus.
• Knowledge on how to communicate with vulnerable population groups, such as women, children, youth, elderly, disabled and refugees
• Strong report writing skills
• Driving License

Behavioural competencies:

• Teamwork
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability
• Initiative
• Excellent communication and organization
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of local communities and customary rules
• Ability to work closely with a diverse team of individuals
• Ability to work under difficult circumstances
• Punctuality and respect for applicable rules and procedures
• 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 and team work
• Empathetic
• Planning and organizing and ability to work under pressure
• Humanitarian motivation and commitment to INTERSOS values
• Respect of Intersos policies and procedures