Legal Field Technical Officer

All NRC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values: dedication, innovation, inclusivity and accountability. These attitudes and believes shall guide our actions and relationships. 

    1. Role and responsibilities

The Legal Field Technical Officer will assist in developing ICLA’s understanding of the legal situation and legal challenges faced by Syrian refugees in each area office in Lebanon particularly on issues related to civil documentation, legal residency, Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights, and employment rights. Through close liaison with the ICLA lawyers and other members of the ICLA team to oversee the legal component of the ICLA intervention, ensure that legal cases are properly managed and that legal assistance is provided in a quality and consistent manner while efficiently reaching target refugee communities in Lebanon.

Generic responsibilities

1. Ensure compliance with NRC policies, guidelines and standards
2. Ensure compliance with ICLA strategy, tools, handbooks, guidelines and standards
3. Provide legal technical support and capacity building towards project staff
4. Prepare periodic progress reports and other documents as required
5. Assist in strategic planning and development of strategies related to ICLA thematic areas.
6. Assess, promote and document ideas for technical improvement and further program development options
7. Assist in developing NRC’s understanding of the broad legal concepts, laws and practices regarding the Lebanese legal system.
8. Assist in developing NRC’s understanding of the situation, including the legal context (according to national and international laws and principles), for refugees and other vulnerable groups in Lebanon.
9. Assist with the identification of relevant pilot locations and target groups for ICLA activities.
10. Ensure that NRC’s related activities are implemented within  NRC’s Protection mainstreaming guidelines and report any breaches/concerns to the line manager and/or focal point for proper action.
11. Ensure that all protection related detected cases are referred to the concerned referral focal point and to the related Protection Coordinator

Specific responsibilities

• Draft legal analysis and updates and assist ICLA National team in drafting/updating legal scripts and provide refresher sessions for ICLA staff.
• Manage and follow up on the quality of ICLA Consultant Lawyers’ work while ensuring they are abiding with NRC ICLA guidelines and they are using case management tools properly.
• Share relevant advisories and legal tools with ICLA staff and Lawyers advisories and other legal tools and conduct meetings/trainings to ensure dissemination of the advisories’ content if needed.
• Monitor administrative bodies and courts practices, and share updates regularly.
• Provide monthly legal report and assist in donors reports.
• Participate in preparing and designing training materials.
• Assist in conducting information, counseling and legal assistance services for beneficiaries in accordance with the laws.
• Assist in conducting research, updating database, developing legal management tools, updating information sessions, mapping of legal services, conducting needs assessments, and monitoring of legal services.
• Establish excellent relations with beneficiaries, including understanding the needs of beneficiaries through regular visits and frequent contact with actual and potential beneficiaries.
• Document findings of needs assessments; including preparation of reports and other relevant documents.
• Assist in preparing comprehensive documentation of all relevant (previous and current) practices used by NRC and other relevant bodies for work on housing, land and property issues.
• Identify awareness raising and outreach opportunities for ICLA work, and assist in conducting sessions.
• Identify training needs for beneficiaries and stakeholders, prepare, and conduct needed training.
• Prepare documents; including case studies, statistics and reports on topics agreed with supervisor.
• Organize and participate in coordination meetings with other stakeholders and attend protection working group and legal subgroup meetings.
• Perform any other ICLA related tasks as assigned by the ICLA Project Manager.

Critical interfaces

• ICLA Programme staff
• ICLA external Legal Consultants and Lawyers
• ICLA National team
• Support unit

    2. Competencies

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results. They are relevant for all staff and are divided into the following two categories:

Professional competencies

These skills, knowledge and experience are important for effective performance.

• University degree in Law (preferably at master’s level) or related studies.
• Minimum 2 years of work experience in relevant field.
• Previous experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
• Experience of preparing research reports and other documentation.
• Experience of working with IDPs/Refugees is an advantage.
• Experience of working with non-governmental organizations is an advantage
• Fluency in Arabic and English both written and verbal.
• Proficiency in MS Office Applications

Behavioral competencies

• Planning and delivering results
• Handling insecure environments
• Working with people
• Coping with change
• Analysing
• Influencing