Legal Information Officer- Zgharta

BACKGROUND

Legal Action Worldwide

Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) is a unique non-profit network and think tank of human rights lawyers who provide creative legal assistance to individuals and communities who have suffered from human rights violations and abuses in fragile and conflict-affected areas. Our focus is on sexual violence and forced displacement. LAW works in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Lebanon Programme

From September 1st 2018, a consortium led by Euromed Feminist Initiative has been implementing a multi-county project “Strengthening access to protection, participation and services for women refugees, IDPs and host communities”, funded by the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis – MADAD. The overall objective is to improve the livelihood, agency and legal and social protection for Syrian women refugees, IDPs and host communities in the region, with focus on Lebanon, Iraq (Kurdistan Region) and Jordan. 

In Lebanon, the project is implemented by a consortium composed of Euromed Feminist Initiative, Care International in Lebanon, Lebanese Democratic Women Gathering and Legal Action Worldwide. The objectives are to enhance in Lebanon security and resilience for Syrian women refugees and women from host communities through supporting and coordinating comprehensive and structured services and referral mechanisms, as well as to support national institutions in their work towards more gender sensitive policy frameworks and legislation.

LA’s focus is on the provision of legal aid, access to justice for sexual violence and support to the reform of legislation and policy. Legal aid services will be provided by lawyers and Legal Information Officers (LIOs) operating out of Social Development Centres (SDCs) and LA's own legal centres in North Lebanon, Akkar and Mouth Lebanon. LAW will also work with lawyers to identify gaps in the current laws pertaining to GBV and refugees and work to develop amendments or alternative legislation to address these gaps.

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The LIO will: provide legal information to community members both through LA's legal centre in Zgharta and by conducting outreach to local communities; assist in facilitating community workshops; liaise with case workers and psychosocial providers to ensure all multi-sectoral needs of the clients have been met; and share information collected through the project with the SDC in the area, Ministry of Social Affairs, LAW, donors and government agencies as appropriate. They will brief LAW on trends in legal information sought, cases reported, effectiveness of programming and all pertinent legal developments.

The position is a part-time position and LIOs will receive a stipend of 700 USD a month. LIOs from organisations working on legal assistance or case management of SGBV and recent law graduates are particularly encouraged to apply.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reports to

Supervising lawyer

Duties

• Provide free legal information to community members through LA's legal centre in Zgharta, with a focus on survivors of SGBV and Syrian refugees requiring birth or marriage registration;
• Conduct outreach in the communities close to the centre to to inform people of their rights and enable them to access the services provided by the centre and by the SDC in the area;
• Co-facilitate community information sessions;
• Conduct legal advocacy with community mobilisers;
• Write biweekly reports detailing the number of clients served and the nature and type of legal assistance provided;
• Attend all LIO trainings facilitated by LA;
• Attend monthly meetings with supervising lawyers to report on progress, observations and lessons learned;

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Experience

• Either completed or currently completing a Bachelor degree in Law;
• Experience working in the provision of legal aid and assistance;
• Previous experience working with SDCs or other organizations providing legal services for vulnerable communities, for example refugees, people with a disability or the urban poor;
• Previous experience with local organizations who work and/or participate in SGBV task force is an asset;
• Previous experience working with the police and/or a good relationship with the police stations involved in this project is an asset;
• Knowledge and experience of criminal law, procedure, and/or human rights law is an asset.

Skills

• Skilled and sensitive communicator with people who have experienced severe trauma;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The LIOs chosen will need to be comfortable speaking in meetings with partner organisations and will be expected to have input into each one;
• Excellent organisational skills;
• Ability to take initiative and work without close supervision.

Language requirements

• Fluency in writing, speaking and listening in Arabic;
• Proficiency in writing, speaking and listening in English, including ability to write basic reports in English.
• Any fluency in French will be considered an asset.