Supervising Attorney - Intake and Legal Information (ILI)

About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal, policy, and advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization that provides free and comprehensive legal services to people we serve through registration, protection, and resettlement processes.

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City and Washington D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Germany (Berlin) and Lebanon (Beirut). Our legal services are supplemented by a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading U.S. and international law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. IRAP has over 80 full-time staff, the majority of whom are based in the New York City office. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.

Intake and Legal Information (ILI) Supervising Attorney

The ILI Supervising Attorney reports to the ILI Director and will manage ILI’s caseworkers and its screening and casework in UNHCR processes. The ILI Supervising Attorney may work in IRAP’s offices in New York, USA; or Beirut, Lebanon.

Responsibilities

• Manage ILI caseworkers, including by:
• Hiring staff members, supervise staff, and liaise with HR functions, including directing the hiring process and making hiring decisions, making recommendations for promotions and compensation adjustments, approving vacations and work hours, and handling discipline and responding to grievances from staff under their supervision.
• Ensuring professional development opportunities for their supervisees, including suggesting and securing training opportunities, offering mentorship and coaching, and evaluating and managing performance including setting goals and objectives.
• Directing and providing general supervision and feedback to their supervisees, including conducting regular check-ins to offer and receive feedback, overseeing workflow, and maintaining awareness of staff schedules, workload, and time off. 
• Participate in departmental work, including by:
• Carry a caseload of ILI screenings and casework.
• Participating in department projects, including developing screening and self-help tools.
• Supervise ILI casework, including by:
• Supervising requests for IRAP assistance in UNHCR processes and ILI’s casework, including client counseling, drafting intakes and referrals to UNHCR and other partners.
• Maintaining and developing ILI resources, trainings, and manuals.
• Maintaining and expanding relationships with UNHCR offices where ILI conducts casework.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

• Law degree.
• 3-5 years’ experience as a legal representative in UNHCR protection or refugee status determination, or working resettlement processes.
• Highly organized and flexible; able to multi-task and manage a high-volume workload; and excellent time management skills.
• Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Commitment and ability to mentor staff.
• Ability to lead by example.
• The candidate must possess or be able to secure work permission in the country where they are applying to work.
• Excellent written and spoken proficiency in English is required.
• Excellent written and spoken proficiency in any of Arabic, Dari, Farsi, or Pashto. Please note any other language skills as well.