Protection Legal Assistant at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Scope of Work

• The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring strengthening of community based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination and referral services. The IRC will also building capacity of government authorities, local organizations and local communities around protection mainstreaming and protection monitoring. The IRC will also include legal assistance and counselling services. The protection program is currently implemented in the NE states of Adamawa and Borno.
• Under the supervision of the Legal Officer, the Legal Assist will support in identifying legal needs in the field, provide counseling and assistance including representation in relevant administrative bodies. The Legal Assistant will conduct direct case intake on site and will also receive referrals from other actors, including other IRC sectors. With guidance from the Legal Officer, the Legal Assistant will refer cases requiring representation in courts to other specialized service providers. The Legal Assistant will assist in conducting legal information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements, legal status, and other issues, as dictated by the needs at field level and will also ensure consistent follow-up with beneficiaries.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mobile field visits to target communities to meet with persons of concern (PoCs) within the community according to the weekly work plan.
• Identify legal needs in the local communities and provide on-site counseling to Persons of Concern;
• In close collaboration with the Protection Officer, conduct case intake including oversight and management of legal cases in target communities.
• Assist the Protection Officer in delivering information sessions on protection, rights and entitlements, and other legal issues as dictated by legal status, by the needs at field-level.
• Monitor and report on legal trends in the local communities on a regular basis including collating, documenting and reporting legal issues identified in the communities.
• Assist the Protection Officer in keeping records of the urgent legal needs identified and the actions taken to assist affected PoCs.
• Under the guidance of Protection Officer, facilitate one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with returnees, host community members, state actors and service providers in the field on selected protection and legal concerns
• Support Protection Officer in developing and delivering internal and external training for IRC staff, community members and other stakeholders on human rights and legal issues.
• Conduct stakeholders’ mapping in area of operation in order to identify those offering specialized services.
• Take good quality activity pictures and submit to the Reporting/M&E officer and Protection Manager
• Assist the Protection Officer in producing weekly and monthly legal activity reports and attend regular IRC Protection sector meetings.
• Conducts other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• University degree in Law.
• At least 2 years of prior professional experience in a similar post, preferably with an international organization.
• Strong communication skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities.
• Experience in providing legal counselling and assistance
• Strong understanding of International Human Rights and Nigerian law
• Familiarity with and have an understanding of the Nigerian legal community;
• Experience in regular report writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
• Flexible and able to work in a dynamic and diverse environment.
• Good cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value
• Computer skills require (word and excel).

Specific Security Situation/Housing

• The security situation in the NE continues to be volatile at level 3 (orange) security level as it’s one of the three states of emergency (SoE) in the NE of the country.
• The candidate should be prepared to implement programming in insecure environments.