Legal Aid Officer

Background/IRC Summary:  

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 20 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 40 years and manages and delivers large, complex programs to meet the needs in health, education, protection, environmental health, and livelihoods for displaced, poor, and disaster-affected communities. IRC works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations and is currently present in 4 provinces including Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and the newly Merged Districts of KP – Ex Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Job Overview/Summary:

The Legal Officer will play a crucial role in the implementation of the CP/GBV project, working within a multidisciplinary team to provide legal assistance and support for CP and GBV survivor of violence in flood-affected areas. The role involves case management for high-risk children and following up on the cases and providing legal assistance to the clients.

Major Responsibilities:

• Offer legal assistance and representation for children, women and girls facing legal challenges, especially those who have experienced gender-based violence.

1. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of legal cases ensuring that case follow-ups are done rigorously while maintaining confidentiality and principal of case management.
2. Prioritize high-risk children in collaboration with other project team members.
3. Develop and implement individualized case management plans, ensuring legal considerations are integrated into the support provided.
4. Provide legal advice and support in cases involving child protection and GBV issues.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Child Protection Manager and WPE Manager

Position directly supervises:  None

Job Requirements:

a)      Education:

The applicant should hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in law. A Masters degree will be a plus.

b)      Work Experience:

Minimum 3-5 years work experience in providing legal assistance and representation, particularly in child protection and gender-based violence cases.

Experience of directly working with Women, Girls and Children at field level.

c)       Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating CP and GBV programs is highly desired.
• Knowledge of national and international legal frameworks related to child rights and gender-based violence.
• Familiarity with the participatory approach and community engagement strategies.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience working in emergency or post-disaster contexts is an advantage.
• Strong communication and Interpersonal skills
• Experience in case management and individualized support for high-risk individuals.

Language Skills: 

Excellent spoken and written skills in English and Urdu languages and local languages.

The IRC Core Values and Commitments.

·         The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. By these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation, and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

·         IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff are suitable to work with children and have the knowledge they need to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

·         Level of interaction with children: Less direct contact with children

·         IRC ensures that its staff must actively practice the roles and responsibilities related to client responsiveness, and accountability to people in affected communities and must have competencies to solicit and listens to feedback and other’s perspectives, responds to feedback with maturity and sensitivity, and takes appropriate decisions and makes changes to behavior or actions in response to feedback.

·         IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures, and actions demonstrate this commitment.

Women candidates, minorities and persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.