Legal Aid Officer

Contract

This is a DRC - National contract. More about DRC - National contracts.

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 700 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Legal Aid Officer for its activities in Mykolaiv

This position will report to the Legal Aid Team Leader.

About the job

Under the management of the Legal Aid Team Leader, the Legal Aid Officer will provide advocacy on the rights of IDPs in the context of displacement, child protection initiatives, vulnerabilitybased individual protection assistance, legal aid, land and property rights, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, registration services for IDPs and conflict-affected persons, rights monitoring and awareness-raising, and facilitation of return and repatriation processes.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Programme activities:

• Provide high quality individual legal advice, legal assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other conflict-affected persons on their legal rights, interests and remedies in the context of conflict and displacement.
• To assist IDPs and other conflict-affected persons in obtaining information on asylum (places of residence), on the latest changes in legislation related to information and legal needs, restoration of civil documents, identity documents, documents for real estate and other documents relevant to the protection of their rights, interests and long-term solution of the relevant problem.
• Organise and facilitate awareness-raising sessions on the latest legislative changes aimed at meeting the information and legal needs of IDPs and other conflict-affected persons.
• Provide representation in court, if necessary.
• Ensure effective and efficient programme implementation, adhering to the budget and work plan.
• Participate in the preparation of monthly/quarterly/annual summaries/reports and proposals for donors.
• Participate in the analysis of legal issues for the preparation of information materials, advocacy letters, and policy briefs.
• Contribute to contextual and needs analysis, as well as recommendations/feedback on the development of new programme pathways and innovative approaches.
• Facilitate cooperation with implementing partners during project implementation, maintain database, provide monthly and weekly reporting on project activities.
• Assist in conducting legal due diligence as part of the DRС field staff.
• Coordinate with other departments in DRC to facilitate referrals and information sharing.
• Provide administrative and other legal assistance to enable IDPs and other conflict-affected persons to access social entitlements, livelihood opportunities, and government and non-governmental benefits and privileges.
• Supporting the organisation of public events such as meetings, roundtables, technical working groups and participating in such events on behalf of DRС.
• Any other duties that may be assigned by the Legal Team Leader that are relevant to the achievement of programme objectives.
• Comply with all relevant DRС policies and procedures.

Activity reporting/|Logistics:

• Prepare a weekly work plan in consultation with the Legal Team Leader.
• Track and manage cases.
• Provide data for weekly, monthly reports.
• Document results of needs assessment; including preparation of reports and other relevant documents.
• Assist in keeping the archiving system up to date (both paper and electronic).
• Assist in the development of necessary forms, questionnaires and other templates.
• Proactively plan and coordinate logistical support and the movement of staff to and from different operational areas.
• Initiate purchases and ensure their execution.
• Ensure that distribution plans are prepared and provided to logistics on time.

Coordination and representation

• Promote the development of referral mechanisms for legal issues.
• Establishing good relationships with beneficiaries, including understanding the needs of beneficiaries through regular visits and frequent contact with actual and potential beneficiaries.
• Assist in the provision of information and cooperation with community representatives and relevant authorities.
• Attend and participate in coordination meetings as delegated by the supervisor.
• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts on sectoral issues.

• Ensure integration with other sectors in the DRC.

  About you

  To be successful in the role of Legal Aid Officer, we expect the following:

• Excellent knowledge of Ukrainian legislation.

• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience, including experience in legal advice.
• Experience in non-governmental humanitarian organisations is desirable.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Fieldwork experience.
• Experience working with vulnerable groups and communities.
• Good communication, analytical, legal and research skills.
• Ability to provide quality, targeted and accessible legal advice.
• Intermediate or Pre-Intermediate level of English.
• Perfect command of Ukrainian and Russian languages.
• Confident computer and office software user.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer:

Contract length: open ended contract after 3 month probation period. Level: H – Non-Management Designation of Duty Station: Mykolaiv - Full time based

Start date: As soon as possible. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national staff.

Application process:

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages in English).

Applications are open until 17th June 2024

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

We reserve the right to conduct further interviews before the deadline for submission of applications.