Legal Officer

Job Description

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 40 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and lifesaving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies.

The IRC began programming in northern Uganda in 1998 in response to mass displacement and devastation wrought by rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. In 2002, the IRC expanded to the remote, conflict-affected region of Karamoja and in 2011, began working with refugees in Kampala and Kiryandongo settlement. Monitoring the influx of South Sudanese refugees at the end of 2015, the IRC began scaling up its response to refugees arriving in the West Nile region. By promoting durable solutions that deliver on the interdependent aims of saving lives, strengthening institutions, and supporting social cohesion, the IRC in Uganda is laying the building blocks for long-term stability and development – bringing people from harm to home. The IRC currently works in the districts of Kitgum, Lamwo, Arua, Yumbe, Kyegegwa, Kiryandongo, Kyaka and Kampala including 7 districts in Karamoja region.

Job Overview

Under the supervision of Senior Protection Officer, she/he will identify legal needs in the field; provide counseling, information and legal options. The Legal Officer will be responsible for conducting legal information sessions, legal case management and follow ups, detention facility visits, awareness creation on rights and obligations of refugees under Ugandan Laws. She/he will work with communities particularly Paralegals to ensure access to legal assistance is accessible by all.

Major Responsibilities

•Work with Community Paralegals to support community leadership groups, especially Neighborhood Watch Committees to support advocacy at the community level along with Protection Officers. •Undertake regular monitoring and visits of detention and prison facilities. •Provide legal counseling, information and available legal options to refugees and other persons of concern. •Conduct legal information sessions on human rights and key Laws relating to protection of refugees and other persons of concern. •Conduct case management and follow up on legal cases with relevant authorities. •Closely work with Police to provide necessary assistance to survivors and witnesses. •Submit daily and weekly data, including narrative of high-risk cases to inform appropriate actions. •Participate in legal trainings as directed by the Senior Protection Officer. •Perform any other duty as assigned by the Senior Protection Officer. •Support Community Paralegals to conduct legal information sessions on rights and obligation of refugee, key offences and punishments in Uganda, International human rights laws relating to refugees and other persons of concern. •Support the Senior Protection Officer to analyze data, highlight trends and legal protection needs of refugees and other persons of concern. •Supervise community Paralegals in undertaking mediation and other aspects of alternative dispute resolutions. •Support the Senior Protection Officer in delivering legal trainings on national and international legal frameworks to targeted audiences. •Raise PRs to support procurement processes. •Any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Senior Protection Officer.

Position directly supervises: Community Paralegals.

Qualifications

•Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognized university. •At least two (2) years of prior professional experience in a similar post, preferably with an international Organization for degree holders. Diploma holders who can provide a significant experience of working with refugee communities and demonstrate an awareness of the challenges in this role may be considered. •Belief in human rights including gender equality. •Strong communication skills including ability to gain trust and build relationships with new communities. •Good understanding of International Human Rights and Refugee Law. •Basic computer skills including Microsoft Word and Outlook. •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 standard of spoken and written English language skills essential.

Deadline for receiving applications is June 20th 2022.

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

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

All staff, regardless of role, are required to create a culture of client responsiveness by requesting and using client feedback data to make decisions. In addition, all staff are expected to demonstrate inclusiveness when making programmatic decisions and working with clients, partners and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. You can read more about the IRC’s commitment to client responsiveness here: https://www.rescue.org/resource/client-responsiveness-introduction-and-faq

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.