Legal Service Officer (National position)

Job Description

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son provinces

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Coordinator for Community and Government Liaison, the Legal Service Officer serves as a liaison between displaced people beneficiaries, Community Legal Volunteers(CLV), legal community-based assistants (CBA), community-based organizations (CBO), community leaders, UN agencies, civil society, universities, Thai authorities and other related organizations, and provide translation , interpretation services and administration services focusing on protection and access to justice with an aim to strengthen the linkages between civil society legal services and displaced people within the camps and along the Thai-Myanmar border.

Major Responsibilities:

- Serve as a liaison between displaced people within the camps and along the Thai - Myanmar border and the Thai Justice System and civil society on protection issues and access to justice activities. - Assist in translation and interpretation during counseling and/or training sessions for displaced people within the camps and along the Thai - Myanmar border. - Provide accurate translation of project documents. Translate correspondences and transcripts for program staff, Community Legal Volunteers (CLVs), legal CBAs, CBOs, - community leaders, UN agencies, civil society, universities, and Thai authorities. - Assist the Legal team and lawyers in establishing and cultivating relationships, as well as maintaining close cooperation with community leaders, local government authorities, CBOs and non-governmental organizations. - Work together with the Legal team and lawyers on legal case management data record and data management. - Work together with the Legal team and lawyers to prepare monthly activity plans and reports. - Provide administration support for Protection- LAC team by coordination with, Finance Departments, and Operations Department - Perform other assignments as requested by the supervisor. - Participate in professional training activities as needed. - Represent IRC positively and professionally in both internal and external meetings and events.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Coordinator for Community and Government Liaison Position directly supervises: N/A Indirect Reporting: Program Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator for Protection Mainstreaming and Sr. Legal and Rule of Law Officer

Other Internal and/or external contacts: Internal: Deputy Director for Programs, Program Unit, Protection Program and other LAC- team members, Livelihood Program, Health Programs, Women’s Protection and Empowerment Program, Field Coordinators, Finance Departments, and Operations Department. External: UN agencies, Civil Society, RTGs, CBOs, NGOs and other relevant partners

Qualifications

Job Requirements:

Education:

The minimum high school or diploma plus experience working with community on interpretation.

Work Experience:

At least 3 years of experiences in translation and interpretation in Karen, Burmese and Thai on protection issues and access to justice and demonstrated experiences related to legal case management and able to provide or being co- facilitator on basic guidance and training to relevant CBAs, CLVs and CPVs

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- Ability to handle multi-task and sensitive issues. - Ability to deal with traumatized people in an effective and compassionate way. - Computer literate.

Language Skills: Demonstrated good reading, written, and spoken Burmese, Karen and Thai. Working knowledge of English is an advantage.

Certificates or Licenses: Knowledge of displaced person both in and outside camp situations Awareness of political effect to quality of life Able to travel regularly to the refugee camps and along and across the Thai – Myanmar borders

Working Environment: This position will work both in office in Mae Sot, office in Tak camps mainly with regular working in difference places out-side camps while provide legal and case management services however will traveling to other IRC offices and camps in MHS, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi.

Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

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.