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 one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

JOB OVERVIEW

Under the technical supervision of the Protection Manager - Legal Affairs (Rule of Law) the Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law) provides legal information, legal counselling and legal assistance activities with IRC in Ukraine. Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law) will be based at IRC’s office in Kharkiv. This role involves fieldwork and collaboration with IRC’s protection teams and external legal actors. The Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law) will serve as a key person to implement legal assistance activities along the displacement routes and provide the evidence base to inform the organization about the needs of affected population for program adjustment. The Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law) will provide legal services both at the Community Centers level and through mobile teams. He will also contribute to the general understanding of the legal context in Ukraine, as the situation and needs evolve. Additionally, the Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law) will support advocacy efforts and contribute to the legal context analysis to improve protection responses.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create information content that responds to the legal needs of conflict-affected population, and provide information, either at the community center or other static centers  and through mobile teams;
• Work closely with IRC partners in order to support and guide the implementation of legal information, counselling and assistance;
• Provide individual legal counselling to individuals in need of legal assistance, either at the community center or other static centers and through mobile teams;
• Provide secondary legal aid in coordination with Free Legal Aid Centers to assist individuals who do not qualify for free legal aid and cannot afford legal services;
• Identify and refer where needed complex legal cases requiring specialized assistance, including housing, land, and property (HLP) rights, IDP documentation, and employment rights;
• Ensure continuous update of the service map and surrounding oblasts on legal actors and services;
• Ensure referrals are made and received in a safe way and according to the SOPs, and ensure referrals received are followed-up and that the referral tracker is updated;
• Support the Protection Manager (Rule of Law), Protection Manager - Legal Affairs (Rule of Law), Social and Legal Advocacy Senior Officer in data analysis related to legal needs;
• Contribute to advocacy initiatives by providing case examples and data on systemic legal challenges affecting displaced and conflict-affected individuals;
• Engage with the Legal Protection Working Group (Legal PWG) and other coordination mechanisms to advocate for improved legal protection responses;
• Constantly look for contacts among authorities and key humanitarian stakeholders and update the contact trackers;
• Contribute to the weekly movement plans for locations for legal activities on a weekly basis;
• Support and inform on the needs in term of legal assistance for people in Ukraine;
• Support IRC partners in implementing legal information, counselling, and assistance services;
• Assist in training IRC protection staff, partners, and other humanitarian actors on legal protection principles and case management.
• Contribute to IRC’s Protection Monitoring activities by conducting structured interviews at the household level and with key informants, in accordance with established tools and methodologies.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education: higher education in law

Preferred —valid Attorney’s License (registered at the Bar Association)

Experience:

• Previous experience in Legal information, counselling and assistance, preferably with an NGO
• Experience facilitating group activities, trainings and workshops and mentoring others

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Language: Bilingual in Ukrainian and Russian, with good verbal and writing skills in English preferred
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries
• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting
• High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel, with ability to work with data entry using software on tablets

REPORTING STRUCTURE AND TEAM COLLABORATION

Internal IRC Collaboration: Social and Legal Advocacy Senior Officer, Protection Legal Officer (Rule of Law), Protection Caseworkers (Rule of Law), Protection Officers (Rule of Law), Protection Officer - Capacity Strengthening and Program Development (Rule of Law) and other IRC departments.

External Collaboration: Legal actors, Legal PWG, Free Legal Aid Center, Protection and information services actors, government and non-government institutions involved in providing assistance to the population.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

• This role requires office work (approximately 40%) and field work (approximately 60%).
• This role may require travel to other locations (sub-offices).
• The organization cares about staff and provides flexible working options (start early-finish early, start later-

finish later, remote work)

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:

• Competitive salary
• Purposeful job and development opportunities

• English classes and unlimited online training courses
• Life Insurance
• Medical insurance for staff and family members
• Free psychological support to employees and their family members
• 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
• Up to 10 days of paid medical leave

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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