Project Description: Refugee Legal Aid Program

The Refugee Legal Aid Program provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination procedures in Egypt and assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries. The Refugee Legal Aid Program is seeking a Complementary Pathways Legal Officer to assist and advise at-risk refugees in accessing resettlement through complementary pathways.

Role

Under the supervision of the Resettlement Program Coordinator, and oversight of the Complementary Pathways Senior Legal Officer, the Complementary Pathways Legal Officer is responsible for the delivery of legal counseling to refugees denied access to asylum in Egypt. The Complementary Pathways Legal Officer will work in Coordination with the Complementary Pathways Senior Legal Officer to identify complementary pathways available for refugees denied access to asylum in Egypt who have resettlement needs due to risks they face in Egypt, provision of legal advice to urban refugees in matters related to protection, and representation in resettlement. This includes: the screening of refugee cases to identify those of heightened vulnerability fitting UNHCR’s resettlement criteria or needing protection interventions and drafting of detailed legal briefs in support of claims for resettlement. The Complementary Pathways Legal Officer is a member of a team of approximately 15 legal staff and reports to the Resettlement Program Coordinator.

Responsibilities

All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Resettlement Program Coordinator.

Legal and Technical

To conduct the screening and intake of at-risk refugees denied access to asylum processing in Egypt to identify their resettlement needs and identify viable complementary pathways.
To prepare relevant immigration and referral forms for submission on behalf of at-risk refugees with viable cases for complementary pathways.
To maintain good working knowledge of available pathways and criteria.
To assist with follow-up communication and inquiries regarding ongoing cases for complementary pathways.
To provide general legal counseling and assistance to refugees regarding their applications for complementary pathways, clearly managing expectations.
To undertake country of origin research in support of individual claims and for general organizational research purposes. To maintain good working knowledge of the current political and social situations in the countries of origin of StARS’ clients.
To assess extra-legal client needs and refer to other StARS teams or external organizations as appropriate.
To undertake comprehensive case management practices including maintaining and updating electronic databases and records for each client, and keeping detailed notes of all casework activities.
To adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, the StARS Policies and Procedures Manual, and the StARS Code of Conduct.
Programmatic

To assist the Resettlement Program Coordinator in development and implementation of team policies and procedures.
To provide case reporting data to the Resettlement Program Coordinator as requested for purposes of accurately reporting work to senior management, funders, and others.
To attend and contribute to meetings and other staff meetings.
To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.
To build and maintain relationships with psychosocial and education staff and operational partners.
Supervisory

To assist the Resettlement Program Coordinator in conducting intensive one-to-two-week training for new volunteers two to three times per year.
To assist the Resettlement Program Coordinator in the management of volunteer caseloads, and the provision of case specific advice.
To engage proactively in promoting self-care among volunteers and other staff.
To ensure high quality legal advice and representation and a refugee rights-based approach.
Finance and Administration

To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
Communication and Reporting

To communicate regularly with the Resettlement Program Coordinator, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within the Refugee Legal Aid Program.
To promote information-sharing within the Refugee Legal Aid Program and StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting with diverse segments of society. She or he will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human rights and refugee issues.

Essential Qualifications

English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo and StARS, the Complementary Pathways Legal Officer must be fluent in oral and written English.
Fluency in Arabic or a refugee language is an advantage.
Master’s degree in a related field (international development, international law, development studies, Middle East Studies) OR a qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction (J.D., LLB or equivalent) OR a minimum of one year of experience in representing refugees in the resettlement or Refugee Status Determination processes OR two years of experience providing direct representation to indigent people in any setting.
Excellent legal research and drafting skills.
Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines and procedures, especially resettlement criteria.
Knowledge of the general protection situation and vulnerabilities of refugees in Egypt.
A demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.
Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.
Proven experience drafting client affidavits and legal arguments.
Ability to exercise sound legal judgment, well organized, self-motivated, and reliable.
Demonstrated compassion for refugees and displaced people.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as individually.
A positive attitude and sensitive manner when dealing with clients including a range of interviewing skills for dealing with challenging scenarios, particularly in advocating for survivors of violence, trafficking, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence.
Desirable Characteristics

Experience designing and conducting training for non-technical audiences.
Managerial experience or familiarity with volunteer oversight.
Life and work experience in the Middle East or Egypt or with an urban refugee population.

Please send your Cover Letter and CV and brief legal writing sample using the subject line “Complementary Pathways Legal Officer”.