Within the framework of this project, IRC will cultivate a protective environment for children by providing direct legal services to both parents/caregivers and children. Legal services will include legal information sessions to empower parents on pertinent subjects prioritized by clients/persons of concern and linked to their child’s wellbeing (such as marriage and birth registration) and legal case management, including for children in conflict with the law.  Legal case management may include direct representative in the court, administrative bodies and/or mediation with diverse entities such as hospitals and private landlords as required.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Officer, the consultant will identify legal needs in the field when required and through referrals received and provide counseling, assistance and legal representation in relevant administrative, judicial bodies and governmental institutions including but not limited to Mayors, Noufous and Ministry of Foreign affairs. The Legal Officer will conduct direct case intake and will also receive referrals from IRC departments, other actors, including UNHCR and other NGO/INGOs.

The consultant will be responsible for conducting legal information sessions on relevant legal topics, protection, rights and entitlements and other issues, as dictated by needs at field level and in accordance with relevant internal standard operating procedures. As part of a mobile team, the consultant will be focused on multiple geographic locations, enabling them to conduct consistent follow-up with clients/persons of concerns, if and as needed. The Legal Officer will work with community leaders to support advocacy at the community level and engage in mediation and negotiation as needed (especially with regard to housing, land and property disputes).

Deliverables:

Legal Information Session

• Conduct Mobile Field Visits to sites in villages, urban areas, and informal settlements/tent clusters to meet with clients/persons of concern including but not limited to refugees and vulnerable Lebanese within the community according to the weekly work plan in order to:

1. Deliver information sessions on relevant legal topics, protection, rights and entitlements and other issues, as dictated by needs at field level.
2. Identify legal needs in the field and through referrals received and provide on-site counseling to Persons of Concern; and,
3. Work to strengthen IRC’s relationship with refugees, refugee/host community leaders and municipal actors in order to promote positive outcomes for clients/persons of concern.

• Under the guidance of direct supervisor, facilitate one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions with person in concerns, state actors, service providers and relevant stakeholders in the field on selected protection and legal concerns.

Legal Case Management

• Administer the legal hotline as per schedule and delegation from Senior Legal Officer.
• Under the guidance of their direct supervisor, represent clients/persons of concern in relevant administrative, judicial bodies, and governmental institutions including but not limited to Mayors, Noufous and Ministry of Foreign affairs and,
• Engage in mediation and negotiation when needed including but not limited toon labor law, HLP and in relation to ID confiscation by service providers).
• Identify, document, and report the urgent legal needs and the actions taken to assist clients/persons of concern.

Reporting:

• Conduct case intake on site and uploading data on a daily basis utilizing the applicable digital data collection system.
• Analyze data and highlight trends and legal protection needs.
• Produce weekly reports on activities and share legal updates and decisions based on IRC tools;
• Conduct other duties as assigned by supervisor.
  

• Upon requests consultant can be asked to conduct other duties by supervisor according to changes in context.

Key Stakeholders and Relationships

• Consultant will be accountable to Senior Legal Officer, Senior Protection Manager and Legal Manager.
• Close coordination with other colleagues within WPE and other programs, TU staff, and external counterparts.
• Close working relationship with IRC Lebanon field office