Legal Officer

[Baghdad,Iraq ]

Transform the lives of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities and be at the forefront of social change.

About You:  A driven and passionate mid-career professional looking to work alongside an inspiring, dynamic team of leading human rights workers. The candidate will have exceptional case management skills and embrace a collaborative, team approach to the work they do. This person has experience living and working in challenging operating environments and is eager to apply that experience working on innovative human rights projects that support some of the most vulnerable people in Iraq.

 

About Heartland Alliance International: Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and communities. HAI envisions a world in which those whose rights have been violated are safe and empowered to actively engage in their communities and be at the forefront of social change.  In Iraq, HAI provides holistic services focusing on mental health and psychosocial support, legal aid, violence prevention, and social cohesion to diverse vulnerable populations.

 

The Project:  Heartland Alliance International (HAI), is implementing a project for its second year, project called Safer Future: Protection and Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Groups. This project seeks to ensure that children who are associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG), including those detained/sentenced and those disengaged and at risk of radicalization, benefit from a functional and child-friendly system of justice that protects them and their rights and a comprehensive community-based reintegration program that promotes safe and sustainable reintegration through comprehensive social development and economic strengthening services. Project activities will be implement in Baghdad and Ninawa governorates. The project services will be provide in the reformatories and detention centers in Baghdad such as the observation house for boys / Baghdad, observation house for girls, reformatory school for adolescents and reformatory school for juveniles. Also providing support to the juvenile’s families in Baghdad governorate due to the severity of needs in this governorates and the conditions inside Baghdad detention facilities. The project consists of three interrelated and mutually-reinforcing objectives: (1) Detained adolescents have access to comprehensive protection and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services and have their rights protected; (2) Children and adolescents who are released from detention and children in the community who are disengaged or at risk of radicalization have access to and benefit from  community-based reintegration services that are in line with international standards and best practices; (3) strengthening capacity of juvenile justice system in Baghdad governorates to ensure the safeguarding of juveniles rights and best interests and adoption of child- friendly approaches throughout all stage of the judicial process, including diversion, alternative to detention, and trauma – informed care.

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  The Legal Officers will be based in Baghdad – Iraq, and will work directly under the supervision of the Project Manager and the HAI Legal Advisor with close coordination with project senior legal officer. The Legal Officers will be responsible for providing legal consultation for the sentenced juveniles in detention centers in Baghdad governorate, and legal representation for the detained juveniles in Baghdad juvenile courts. as well as legal services for the released juveniles and their families. Duties will include but are not limited to the following:

 

• Conduct individual sessions providing legal information and legal counseling for the juveniles in detention center and rehabilitation school for boys and girls, and in the observation house in Baghdad, and the juvenile’s families.
• Ensure completion of case intake forms of legal cases and regularly update the case trackers.
• Represent individual cases in Baghdad courts.
• Coordinate with the case manager in maintaining legal case documentation and oversee the development of case summaries.
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation activities and reporting meet HAI’s standards and are completed on schedule.
• Supports compilation and writing of daily, monthly and quarterly updates.

 

Transform the lives of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities and be at the forefront of social change.

About You:  A driven and passionate mid-career professional looking to work alongside an inspiring, dynamic team of leading human rights workers. The candidate will have exceptional case management skills and embrace a collaborative, team approach to the work they do. This person has experience living and working in challenging operating environments and is eager to apply that experience working on innovative human rights projects that support some of the most vulnerable people in Iraq.

 

About Heartland Alliance International: Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and communities. HAI envisions a world in which those whose rights have been violated are safe and empowered to actively engage in their communities and be at the forefront of social change.  In Iraq, HAI provides holistic services focusing on mental health and psychosocial support, legal aid, violence prevention, and social cohesion to diverse vulnerable populations.

 

The Project:  Heartland Alliance International (HAI), is implementing a project for its second year, project called Safer Future: Protection and Reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Groups. This project seeks to ensure that children who are associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG), including those detained/sentenced and those disengaged and at risk of radicalization, benefit from a functional and child-friendly system of justice that protects them and their rights and a comprehensive community-based reintegration program that promotes safe and sustainable reintegration through comprehensive social development and economic strengthening services. Project activities will be implement in Baghdad and Ninawa governorates. The project services will be provide in the reformatories and detention centers in Baghdad such as the observation house for boys / Baghdad, observation house for girls, reformatory school for adolescents and reformatory school for juveniles. Also providing support to the juvenile’s families in Baghdad governorate due to the severity of needs in this governorates and the conditions inside Baghdad detention facilities. The project consists of three interrelated and mutually-reinforcing objectives: (1) Detained adolescents have access to comprehensive protection and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services and have their rights protected; (2) Children and adolescents who are released from detention and children in the community who are disengaged or at risk of radicalization have access to and benefit from  community-based reintegration services that are in line with international standards and best practices; (3) strengthening capacity of juvenile justice system in Baghdad governorates to ensure the safeguarding of juveniles rights and best interests and adoption of child- friendly approaches throughout all stage of the judicial process, including diversion, alternative to detention, and trauma – informed care.

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  The Legal Officers will be based in Baghdad – Iraq, and will work directly under the supervision of the Project Manager and the HAI Legal Advisor with close coordination with project senior legal officer. The Legal Officers will be responsible for providing legal consultation for the sentenced juveniles in detention centers in Baghdad governorate, and legal representation for the detained juveniles in Baghdad juvenile courts. as well as legal services for the released juveniles and their families. Duties will include but are not limited to the following:

 

• Conduct individual sessions providing legal information and legal counseling for the juveniles in detention center and rehabilitation school for boys and girls, and in the observation house in Baghdad, and the juvenile’s families.
• Ensure completion of case intake forms of legal cases and regularly update the case trackers.
• Represent individual cases in Baghdad courts.
• Coordinate with the case manager in maintaining legal case documentation and oversee the development of case summaries.
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation activities and reporting meet HAI’s standards and are completed on schedule.
• Supports compilation and writing of daily, monthly and quarterly updates.

 

Essential

 

• A bachelor degree in law
• Minimum three years’ experience in providing legal aid services in humanitarian settings (minimum Level B and C)
• Active member of the Iraqi Lawyers’ Syndicate.
• Strong analytical skills;
• A broad network of contacts and ability to navigate within the legislative and judicial fields in Baghdad and the IKR and across various ministries;
• A strong commitment to human rights and to implementation of international law.
• Demonstrated understanding of protection and ethical principles in humanitarian programming.
• Experience with Windows platform, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Excellent negotiation and relationship management skills, with the ability to proactively problem solve and find solutions
• Proven ability to calmly, professionally, and successfully manage multiple priorities
• Ability to reside in Baghdad and travel within Baghdad governorate and to the other governorate and to IKRs governorates.

 

Languages

• Required –Arabic (read, write and communicate)
• Preferred-English language.

 

Personal Competencies: Collaborative spirit and ability to work independently as well as in a team; commitment to knowledge sharing and teamwork; positive attitude and ability to see through challenges to find solutions; and strong interpersonal skills and an ability to clearly communicate, including complex concepts into layperson language.

Resilience: This project will address sensitive issues. Interested applicants should have a strong commitment to addressing the issues with cultural sensitivity, respect, and confidentiality.  Candidates should be flexible, have a sense of humor and patience.

 

To Apply: Please send a cover letter (1 page maximum) explaining your interest and how your experience meets the qualifications required and a CV, to 

https://heartlandalliance.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=492

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear back from us within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.