Legal Officer

[Basrah,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 October 2019, HAI has started the Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund, a two-year program providing civilians victims of war with services aimed at recovering their physical and mental health, supporting their social reintegration and restoring their human rights violated as a result of the conflict. The program is implemented by a consortium of NGOs comprising Heartland Alliance International, Handicap International working closely with Iraqi Association of Disability Organizations, War Child United Kingdom, and Al Taqwa organization.

Activities will include MHPSS and legal services, including legal aid in any discrimination, juvenile justice, GBV or other violations, including legal support and advocacy for individuals who have lost land and property as a result of the conflict. The program will run in Baghdad, Basra, and Anbar with occasional movement to Ninawa, Erbil, Suleimaniyah and in other project or HAI office locations.

 

Position Summary:

The trauma rehabilitation and treatment center (TRTC) legal officer will be based in Basra in the TRTC with frequent travel to Ninawa, Anbar and the KRG. The TRTC legal officer will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the legal services in the TRTC, and ensuring that all legal services are implemented in line with the project work plan and in accordance with HAI and the donor’s standards and requirements. The TRTC legal officer will be responsible for legal reporting and oversight, including working closely with implementing partners to ensure successful legal services, and will work closely with the HAI senior management team who will provide technical oversight and guidance.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Technical Support:

 

1. Project implementation, oversight and development
   • Provide legal consultation and representation, for compensation cases discrimination cases related to compensation, proof of land ownership and registration in the Tapu office;
   • Coordinate closely with customary, humanitarian and peacebuilding actors working in the customary justice system to facilitate access, provide trainings on Registration / Civil Documentation (RCD) and Housing, Land & Property (HLP) rights and provide ongoing technical support and mentorship to customary justice actors;
   • Provide mobile legal assistance to beneficiaries who are unable to claim or realize their Registration/Civil Documentation (RCD) and Housing, Land & Property (HLP) rights on their own, through legal representation in customary proceedings, court, administrative proceedings, or through Collaborative Dispute Resolution (CDR) methods e.g. negotiation on behalf of beneficiaries;
   • Advocate for recognition of the RCD & HLP rights of displaced persons when engaging with stakeholders, including customary justice actors, building owners, local authorities and humanitarian partners.
   • Provide legal consultation and representation for housing, land and property cases and issues in court, but also through alternative dispute resolution processes;
   • Provide legal services for children and their families including legal documentation, birth certificates, etc.
   • Support the centers/legal clinics to improve awareness of rights and available services;
   • Support planning, organizing and preparing legal awareness sessions;
   • Collaborate closely with the project manager and project coordinator to monitor case load and provide accurate reporting;
   • Continually assess and evaluate project implementation of legal services targets and components against project work plan, in collaboration with project team; take appropriate steps to ensure project is on track in meeting deliverables and spending;
   • Support project multi-disciplinary team in providing practical solutions to complex legal cases; Support completion and writing of quarterly, annual and final project reports, ensuring timely and high quality reporting.

 

1. Communication and monitoring and evaluation

• Collaborate closely with project team to continuously assess status of legal services/components’ implementation against project work plan and target and implement appropriate steps to ensure project is on track in meeting deliverables;
• Working directly on providing legal services for the vulnerable target in the project and ensure that the legal M&E process are managed in accordance with HAI and donor’s standards;
• Foster effective communication and teamwork with the multi-disciplinary project team;
• Represent HAI to NGO partners, government officials, funding sources, other partners, beneficiaries, and at conferences, meetings (including relevant cluster and technical working group meetings) and other outreach opportunities;
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation activities and reporting meet HAI’s standards, and are completed on schedule;
• Support HAI’s legal team in participating and conducting internal legal audits as specified in HAI’s case audit guidelines.

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 October 2019, HAI has started the Marla Ruzicka War Victims Fund, a two-year program providing civilians victims of war with services aimed at recovering their physical and mental health, supporting their social reintegration and restoring their human rights violated as a result of the conflict. The program is implemented by a consortium of NGOs comprising Heartland Alliance International, Handicap International working closely with Iraqi Association of Disability Organizations, War Child United Kingdom, and Al Taqwa organization.

Activities will include MHPSS and legal services, including legal aid in any discrimination, juvenile justice, GBV or other violations, including legal support and advocacy for individuals who have lost land and property as a result of the conflict. The program will run in Baghdad, Basra, and Anbar with occasional movement to Ninawa, Erbil, Suleimaniyah and in other project or HAI office locations.

 

Position Summary:

The trauma rehabilitation and treatment center (TRTC) legal officer will be based in Basra in the TRTC with frequent travel to Ninawa, Anbar and the KRG. The TRTC legal officer will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the legal services in the TRTC, and ensuring that all legal services are implemented in line with the project work plan and in accordance with HAI and the donor’s standards and requirements. The TRTC legal officer will be responsible for legal reporting and oversight, including working closely with implementing partners to ensure successful legal services, and will work closely with the HAI senior management team who will provide technical oversight and guidance.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Technical Support:

 

1. Project implementation, oversight and development
   • Provide legal consultation and representation, for compensation cases discrimination cases related to compensation, proof of land ownership and registration in the Tapu office;
   • Coordinate closely with customary, humanitarian and peacebuilding actors working in the customary justice system to facilitate access, provide trainings on Registration / Civil Documentation (RCD) and Housing, Land & Property (HLP) rights and provide ongoing technical support and mentorship to customary justice actors;
   • Provide mobile legal assistance to beneficiaries who are unable to claim or realize their Registration/Civil Documentation (RCD) and Housing, Land & Property (HLP) rights on their own, through legal representation in customary proceedings, court, administrative proceedings, or through Collaborative Dispute Resolution (CDR) methods e.g. negotiation on behalf of beneficiaries;
   • Advocate for recognition of the RCD & HLP rights of displaced persons when engaging with stakeholders, including customary justice actors, building owners, local authorities and humanitarian partners.
   • Provide legal consultation and representation for housing, land and property cases and issues in court, but also through alternative dispute resolution processes;
   • Provide legal services for children and their families including legal documentation, birth certificates, etc.
   • Support the centers/legal clinics to improve awareness of rights and available services;
   • Support planning, organizing and preparing legal awareness sessions;
   • Collaborate closely with the project manager and project coordinator to monitor case load and provide accurate reporting;
   • Continually assess and evaluate project implementation of legal services targets and components against project work plan, in collaboration with project team; take appropriate steps to ensure project is on track in meeting deliverables and spending;
   • Support project multi-disciplinary team in providing practical solutions to complex legal cases; Support completion and writing of quarterly, annual and final project reports, ensuring timely and high quality reporting.

 

1. Communication and monitoring and evaluation

• Collaborate closely with project team to continuously assess status of legal services/components’ implementation against project work plan and target and implement appropriate steps to ensure project is on track in meeting deliverables;
• Working directly on providing legal services for the vulnerable target in the project and ensure that the legal M&E process are managed in accordance with HAI and donor’s standards;
• Foster effective communication and teamwork with the multi-disciplinary project team;
• Represent HAI to NGO partners, government officials, funding sources, other partners, beneficiaries, and at conferences, meetings (including relevant cluster and technical working group meetings) and other outreach opportunities;
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation activities and reporting meet HAI’s standards, and are completed on schedule;
• Support HAI’s legal team in participating and conducting internal legal audits as specified in HAI’s case audit guidelines.

• A bachelor degree in law, plus minimum 5 years of relevant experience in access to justice programming;
• Qualified as a lawyer which requires to be a member of the Iraqi Bar Association;
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of IDP/refugee context;
• Proven ability to calmly, professionally, and successfully manage multiple priorities;
• Experience working with NGOs, the UN, or U.S.-government agencies and understanding of the unique, complex operating environment in the Middle East;
• Knowledge and understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation concepts;
• 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;
• Ability to reach all governmental institutions related to project target;
• Demonstrates initiative and is comfortable working in a group, as well as independently;
• Ability to reside in Baghdad / Basra and travel to other project areas, including within KRI;
• Ability to provide clear direction and management for remote partners.

 

 

Language Skills:

English Proficiency Level Required: Intermediate

Arabic Proficiency Level Required: Native

Kurdish Proficiency Level Required: None

 

Other Skills and Qualifications (required): Please use this section to list out any other required skills or qualifications, some examples are: (1) Experience developing, reviewing and tracking budgets using Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks, and other financial management software; (2) Experience with USAID, CDC, UN, and/or US State Department funding;

 

Computer Skills: Any technology knowledge or skills that are required should be listed here, some examples are: (1) Proficiency in Microsoft Office, (2) Internet Explorer or Google Chrome, (3) Outlook/Exchange; (4) Windows operating systems; (5) QuickBooks

 

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.

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=576

 

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.

 

 

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, or HIV infection, in accord with the Organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact the Human Resources and Administration Office at (312) 660-1431.