Senior Legal Officer

**Job Description**

**Program Brief:**

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading agencies working in post-conflict and development contexts, supporting communities in over 40 fragile, failed and developing states. In this capacity, we work to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted, struggling to endure and wishing to advance on a path of development.

The IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since the IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs of both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded by cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC will grow over time its geographic coverage within Cox’s Bazar and to other parts of the country, thus expanding its’ networks and partnerships around emergency preparedness and response work, reaching beyond the Rohingya refugees, also targeting the vulnerable host groups in Cox’s Bazar and other parts of Bangladesh.

**Purpose of the Role**

The Senior Legal Officer will be responsible for providing technical guidance and oversight of legal services to partners and direct program implementation in the host community. This will include leading internal and external legal capacity-building activities and identifying and analyzing legal trends and issues of concern. They will also ensure coordination with IRC partners in the host community. Additionally, the position holder will represent IRC in advocacy and court representation for clients at court and police station, in coordination with IRC, partner and government programs.

**Job Descriptions**:

- Supervise partner legal officers and maintain regular contact and support to partners for representing cases at police stations to file GD/FIR/Complaint.
- Ensure capacity building of partner staff on legal standards and instruments in line with national and international laws and regulations.
- Represent clients in court, especially in GBV cases.
- Properly monitor the documentation process, including legal documents of partners, to maintain proper filing and registers regarding cases as per guidelines.
- Ensure partners are aligned with the project plan, regularly monitored, and maintain proper reporting and documentation.
- Regularly scrutinize location-based documentation.
- Support legal officers in conducting mediation meetings when necessary.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly legal statements/reports regarding received cases, mediation, litigation, and case studies as per guidelines.
- Conduct, organize, and attend meetings, workshops, seminars, and training courses for staff, partners, and government officials.
- Identify advocacy issues and regularly engage in advocacy with the government, including local justice mechanisms. Ensure necessary capacity building for government and non-government organizations on protection, human rights, and national and international laws and policies.
- Perform all regular duties under the supervision of the Legal Manager and seek technical support from resource persons when needed.
- Manage case files, ensuring that summaries are properly prepared and updated, litigation files are securely maintained, and records and documents needed for litigation are collected and organized.
- Perform all other duties as required by the organization.

**Representation, Coordination & Advocacy:**

- Forge connections with counterparts, including the District Legal Aid Committee (DLAC), Union Legal Aid Committee (ULAC), protection sector, UNHCR legal unit, INGOs, local NGOs, and other governmental and non-governmental partners.
- Collaborate closely with other program departments to ensure effective linkages between programs and the incorporation of best practices from training.

**Additional Responsibilities:**

- Communication between local judiciary and District legal Aid Committee.
- Support to Technical Manager for reporting and other relevant project work.
- Support to PRoL team if required.

**Qualifications**

**Required Skills/Abilities:**

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office (Bengali and English) Suite or related software.
- Basic understanding of court and administrative proceedings and documentation.
- Thorough understanding of legal assistance and drafting GD/FIR/Complaint, criminal case and civil litigation files, bail petition and proper maintenance of all legal records.
- Superior proficiency in administrative tasks.
- Proficiency in local language.

**Education and Experience:**

- Enrolled as an Advocate in Bangladesh Bar Council at least 3 years of enrollment experience.
- Completed LL. B (Hon’s)/LL.M from a reputed University.
- Experience in court practice of civil litigation and criminal cases.
- At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian response with one year of supervisory Role in legal department.