Job Overview
INTERSOS is an international, non-profit, humanitarian organization on the front line of emergencies, bringing assistance to victims of armed conflicts, natural disasters, and extreme exclusion with particular attention to the protection of the most vulnerable people. Since 1992 our humanitarian workers have been helping people affected by humanitarian crises: we provide first aid, food, shelter, medical assistance, and basic goods. We ensure that basic needs, such as education, access to clean water, and health assistance, are met.
| Position | Para-Legal / Legal Intern |
| Report to | Lawyer |
| Supervise | N/A |
| Status | Full Time |
| Duty Station | Balad |
All INTERSOS employees are expected to perform their roles and responsibilities according to the INTERSOS charter of values, code of ethics, PSEA and Child Protection policies. The job description is mandatory for all positions within INTERSOS and shall be signed by the employee within the first week of employment.
Purpose/objective of the position:
Paralegals / legal interns will be assisting the legal team in various tasks related to the provision of services to vulnerable persons, with an emphasis on legal issues relating to a) legal identity including obtaining civil documentation necessary to access rights and services (birth registration, marriage registration, etc.); and b) citizenship and statelessness issues related to displacement. Collaborating with lawyers and guided by the Legal Team Leader, paralegals /legal interns will assist in providing personalized legal support for individuals seeking to obtain civil documentation, support the planning and implementation of legal awareness-raising sessions on issues related to legal/civil documentation, and establish connections with relevant authorities.
The Legal internship program aims to develop the skills of the intern and provide learning opportunities and work experience for students or recently graduated lawyers.
Generic Duties:
- Conduct thorough intake interviews with beneficiaries to assess their legal needs, specifically focusing on civil documentation requirements.
- Provide personalized legal counseling to individuals, offering guidance on navigating the process of obtaining vital documents.
- Offer legal assistance to beneficiaries with urgent protection needs or specific legal issues.
- Ensure timely feedback to INTERSOS Case Management staff or other agencies for cases referred for legal assistance.
- Participate in case meetings, particularly for complex cases with civil documentation issues, as requested by the lawyer/Team Leader.
- Maintain proper filing and archiving of individual legal files to uphold data confidentiality standards.
- Undertake home visits in specific cases where the client’s mobility is reduced, ensuring accessibility to legal services.
- Conduct dissemination of legal information through outreach activities.
- Conduct awareness sessions on legal and civil documentation in the operational area based on identified needs, focusing on key legal issues.
- Assist in updating the legal and referral databases for each case, ensuring accuracy and completeness, while maintaining confidentiality of client information
- Contribute to the drafting of reports according to INTERSOS and donor requirements, ensuring quality and timely submission.
- Provide relevant assistance to lawyers to provide legal representation for cases requiring possession of necessary civil documentation or involving lawsuits.
- Collaborate closely with lawyers and community structures in organizing and executing reverse CAD missions.
- Deliver all required invoices related to civil documentation fees to the Legal Team Leader.
- Undertake any other duties as assigned by the Lawyer/Team Leader in alignment with the overall goals and objectives of the legal team.
- Assist in the delivery of required invoices that relate to legal fees to Legal Team Leader.
- Carry out all tasks respecting key protection principles including but not limited to: PSEA, do no harm, non-discrimination, confidentiality and accountability and need-to-know principles.
- Other duties as assigned by the Legal Team Leader and Legal Officer.
Person Specification:
Education and professional experience:
- Bachelor degree in Law
- Students from the last year of studies and fresh graduates of law.
- Added value members of Iraq Lawyers Syndicate.
- Knowledge of the Iraqi legal system and legal procedures;
- Knowledge of international protection and human rights legal standards;
- Fluency in Arabic, added value English (written and spoken)
Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):
- Computer literacy (Word, Excel)
- Respect and a non-discriminatory attitude
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Good reporting skills
- Ability to show empathy
- Ability to work under pressure
- Fluency in Arabic/Kurdish (written and spoken)
- Working knowledge of English (written and spoken)
More Information
- Address Balad
- How to apply INTERSOS is an equal opportunity employer and reserves the right for everyone to apply to its vacancies without any discrimination. INTERSOS is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. For those interested and who meet the required criteria, please apply below. Kindly note that: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Your resume must be uploaded in PDF format. INTERSOS is reviewing applications on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy before the mentioned closing date. The preference will be given to qualified candidates from the recruitment area.
