Overall purpose of the role: The legal officer will provide litigation support to People we Serve on humanitarian cases and offer legal analysis/training to refugees in Nduta and Nyarugusu camps. Will strengthen capacity and support legal practitioners representing PW’s in need of international protection. The legal officer will work closely with legal assistants and interpreters on raising awareness to PW’s on child protection, GBV, refugees’ rights, child labor, rights and responsibilities of child, voluntary repatriation, law of marriage, legal coaching, and counselling to PW’s.

Employment category: National contract

Reporting to: Legal team leader

Unit/department: Legal

Location: Nduta and Nyarugusu camps

Authorization level: N/A

Responsibilities and tasks

• Providing legal advice and support to DRC and PW’s when litigating legal issues.
• Assessing and responding to litigation requests and complaints of PW’s.
• Drafting legal documents when needed.
• Conducting daily visitation at detention facilities which include police, immigration, and prison.
• Conduct legal awareness and monitor ongoing legal training for people we serve in the camp.
• Undertake legal research as requested by supervisor.
• Assisting in developing legal projects such as concept notes and proposal writing.
• Collecting relevant background information and documentation to respond to legal requests by PwS.
• Updating monitoring table and case database.
• Preparing various reports such as weekly, monthly, and midyear reports.
• Represent PwS in court, minors in juvenile court, and planning visitation to prisoners in Kasulu/Kibondo DC.
• Working with legal assistants and interpreters in ensuring there are legal help desks (mobile and stationed) for legal awareness to PwS such as permits to go outside the camp.
• Making mediation and negotiation in cases such as card splitting, and neighborhood and family conflict.
• Assists PwS seeking orders for protection and attends court hearings when needed.
• Assigning duties and supervising legal incentives in performing their duties.
• Serves as a link between the DRC and other stakeholders such as judiciary, police, immigration, MoHA, UNHCR
• Undertaking legal research and organizing legal training for national staff and partners.
• Take over any other task designated by the Manager or Team Leader to ensure the proper functioning of the Legal department.
• Ensure DRC’s accountability commitments are mainstreamed into all protection units
• Any other tasks required by his/her supervisors in the limit of his/her expertise

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Experience of more than two years in a humanitarian context
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in INGO, with additional knowledge of human rights law and international refugees’ law.
• Able to work in challenging environments and meet deadlines.
• Flexible, team player, proactive and independent
• Technical understanding of core protection concepts, and response strategies in line with best practices.
• Experience working in protection in an integrated manner with other humanitarian sectors of intervention.
• Experience working with displaced or conflict affected populations.
• Strong planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to work both independently and within a team.
• Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to consistently meet deadlines under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.

Education:

• University degree in Law, and certified legal practitioner.
• Must complete and pass the law school of Tanzania.
• Must be Tanzanian.

Languages:

• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English and Swahili, knowledge of Kirundi is an advantage.

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC Protection staff, refugees and donors
• Local Government (refugee camp) and host Community representatives.
• Community groups.
• Other NGOs and relief actors.
• MoHA, police, immigration