Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Senior Legal Officer At St. Andrew’s Refugee Services

Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services, Cairo

Call for Applications: Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Senior Legal Officer

Founded in 1979, StARS is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through five broad program areas: education, psychosocial, legal, community outreach and unaccompanied youth and children support services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.

StARS’ Mission: Driven by a commitment to justice and fairness, StARS works as displaced people and for displaced people to respect human dignity and enhance quality of life.

StARS’ Vision: Displaced people lead in the creation and implementation of responses to different forms of migration to establish safe, just, welcoming, and inclusive communities globally.

We serve people from many places, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

To learn more please visit our website: www.stars-egypt.org or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/standrewsrefugeeservices?fref=ts

Project Description: Refugee Legal Aid Program

The Refugee Legal Aid Program provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination procedures in Egypt, advises refugees on protection matters, and assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries. The Refugee Legal Aid Program is seeking an Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Senior Legal Officer to assist vulnerable refugees in these processes.

Current Sudan Context: In light of the ongoing civil war in Sudan, Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services is experiencing a high influx of persons forcibly displaced from Sudan. This includes Sudanese nationals and other nationalities previously displaced from their country of origin to Sudan. Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services remains flexible and reactive to changes in the local asylum-seeking environment as influenced by the Sudan conflict. The Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program is seeking to increase its capacity to provide adequate legal advice and representation in accordance with UNHCR procedures, to best assist those affected by this ongoing conflict.

Role

Under the supervision of the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator, the Director and Deputy Directors of Refugee Legal Aid Program, the Senior Legal Officer is responsible for the provision of legal advice and representation to refugee children and youth in matters related to refugee status determination and protection procedures. This includes: assessment of initial requests for assistance, the screening and reviewing of refugee cases to identify those of heightened vulnerability and protection concerns to access refugee status determination legal representation or protection and resettlement referrals, preparation and reviewing of detailed written statements addressing accounts of persecution in countries of origin and country of asylum for refugee status determination and resettlement purposes, drafting and reviewing legal submissions in support of refugee claims in all stages of the refugee status determination process, supervision and training of legal officers and volunteers, and support with managing different aspects of the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program caseload. The Senior Legal Officer is also expected to contribute to advocacy efforts regarding the unaccompanied children and youth refugee population.

Responsibilities

All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator, the Director and Deputy Directors of Refugee Legal Aid Program

Legal and Technical

• To supervise and contribute to development of the screening and intake of potential unaccompanied children and youth clients for representation in refugee status determination, protection, and resettlement matters.
• To contribute to the management and oversight of the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program caseload in refugee status determination, protection, and resettlement matters, ensuring timely provision of assistance and follow-up on client cases as necessary.
• To provide general legal counseling and assistance to unaccompanied children and youth clients regarding their applications for registration, protection, refugee status determination, and resettlement before UNHCR.
• To prepare unaccompanied children and youth clients for different UNHCR interviews including, registration, refugee status determination, protection, and resettlement and accompany clients in such interviews as needed.
• To draft and review legal submissions and witness testimonies and other evidence in support of unaccompanied children and youth clients refugee claims in at first instance, appeal, and reopening.
• To serve periodically as an on-call legal advisor, assisting clients by providing legal advice and assistance on a walk-in basis.
• To undertake country of origin research in support of individual claims and for general organizational research purposes and to maintain good working knowledge of the current political and social situations in the countries of origin of Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program clients.
• To assess extra-legal client needs and refer to other StARS teams or external organizations as appropriate.
• To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR’s refugee status determination and resettlement policies and procedures, particularly as they relate to children and youth.
• To review and assist in the preparation and submission of resettlement referrals to UNHCR for aged-out unaccompanied children.
• To undertake comprehensive case management practices including maintaining and updating electronic databases and records for each client, and keeping detailed notes of all casework activities.
• To engage with refugee refugee-led organizations in providing trainings and follow-up support, as well as participating in open-floor meetings and information sessions.
• To adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, the StARS Policies and Procedures Manual, and the StARS Code of Conduct.

Programmatic

• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator in development and implementation of team systems, policies, and procedures.
• To assist other members of the Refugee Legal Aid Program and StARS programs regarding issues related to the unaccompanied children and youth refugee population.
• To attend and contribute to Refugee Legal Aid Program meetings and other staff meetings.
• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator in conducting data and trends analysis of clients approaching the Refugee Legal Aid Program for refugee status determination, protection, and resettlement related services.
• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator in conducting data and trends analysis of UNHCR’s Policies and Practices with respect to unaccompanied and separated children and youth.
• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator in establishing written manuals and procedures for the different services provided by the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program team.
• To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.
• To build and maintain relationships with psychosocial and education staff, and operational partners.
• To communicate with refugee communities, other service providers, and UNHCR to facilitate the provision of accurate information and advice leading to the fulfillment of refugee rights.

Supervisory

• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator and other Refugee Legal Aid Program Senior Legal Officers in conducting intensive one to two-week training for new volunteer legal advisors three or four times per year.
• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator in the development of supervision procedures and mechanisms.
• To supervise volunteer legal advisors and legal officers in unaccompanied children and youth related legal work, including providing guidance on managing workload, reviewing written drafts, and monitoring recordkeeping.
• To assist the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator in the management of volunteer caseloads, and the provision of case specific advice.
• To engage proactively in promoting self-care among volunteers and other staff.
• To ensure high quality legal advice and representation and a refugee rights-based approach.

Finance and Administration

• To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.

Communication and Reporting

• To communicate regularly with the Director and Deputy Directors of Refugee Legal Aid Program, and the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within the Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program team.
• To become familiar with the Refugee Legal Aid Program’s database program and accurately record and follow up on all relevant case management.
• To provide case reporting data to the Director of Refugee Legal Aid Program as requested in order to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.
• To submit activity reports as requested.
• To promote information-sharing within the Refugee Legal Aid Program and StARS on all issues affecting the populations we serve.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting with diverse segments of society. They will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human rights and refugee issues with particular emphasis on children and young people.

Essential qualifications

• English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo and StARS, the Senior Legal Officer must be fluent in oral and written English.
• Master’s degree in a related field (international development, international law, development studies, Middle East Studies) OR a qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction (J.D., LLB or equivalent) OR a minimum of one year of experience in representing refugees in the refugee status determination, protection, or resettlement processes OR two years of experience providing direct representation to indigent people in any setting.
• Excellent legal research and drafting skills.
• Proven experience drafting client affidavits and legal arguments.
• Knowledge of UNHCR guidelines and procedures, as they relate to refugee status determination and resettlement criteria.
• Knowledge of the general protection situation and vulnerabilities of refugees and child asylum seekers in Egypt.
• A demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people, particularly children and young people.
• Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.
• Ability to exercise sound legal judgment, well organized, self-motivated, and reliable.
• Demonstrated compassion for refugees and displaced people.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as individually.
• A positive attitude and sensitive manner when dealing with clients including a range of interviewing skills for dealing with challenging scenarios, particularly in advocating for children and young people, survivors of violence, trafficking, torture, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Desirable Characteristics

• Fluency in Arabic or a refugee language is an advantage but not a requirement.
• Experience representing or advocating or vulnerable children and young people in a legal context.
• Experience designing and conducting trainings for non-technical audiences.
• Managerial experience or familiarity with volunteer oversight.
• Life and work experience in the Middle East or Egypt or with an urban refugee population.

Working Hours: The Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Senior Legal Officer is expected to be at work for 40 hours per week, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, from Sunday to Thursday. Longer hours, evening and weekend work are sometimes necessary. Work will be conducted both in StARS premises and also in refugee communities and centers.

Supervised by: Unaccompanied Children and Youth Legal Aid Program Coordinator

StARS salaries are standardized per position according to a pay scale and are not negotiable based on the individual experiences and qualifications of the candidate. StARS salaries are competitive with the local market. Position salary will be discussed at the shortlisting and interview stage.

This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, at which time the employee’s performance will be reviewed and probation may be extended.

Closing date for applications: 19 December 2024

Anticipated Starting date: 2 February 2025 (however as soon as possible)