Job Description

• Posted on: 29 August 2024  
• Deadline:  05 September  2024
• Job Title: Legal Assistant
• Location: Aden/Lahaj 
• Duration: 4 months
• Starting Date: At soon 

Background

Society for Humanitarian Solidarity (SHS) is a nonprofit humanitarian NGO based in Yemen. It was founded in 1995. SHS, winner of the Nansen refugee award in 2011, for its dedicated work in providing the assistance to refugees and migrants who arrive in Yemen. SHS is a trusted implementing partner to more than 5 international organizations operating in Yemen. SHS has built a strong career and trust among the local community and the international organizations through its tenure in providing assistance to the IDPS and most vulnerable groups.

Overall Purpose:

The Legal Assistant will be responsible for delivering timely, high-quality, and effective legal services to PoCs. This includes providing legal counseling and mediation support, facilitating the issuance of legal documentation, raising awareness of fundamental rights, and ensuring access to legal documentation. The assistant will work closely with local authorities, communities, and relevant stakeholders to address legal issues affecting PoCs.

2- Key Duties and Responsibilities

Legal awareness raising:

• Conduct legal awareness raising sessions through mobile activities to sensitize CoPs about their fundamental rights and procedures for accessing legal and civil services.
• Raising awareness to PoCs about GBV, child protection to host community and IDPs.
• Collaborate with protection monitors, community-based protection networks (CBPNs), and other relevant staff members to enhance their understanding of PoCs rights and avenues for legal redress.
• Stay updated on local legal and protection contexts, including relevant laws, regulations, and policies.

Legal counseling and mediation support:

• Provide legal counseling and mediation support to People of Concerns on various legal matters, including both family, and civil.
• Assist PoCs in understanding their legal rights, procedures, and options for resolving disputes or accessing legal remedies.
• Offer guidance and advice on civil status documentation, such as identity cards, birth/death certificates, and marriage/divorce documents.
• When necessary, provide legal representation to PoCs in cases related to family, and civil, with a particular focus on evictions in coordination with Shelter activities in Lahj.

Facilitation of legal documentation, if needed:

• Provide counseling and support for PoCs without identification documents, compile lists of individuals without IDs, and coordinate with local Civil Registration Authority (CRA) branches to ensure the application and receipt of PoCs.
• Facilitate the issuance of legal documentation, particularly identity cards to PoCs.

Collaboration and reporting:

• Collaborate with local authorities, local communities, and relevant stakeholders to identify common legal issues affecting PoCs and their relationship with host communities.
• Compile monthly reports on the implementation status of legal assistance activities and share it with protection officer.

3. Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in in law, human rights, or any related field.
• Experience working with IDPs, returnees and vulnerable communities in camp and non-camp area.
• At least 2 years’ experience working in protection activities and emergency humanitarian field.
• Previous experience working with NGOs/INGOs is highly preferred.
• Fluent in Arabic and English (speaking, reading, writing).
• Strong knowledge and skills of computer and prior experience working with smart data collection tools such as KOBO, and respect confidentiality of data and information. 
• All applicants/employees are expected to adhere to our organization's PSEA policy, which outlines the standards of behavior, reporting mechanisms, and accountability measures related to preventing and addressing sexual exploitation and abuse.