International Refugee Rights Legal Fellow

IRAP in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is proud to launch the first and only U.S. legal fellowship program on refugee rights. The goal is to increase UNHCR’s capacity to prepare resettlement applications, conduct Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), and provide related legal services so that the most vulnerable refugees in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region are referred to a third country for resettlement. IRAP will initially hire three individuals who will be deployed to the Middle East in January 2016 for a one-year fully-funded fellowship in support of this initiative. Fellows will be trained in either IRAP’s Jordan or Lebanon office prior to deploying to UNHCR for various lengths of time in locations throughout the MENA region. During non-deployment times, fellows will work in the local IRAP Jordan or Lebanon office on matters assisting refugees. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in refugees, human rights, and/or international humanitarian issues to make a difference in the lives of those at-risk, and be involved in the response to the most urgent refugee crises since WWII.

Responsibilities:

• UNHCR Deployment
• Interview refugees for resettlement, Best Interest Determinations (BIDs), and other types of humanitarian assistance.
• Prepare and complete refugee applications for submission to various governments seeking referrals of cases for resettlement from UNHCR.
• Conduct legal research, analysis, and writing, and country conditions research in support of refugee cases for UNHCR.
• Provide legal and administrative assistance on projects/cases as needed.
• Travel within the MENA region as determined by UNHCR to complete the assigned tasks.
• IRAP Jordan and Lebanon
• Conduct community outreach to local refugee communities to identify vulnerable individuals in need of resettlement and to local CBOs and NGOs to expand IRAP’s in-country networks.
• Interview at-risk refugees to assess their needs and issues.
• Complete case intakes, follow-ups, and write-ups for refugee cases that shall be considered for legal representation by U.S. attorneys and law students, a resettlement referral to UNHCR, or a referral for other social services with partner agencies.
• Conduct legal research and writing on refugee-related matters, and draft memos and/or documents.
• Respond to inquiries from various internal and external stakeholders. Attend refugee-related meetings and conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree and advanced degree in law, humanitarian assistance, international relations, social sciences or related field required
• Must have substantial experience in refugee/asylum law and/or processing. This may include employment with UNHCR, conducting RST/RSD adjudications for any government, assisting refugees with USRAP procedures or compiling RRFs in an IRAP office.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Ability to be flexible in a sometimes difficult work situation and stressful environment
• Must be highly organized and motivated, able to multi-task, manage a high volume workload, and have excellent time management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable working with diverse populations
• Good sense of humor
• Knowledge of refugee crises and human rights issues in the MENA region is beneficial
• Interest in working/traveling throughout the MENA region as required by UNHCR deployment
• Mandatory high-level fluency in oral and written English, ability to speak and read Arabic is a plus
• Prior employment, living, and/or study overseas is a plus, especially in the MENA region
• Microsoft suite
• Open to any nationality; U.S. citizenship is not required (the positions are based overseas)

Compensation:

Fellowship compensation includes a stipend plus benefits.

*These positions require a mandatory one-year commitment and are based in the Middle East

(Note: It is anticipated that work in the overseas IRAP offices will be intermittent and limited in duration as the goal of this fellowship is to deploy trained individuals to UNHCR to interview refugees in the MENA region.)

Anticipated start date: early January 2016

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter (explaining your interest, qualifications, and the source of the job posting), resume, contact information for three references, and a short writing sample in English (no longer than 2-3 pages) to hr@refugeerights.org. Please note “Fellowship” in the email title. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. This is an immediate hire. No calls please.

IRAP is an equal opportunity employer.