About IRAPThe International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people worldwide. We are the leading organization providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City, Washington, D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Europe (Berlin). Our legal and advocacy teams work closely with a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading law firms and multinational corporations and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people in finding safe passage and transform the landscape of refugee rights. IRAP has over 100 full-time staff members. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.
IRAP believes that diversity is critical to fostering a strong workplace and serving our clients well. We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experiences in the communities that we serve, members of other marginalized communities, and individuals whose identities are underrepresented in the legal profession.
About the Jordan Legal Services DepartmentIRAP Jordan, a team of eleven operational and program staff, provides legal aid to displaced people in Jordan. The team provides legal assistance to individuals navigating refugee resettlement, humanitarian protection pathways, and family reunification processes through in-house representation, legal information, and the mentorship of pro bono attorneys, students, and interns.
OpportunityIRAP is seeking to hire a US-licensed Staff Attorney as a temporary consultant to provide direct legal services to displaced persons as part of the IRAP Jordan legal department located in Amman, Jordan. The Consultant - Staff Attorney will manage a full caseload of in-house cases. The Staff Attorney will participate in the vetting of potential clients; represent clients, and other activities as needed, with a primary focus on drafting United States Refugee Admissions Program referrals. The Consultant - Staff Attorney will work closely with the entire team at IRAP Jordan and will report to the Supervising Attorney. The period of the consultancy is scheduled to begin immediately and end on December 22, 2024, with the possibility of extending until January 19, 2025. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in refugee rights, human rights, immigration, and international law to be part of a growing agency that impacts the lives of refugees and other displaced people.
Responsibilities
- Counsel and directly represent clients in a variety of case types including:
- Referral submissions to the US Refugee Admissions Program;
- Resettlement referral submissions to UNHCR;
- Family reunification cases to the United States;
- Screen potential clients, review intake interviews, and monitor closed case requests for assistance to determine whether legal assistance can be provided.
- Periodically support other IRAP departments as needed including by collaborating with IRAP’s US Office, Policy Department, and/or Litigation Department on any current and future high-impact efforts and the Department to reform and improve government systems and policies.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Law degree and active admission to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction required.
- Minimum two years of experience post-US bar admission required.
- Experience providing direct legal services to immigrant, refugee, and/or displaced communities is preferred.
- Sound knowledge of U.S. law regarding refugees, asylees, and/or human rights is preferred.
- Experience with US family reunification immigration cases is preferred.
- Sensitive to client empowerment and working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations.
- Excellent oral and written English proficiency is required. Arabic proficiency preferred, but not required. Excellent skills in other languages are a plus, but are not required.
- Experience working internationally in a multinational work environment is preferred.
- Experience working with community-based and NGO partners is preferred.
- Ability to multitask, manage a high-volume workload, and be flexible in a fast-paced and high-pressure work environment.
- Highly organized and motivated with strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to understand and handle sensitive and confidential information.
- Personal or professional interest in the MENA region.
