Job Opportunity as a Staff Attorney for Refugee Rights and Immigration at IRAP in Amman 2018

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is seeking a Staff Attorney to be part of the legal team in the Amman, Jordan office. It is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in refugee, human rights, and immigration/international law, and to be part of a growing agency that makes an impact on the lives of refugees. The staff attorney will maintain a caseload directly representing refugees and will advocate on their behalf with the United Nations, U.S. and foreign governments, and other relevant agencies. He/she will also advise teams representing refugees and will liaise with the project’s NGO partners and civil society actors in Jordan.

Responsibilities:

[1] Directly represent vulnerable refugees by drafting United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) resettlement referrals, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) legal submissions

[2] Provide advice and counseling to refugees in their UNHCR resettlement interviews, as well as representation before other agencies and Embassies as needed

[3] Review screenings and intakes of potential clients to determine whether legal assistance can be provided

[4] Provide legal trainings to incoming staff, interns, volunteers, and occasionally external partners

[5] Assist the IRAP Legal team with managing and mentoring law school chapters and law firms, including reviewing legal submissions to UNHCR and providing expert legal advice to ensure high-quality representation

[6] Regularly attend working group meetings with colleagues from other organizations engaged in refugee protection, legal aid, and durable solutions

[7] Assist IRAP Jordan in hosting two annual visits from law school chapters, including participating in training law students during these trips

[8] Assist with the management of volunteers/legal interns and intake volunteers

 [9] Support the Communications and Litigation teams by coordinating the identification of potential plaintiffs, spokespeople, and compelling client stories from within the local client population

[10] Collaborate with the IRAP Litigation team on any current and future high impact litigation efforts

Qualifications:

[1] Licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction

[2] Fluency in Arabic is preferred

[3] Personal or professional interest in the MENA region

[4] Advanced knowledge of international refugee law and procedures/US immigration law and procedures

[5] Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced and high-pressure work environment

[6] Must be highly organized and motivated, able to multi-task, manage a high volume workload, and have excellent time management skills

[7] Strong research, writing, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills, and comfortable working with diverse populations

[8] Prior nonprofit/NGO employment is a plus

[9] A two-year commitment is preferred

[10] Proficiency with Microsoft and Google Suite

Benefits:

IRAP is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. It offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits including health and retirement plans, a flexible work schedule, and vacation/sick leave.

About the International Refugee Assistance Project:

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) organizes law students and lawyers to develop and enforce a set of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced persons. IRAP operates offices in New York, Jordan, and Lebanon, with legal services supplemented by a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading U.S. and international law firms, multi-national corporations, and law students at 29 universities in the United States and Canada.