Location: Berlin, Germany
Sector: Non Profit
Experience: Mid Career

Position Description
About IRAP
The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal, policy, and advocacy organization that works to develop and enforce a system of legal and human rights for refugees and displaced people around the world. We are the leading organization that provides free and comprehensive legal services to people we serve through registration, protection, and resettlement processes. 
IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City and Washington, DC), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Germany (Berlin). Through our work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights in the U.S. and internationally. IRAP has over 80 full-time staff, the majority of whom are based in the New York City office, with others working in our other offices or remotely. We are a nimble organization staffed by an innovative and collaborative team that is committed to high standards of quality and close partnerships with our clients, peers, and colleagues.
 
IRAP’s Complementary Pathways team assists refugees seeking relocation from countries of first asylum through family reunification, humanitarian visa, private sponsorship, and other pathways outside of traditional resettlement. The Complementary Pathways team consists of the Director, Europe Legal Program Manager, Germany Family Reunification Consultant, and Caseworker, based in Berlin, the Project Manager and Legal Assistant, who are based in the U.S., and a Caseworker who works remotely. The team regularly works with other members of IRAP’s Legal Services team in New York, Lebanon, and Jordan. 
 
Opportunity
IRAP is seeking to hire a Staff Attorney to represent refugees seeking relocation through complementary pathways, including family reunification and humanitarian visas, with a focus on family reunification to Sweden. Some of this work will be conducted as part of IRAP’s partnership with UNHCR to provide legal assistance to refugees in East Africa and the MENA region seeking reunification with family members in Europe and the U.S. In addition to directly representing clients, the Staff Attorney will oversee the work of caseworkers and provide guidance to IRAP staff members and volunteers on complementary pathways cases. Casework will primarily be done remotely, as IRAP clients are located throughout the world. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in refugee rights to be part of a growing, international legal aid organization. We anticipate that this position will be one of several hires in the department this year. 
 
Responsibilities

• Representing refugees and asylum seekers (including conducting intake interviews and research, drafting submissions, and ensuring follow-up with adjudicating bodies) in the following areas: 
  • Direct representation of clients and collaboration with partner NGOs on family reunification cases to European countries and/or North America (with a focus on family reunification to Sweden). 
  • Humanitarian visa applications to countries in Europe and North America. 
• Overseeing work of other IRAP staff, caseworkers, and volunteers on individual complementary pathways cases (including trainings and review of intake interviews and submissions)
• Ensuring detailed and accurate record-keeping regarding all potential and active cases
• Coordinating with partner organizations on cases involving relocation of asylum seekers or refugees 
• Other duties as assigned

 
Location, Hours, and Duration
The position will be based in Berlin, Germany. The team will be working remotely until it is safe to work from the office. IRAP Berlin will provide necessary work equipment. The position is full-time (40 hrs/week) and includes 25 vacation days. 
This position is a fixed-term employment contract for one year and is expected to be renewed.
 
Qualifications

• Law degree required
• Demonstrated experience providing legal assistance to refugees and/or asylum-seekers in Sweden, particularly in family reunification procedures to Sweden
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills and prior experience interviewing and counseling clients in a legal setting
• Highly organized and flexible; able to multi-task and manage a high-volume workload; and excellent time management skills
• Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• The candidate must possess EU work permission
• Language skills:
  • Excellent written and spoken English and Swedish are required
  • Arabic, Farsi, Tigrinya, Somali, or French language skills are a plus 

Application Instructions
Please submit a cover letter including salary expectation, CV, and a list of three references to the apply link. Application materials should be submitted in English. Review of applications will be on a rolling basis, starting on March 19, 2021.
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.