Community Legal Officer (5 positions based in Kohat, Buner, Upper Dir, Haripur, Chitral))

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

About the Project:

The IRC is implementing a 6.5-month project across five districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen protection and legal services for vulnerable communities. The project works toward one overarching outcome: improved access to legal support, case management, and community-based protection services, alongside stronger community structures to prevent and respond to protection risks.

Four outputs deliver this: community-based protection mechanisms that expand awareness and access to services; case management and referral pathways for at-risk individuals; legal services, including counsel and representation; and a protection monitoring framework to systematically capture and track protection risks.

Job Summary

The Community Legal Officer (CLO) is the program's frontline legal presence, serving as the primary point of contact between the IRC's legal services and the vulnerable displaced communities in the assigned districts. Reporting to the Protection Manager the CLO delivers legal services across three areas: community legal information and outreach, individual legal counselling, and direct legal representation. The CLO works directly with vulnerable people, women, children, and others at risk ensuring they understand their rights and can access justice when needed.

Major Responsibilities

A. Community legal information and outreach

• Plan and lead legal awareness sessions in camps on legal rights, civil procedures, and available services, tailoring content to different groups, including women, children, and people with disabilities.

• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, local authorities, and community-based organisations to strengthen outreach reach and referral networks.

• Conduct regular legal needs assessments within the assigned district(s) and feed findings into program planning and service design.

• Promote awareness of legal remedies, protection mechanisms, documentation processes, and available services among community members.

• Provide support the information help desk by providing consistent, accurate, and accessible information services to walk-in clients and managing referrals.

B. Legal counseling and facilitation

• Provide individual legal counseling on civil status, documentation family law, eviction and arrest.

• Conduct intake assessments to identify legal needs, explain options clearly, and advise clients on appropriate courses of action.

• Screen clients for eligibility for legal aid and representation; refer complex or high-risk cases to the Protection Manager.

• Help clients understand legal processes, court procedures, and their rights under Pakistani and international law.

• Uphold client confidentiality, obtain informed consent, and apply ethical standards throughout every counseling interaction.

• Ensure counseling services are delivered in a safe, private, and accessible setting for all clients, including women and girls.

• Represent and/or accompany clients before administrative bodies, civil courts, and relevant tribunals on protection-related matters.

• Prepare and submit legal documents, including applications, appeals, case summaries, and court filings. Follow up on case progress and communicate with clients.

• Track active cases, monitor deadlines, and ensure each case moves toward timely resolution.

• Coordinate with the Project Manager and protection caseworkers on shared caseloads to ensure consistent quality across legal aid delivery.

• Support clients in accessing NADRA, IOM, and other government or UN-affiliated documentation services.

D. Case documentation and reporting

• Maintain accurate, current case files for all clients, capturing intake data, counseling notes, legal interventions, and outcomes.

• Record legal information activities, including session attendance, topics covered, and community feedback.

• Contribute to weekly and monthly reports on caseloads, service delivery, legal outcomes, and protection trends.

• Manage client data in line with IRC data protection policies; flag privacy concerns to the supervisor immediately.

• Input data accurately into the IRC's case management database and ensure all records are stored securely.

• Apply the IRC information-sharing protocol in all reporting; no personally identifiable client data is shared without client’s inform consent,

E. Coordination and referral

• Collaborate with IRC protection, casework, MHPSS, and women's protection teams to ensure clients receive integrated, multi-sectoral support.

• Support protection caseworkers and community mobilizers in conducting outreach and managing referral pathways.

• Maintain working relationships with courts, legal aid providers, and local administration offices.

• Participate in legal working groups, protection clusters, and coordination forums as directed by the supervisor.

• Represent the IRC in district-level legal and protection coordination meetings.

F. Gender equality and social inclusion

• Apply gender-sensitive, inclusive approaches across all legal information, counseling, and representation activities.

• Give particular attention to the legal needs of women and girls, unaccompanied minors, persons with disabilities, and older persons.

• Provide reasonable accommodation for clients with disabilities and home-based counseling where mobility is a barrier.

• Comply with IRC’s PSEA, Child Safeguarding, and Anti-workplace harassment policies and report any concern through IRC reporting channel without delay.

Key Working Relationships

Position reports to: Protection Manager

Position coordinates with (Internal): District Manager, Protection Case Management Supervisor, Protection Case Workers, Project Officer, MEAL Officer, IMS Officer

Position coordinates with (External): Courts, legal aid providers, NADRA, UNHCR, IOM, district government offices, civil society organisations, and other protection partners

Job Requirements

A. Education

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent law degree is required.

• A license to practice law in Pakistan is required for legal representation work.

• Additional certification or training in humanitarian protection, human rights, or international humanitarian law is an advantage.

B. Work experience

• Minimum two years of experience in legal aid, access to justice, or protection work - preferably with an international or national humanitarian organization.

• Direct experience providing legal counselling or representation to migrants, displaced persons, or extremely vulnerable is strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with Pakistani civil law, family law procedures, NADRA documentation, UNHCR registration, and international protection frameworks.

• Experience in legal outreach, community education, or running legal help desks is a strong advantage.

• Experience working with women and girls in protection-sensitive settings is required.

C. Demonstrated skills and competencies

• Ability to explain legal concepts clearly and accessibly to clients with limited literacy or education.

• Sound judgment in managing sensitive cases, including those involving GBV, child protection, and legal status.

• Organized and capable of managing an independent caseload while working effectively within a team.

• Strong documentation, case recording, and reporting skills.

• Understanding of protection principles including confidentiality, do no harm, and survivor-centered approaches.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with case management databases is an advantage.

• Ability to work under pressure in a dynamic, multi-cultural environment.

D. Language skills

• Urdu: mandatory (professional fluency, spoken and written).

• Pashto: mandatory (professional fluency, spoken and written).

• Dari: preferred.

• English: working proficiency preferred.

The IRC Core Values and Commitments

• The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, and Combating Trafficking in Persons.
• IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff are suitable to work with children and have the knowledge to uphold and abide by the IRC's Child Safeguarding Policy.
• IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures, and actions demonstrate this commitment.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
• Differently abled women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Note: Short-listing and Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis. Only short-listed candidates will be called for an interview.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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