Legal Officer

About the position:
IBJ is seeking a committed and experienced Legal Officer to join our EU-funded project “Upholding Human Rights for Syrians.” The role offers and opportunity to make a direct impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals by ensuring early access to legal representation and justice in Syria.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in law, excellent communication skills, and a deep commitment to promoting access to justice. The Legal Officer will manage IBJ’s hotline, providing free legal consultations to callers, documenting all cases, and referring eligible cases to IBJ JusticeMakers Fellows for legal representation.

IBJ aims to create a multicultural, ethical, and collaborative work environment that supports innovation, integrity, and local ownership.

The Legal Officer will work under the supervision of the IBJ Syria Program Manager and with technical guidance from the IBJ Senior Legal Adviser. The Legal Officer will also work in close coordination with the Field Coordinator.

Responsibilities:

Main duties include:

• Manage IBJ’s hotline and WhatsApp line for legal consultations.
• Respond to calls and messages, providing free legal advice in line with Syrian law.
• Assess each case and refer callers to JusticeMakers in northwest or northeast Syria, based on the court and lawyer location.
• Document all calls and referrals using IBJ’s standardized forms and maintain an up-to-date database of all cases.
• Coordinate and maintain contact with key stakeholders, including bar associations, local legal aid providers, and community-based organizations, to receive referrals and strengthen cooperation.
• Contribute to service mapping efforts to identify active justice actors, referral pathways, and potential collaboration opportunities.
• Coordinate closely with JusticeMakers to ensure proper case follow-up and timely reporting.
• Liaise with IBJ’s Syria Program Manager to support case mapping and data collection for reporting.
• Assist in identifying trends or recurring legal issues faced by beneficiaries to inform IBJ’s advocacy and programming.
• Ensure full compliance with IBJ’s ethical, confidentiality, and safeguarding standards.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law or a related field (required).
• Minimum 5 years of experience practicing or providing legal advice, ideally in criminal law or human rights contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in client counseling or hotline management is an asset.
• Excellent knowledge of Syrian legal procedures, particularly criminal justice.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Fluency in Arabic required; English proficiency preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with digital reporting tools.
• Ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality, and manage sensitive information.