Senior Legal Officer

Terre des hommes - Lausanne is seeking a qualified Senior Legal Officer based in Bekaa (Baalbek and Hermel districts).

Job Purpose / Main Functions:

Under the supervision of the Protection Manager and the A2J Senior Technical Programme Officer, the Senior Legal Officer is responsible for the overall leadership, supervision, coordination, and quality assurance of legal aid services delivered under the UNHCR-funded project.

The Senior Legal Officer ensures that legal counseling, assistance, representation, and awareness activities are delivered in compliance with Lebanese law, international protection standards, UNHCR guidelines, and organizational policies.

The role includes supervising Project Lawyers and Paralegals, overseeing complex legal cases, strengthening coordination with judicial and administrative authorities, and contributing to strategic planning, reporting, and advocacy efforts.

As part of a mobile legal program, the Senior Legal Officer will maintain a strong field presence across Baalbeck and Hermel to monitor service quality, support staff, and respond to emerging legal and protection risks.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Technical Support on Legal and Juvenile Justice

• Provide day-to-day supervision and guidance to Project Lawyers and Paralegals to ensure high-quality legal service delivery.

• Review and approve legal counseling, assistance, and representation strategies for complex and sensitive cases.

• Ensure consistent application of case management standards, SOPs, and protection principles across the legal team.

• Conduct regular case reviews and team meetings to monitor progress, challenges, and priorities.

• Provide legal counseling and representation before relevant administrative bodies and courts, in line with Lebanese law and organizational procedures.

• Support the professional development of legal team members through mentoring, coaching, and on-the-job capacity building.

Legal Support on Projects

• Oversee the provision of legal counseling, assistance, and representation before courts and administrative bodies.

• Provide direct legal support and representation in complex or high-risk cases when required.

• Ensure accurate documentation, filing, and confidentiality of all legal case files.

• Monitor legal trends, identify systemic protection issues, and propose corrective or advocacy actions.

• Ensure compliance with Lebanese legislation, international protection standards, and UNHCR requirements.

Capacity Building, Advocacy & Awareness

• Coordinate and oversee legal awareness activities and community outreach initiatives across the project locations.

• Review and update legal awareness materials and training content developed by the team.

• Support capacity-building activities targeting staff, partners, and community stakeholders.

• Contribute technical input to advocacy initiatives aimed at improving access to justice and legal protection for vulnerable populations.

Case Management & Coordination

• Monitor caseload distribution across the legal team to ensure efficiency, timeliness, and equitable workload management.

• Ensure effective referral pathways and coordination mechanisms with UNHCR, courts, administrative authorities, bar associations, and partner NGOs.

• Lead inter-agency coordination related to legal assistance and access to justice at the field level, including participation in relevant working groups and coordination meetings.

• Identify gaps, duplication, and systemic barriers in access to justice services and propose corrective actions or advocacy initiatives.

• Ensure confidentiality, informed consent, data protection, and the “need-to-know” principle are respected throughout all stages of legal service

• Support the resolution of complex coordination challenges related to legal cases, including cross-sectoral cases involving protection, CP, and GBV actors.

Representation and Coordination

• In collaboration with, and upon request of, the A2J Senior Technical Programme Officer, ensure Tdh’s representation with national entities (including the Ministry of Justice and other national and local legal and judicial stakeholders), and support smooth coordination and collaboration.

• Ensure that a positive and professional image of the foundation is consistently conveyed. In particular, uphold the foundation’s mandate, ethics, values, and positions in all interactions with third parties.

• Establish and maintain a network with other organizations operating in the same field of activity. Strengthen partnerships with NGOs, INGOs, and community-based actors working on legal and protection issues.

• Serve as the primary legal focal point for coordination with courts, bar associations, General Security, Nofous offices, and other relevant authorities.

Internal Coordination

• Work in close relationship with other members of the project team and with other departments of the delegation and regional colleagues.

• Participate in the data analysis and reporting as related to the position.

Reporting

• Maintain accurate and confidential legal case records in the legal tracker/database and share the reporting tools in a timely manner with the line manager.

• Ensure that data is collected and reported by all Project Lawyers and Paralegals, compile the data, and share it with the A2J Senior Technical Programme Officer.

• Support technical reporting as related to her/his scope of tasks.

Security

• Comply with Tdh Security Regulations.

• Inform and share any incident or information related to the security of staff and beneficiaries with the line Manager.

Organisational Policies

• Adhere to Tdh’s Global Code of Conduct (GCD), Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy, and Gender and Diversity Policy and its principles of child protection, ensuring these principles are upheld and promptly notifying the CSP/PSEA Focal Point of any potential breaches.

• Remain aware of, comply with, and promote the practices and values outlined in all other Tdh policies and procedures, including Internal Regulations, Standard Operating Procedures, and related policies.

• Actively participate in weekly and monthly coordination meetings with the line manager.

Other

• Provide support to other teams and to the line manager as needed.

• Perform any other duties requested by the line manager that are aligned with the role and its responsibilities.

Values:

o The post holder works under a freelancing agreement and is respectful, honest, punctual, and adheres to deadlines. S/he is creative, pacifist, proactive, and committed, and remains non-political during office hours. S/he maintains constant communication with colleagues and supervisors, openly communicates challenges, and actively contributes to and enriches discussions. S/he treats people of all religions, ages, genders, and economic backgrounds with respect and equality, actively promotes their well-being, and speaks up when necessary. S/he is willing to continuously develop his/her capacities and is open to engaging with all thematic areas Tdh works on, contributing to comprehensive programme implementation.

o S/he uses Tdh equipment, vehicles, premises, internet, and electricity responsibly and economically, and positively represents Tdh to beneficiaries, stakeholders, and the general public.

Job Requirements:

• Academic Background:

o A Bachelor’s degree in Law is required. A Master’s degree is a plus but not mandatory.

o Only candidates with directly related and relevant educational backgrounds will be considered eligible for the recruitment process for this position.

o Valid license to practice law in Lebanon and registration with the relevant Bar Association are required.

• Experience:

o At least 10 years’ of professional experience as a practicing lawyer

o At least 5 years’ experience in INGO, NGO at officer level with at least one year in child protection related experience

o Experience in capacity building and training

o Experience in designing and animating workshops

• Technical Competencies:

o Strong knowledge of CP and GBV principles and practices.

o Strong knowledge of HLP laws, property rights, and legal aid processes.

o Understanding of and commitment to child’s rights and child protection issues.

o Experience working with children, adolescents, youth, caregivers, and families from diverse backgrounds.

o Experience in team management.

o Skills in quality assurance, monitoring, and reporting.

o Ability to contribute to innovation and development initiatives.

o Proficiency in computer applications and tools.

o Respect for and adherence to the institutional framework and organizational policies.

• Other Skills:

o Strong communication, interaction, negotiation and facilitation skills.

o Strong organizational and leadership skills.

o Ability to manage oneself effectively.

o Commitment to the organization’s mission and values.

o Ability to work independentely and collaboratively within a team.

o Proficiency in English and Arabic (written, read and spoken).

o Valid driving license (mandatory).