LEGAL CASEWORKER (UNACCOMPANIED MINORS)
In collaboration with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), the Immigrant
Council of Ireland (ICI) and Irish Refugee Council (IRC) are seeking
to jointly recruit a LEGAL CASEWORKER to support a joint pro bono
legal project providing legal representation to unaccompanied minors
seeking family reunification and applying for Irish citizenship.
Unaccompanied minors currently cannot access civil legal aid and it is
therefore an unmet legal need. The project ensures that unaccompanied
minors have direct access to child-friendly legal advice and can make
their views heard in the application process. This is achieved through
partnering with law firms whose lawyers, following training and with
access to supervision and support, provide legal advice and
representation to children on a pro bono basis.
Since **Apply on the website**, the project has developed pro bono
partnerships with four private law firms and has provided pro bono
legal support to over **Apply on the website** children.
ORGANISATIONS:
Both the ICI and IRC are non-governmental organisations and
Independent Law Centres, which are regulated by the Law Society of
Ireland and staffed by practising solicitors.
The ICI provides information, advice and legal representation to
migrants and their families moving to or living in Ireland. The
ICI?s aim is to directly assist migrants in navigating the Irish
immigration system and, in turn, the organisation uses its experience
and expertise to advocate for positive policy and legislative changes
within the immigration system and associated areas.
The IRC?s mission is to promote and enhance the lives of refugees
and people seeking international protection in Ireland. The IRC seeks
to achieve this through policy, research, awareness raising and
campaigning for a fair and transparent asylum system for everyone
seeking international protection in Ireland.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
This role is subject to funding. The role is full-time (although
reduced hours will be considered for suitable candidate) but the Legal
Caseworker will work on a part-time basis with each of the
organisations under the supervision of each organisations? Managing
Solicitors.
DUTIES:
1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT & RELATIONSHIPS
* Under the overall supervision of the Managing Solicitors, manage
the day-to-day operation of the project.
* Screen new pro bono partners, and build and maintain relationships
with lawyers, law firms, companies, referral NGOs, expert mentors and
other relevant stakeholders.
* Maintain good working relationships with relevant lawyers, law
firms, companies, social work professionals and other relevant
stakeholders.
* Monitor and report on the performance of the project against
evaluation criteria, including ensuring timely reporting from pro bono
lawyers and the Law Centres on each case, and tracking training and
casework statistics, outcomes and feedback.
* Draft reports on the project progress for the Managing Solicitors
and KIND, and attend regular project meetings with KIND.
* Ensure project policies are in place and followed, setting out
requirements for pro bono lawyers (level of qualification, training
requirements etc.), which cases will be taken on, how cases are
screened, allocated and followed-up on.
2. CASEWORK
* Working under the supervision of the Managing Solicitors of both
ICI and IRC, provide a casework service to KIND project clients of the
Law Centres.
* Implement and maintain referral mechanisms and coordinate
casework, including screening new cases and projects, assigning them
to pro bono lawyers, checking on progress, reviewing reports on
completion of cases and projects, and recording referrals and casework
outcomes.
* Conduct support work and research for casework files.
* Provide support and supervision by acting as a central point of
contact for pro bono lawyers? questions and concerns and provide
advice and guidance to pro bono lawyers as needed, with support of
Managing Solicitors.
3. TRAINING AND RESOURCE PROVISION
* Organise and assist in the development of training for social care
professionals and pro bono legal professionals on refugee family
reunification law and application procedures.
* Collate and update online storage of relevant laws, policies,
practice directions, templates, practical country of origin
information, good practice guidelines, and other materials useful for
pro bono lawyers undertaking casework.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
QUALIFICATIONS
_ESSENTIAL_
* Third Level Degree in Law
* Professional legal qualification
_DESIRABLE_
* Masters in Human Rights Law/Public Interest Law
* Professional qualification as Solicitor
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
_ESSENTIAL_
* Experience of legal casework & handling sensitive and confidential
information
* Ability to communicate appropriately with children and young
people
* Ability to manage multiple relationships and stakeholders
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Experience managing own case load, adhering to deadlines and
drafting legal submissions
* Strong legal research skills and ability to keep up to date with
changing laws and practices
* Highly organised
* Commitment to the human rights of vulnerable groups
* Flexibility and the ability to work under pressure
_DESIRABLE_
* Experience of casework in refugee law, immigration law or human
rights law
* Knowledge of relevant international and domestic law relating to
children and their rights
* Knowledge of Irish asylum and immigration law
* Experience of working in a corporate legal practice
WE PARTICULARLY WELCOME APPLICATIONS FROM PEOPLE FROM A MIGRANT OR
REFUGEE BACKGROUND, WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF DIRECT PROVISION, LONE
PARENTS, TRAVELLERS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
* Salary is commensurate with experience.
* Full-time, **Apply on the website** hours (five days a week),
9.**Apply on the website**am-5.**Apply on the website**pm. Some out of
hours work may be required. For a suitable candidate,
part-time/reduced hours may be considered.
* Fixed-term, 1 year contact. 3 month probation period.
* 5% employer contribution to pension after 6 months (based on
employee contribution of 5%).
* Based between the Immigrant Council of Ireland office at 7 Red Cow
Lane, Dublin 7 and the Irish Refugee Council office at **Apply on the
website** Killarney Street, Dublin 1. Remote working is possible with
some in-office attendance required to discharge essential functions.
* **Apply on the website** days annual leave (pro rata depending on
full/part-time).
APPLICATION PROCESS:
* Please send a 2 page CV and 1 page cover letter to **Apply on the
website**
* The cover letter must clearly address the person specification
outlined above. Only applications addressing the person specification
will be considered.
* The phrase ?Legal Caseworker? must be inserted in to the email
subject matter line.
* DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS MIDDAY ON MONDAY **APPLY ON THE
WEBSITE**TH JANUARY **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**.
* Interviews to be held the week of **Apply on the website**th
January and potential for immediate start for successful candidate.
* Applications submitted will be acknowledged but no further
feedback will be provided to applicants unless invited to attend for
interview.
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Others
