Volunteer Opportunities

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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), Washington D.C., Jordan (Amman), and Lebanon (Beirut). Our legal services are supplemented by a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading U.S. and international law firms and multinational corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada. Through this 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 50 full-time staff, the majority of whom are based in the New York City office, with others working in field offices in Jordan and Lebanon 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 legal department includes over 40 staff who provide individual legal assistance to refugees and other displaced people around the world. Since IRAP’s establishment, we have helped to resettle more than 3,800 individuals to 18 countries.

The IRAP Lebanon Office is located in Beirut. Our team consists of a Program and Operations Director, Supervising Attorney, Staff Attorneys, Casework Coordinator, Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator, and Office and Accounts Manager. Our work is centered on providing remote and in-person legal assistance on refugee resettlement and family reunification cases.

Opportunity

The IRAP Lebanon office seeks a volunteer who will work with the entire team and report to the Casework Coordinator. The volunteer will conduct screening interviews with refugees seeking IRAP’s assistance, part of the initial phase of IRAP’s screening and intake process. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct objective phone screenings with refugees referred to IRAP as a first step in assessing whether legal assistance can be provided. 
• Obtain biographical and narrative information on potential clients in Arabic, following IRAP policies and procedures. 
• Report on screenings conducted on IRAP client service database, and follow up on screening outcomes with the legal team and potential clients.
• Periodically support other branches of IRAP as needed with an eye towards providing information about the Lebanon and MENA context. Examples include identifying potential plaintiffs for the Litigation Team or providing compelling client stories to the Communications Team.
• Exhibits discretion and impartiality throughout the entire screening process.

Location

The IRAP- Lebanon office is based in Beirut, Lebanon. At this time, the position is remote. IRAP will provide the equipment necessary to ensure that the volunteer can work from home. Though remote during the COVID-19 pandemic, this volunteer opportunity reports out of the Beirut Office.  Though negligible during the pandemic, travel to the Beirut office may be necessary in the future.

Qualifications

• Student in law, political science, public policy, or other applicable field
• Fluency in Arabic and English 
• Personal or professional interest in working with refugees and displaced persons
• Sensitive to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTI clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations
• Excellent communication skills
• Highly organized and motivated
• Excellent time management skills 
• Confidentiality 

Salary

While this is an unpaid position, IRAP will cover communication and transportation expenses that might be incurred

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter and C.V. at this link. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

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.