WATAN Foundation, together with its partners, is providing humanitarian assistance to people affected by the Syrian crisis, both in Syria and Turkey.

Managed by the Project Manager and working in collaboration with IPA staff. The counsellor will be responsible for responding beneficiaries’ legal consultations, and support the organization with the required actions to implement the activities of the project in Ankara legally.

• Bachelor’s Degree in law.
• Line management and staff management experience
• At least 2 years’ experience working on humanitarian aid programs, including work with refugee populations
• Team player
• Excellent planning and communication skills
• Strong report writing and documentation skills
• Fluent spoken and written Turkish and English ( Arabic is preferred).
• Solid computer skills especially in MS Outlook, MS Word and MS Excel
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

General Functions

• Working in coordination with Project Manager, the Counsellor will assist in implementing the Watan Foundation’s Protection Project implemented in Ankara.
• This will include, where appropriate, the legal defence of beneficiaries and handling their legal issues. The Counsellor will have responsibility to assist on a wide portfolio of cases on which s/he will be expected to work with a high degree of autonomy. The Counsellor will be expected to help assess the IPA cases. The Counsellor will also assist with legal research, drafting of legal pleadings and other related activities.
• The Counsellor will be highly motivated and excited by the opportunity to be part of our organisation. The Counsellor will be able to work in a fast-paced environment and will be able to cope with stress and time management.

 Responsibilities

• IPA support.
• Support the Info Hub to develop coordinated, efficient and measurable protection for Syrian refugees.
• Handling requests for support and advice from individuals and NGOs and preparing IPA assessments.
• Following up on cases and analysing case outcomes and important arguments made.
• Comprehensive legal support to beneficiaries throughout the entire legal trajectory specific to their current case.
• Providing legal advice on domestic, comparative and international law.
• Undertaking legal and factual research.
• Supervising legal assistant on legal matters.
• Meet Syrian refugees at the WATAN office in Ankara, to provide necessary guidance and orientation to enable them in benefiting their rights stipulated as per domestic and international legislative frameworks.
• Inform Syrian refugees about their legal, civil and social rights and responsibilities such as residence status, legal aid, marriage, divorce, birth, death, acquisition of property etc.
• Assist with the legal questions coming from the staff and beneficiaries.
• Work closely with other staff, specialists and interpreters in Ankara.
• Refer vulnerable or any other cases to the relevant stakeholders, UN agencies or other NGOs when needed.
• Accompany the vulnerable referred cases up to the relevant organizations when deemed necessary.
• Conduct legal research and keep apprised of relevant legal developments.
• Monitor national and international news outlets for relevant social, legal and political developments.
• Liaise with government officials, partner organizations and individuals,
• Regularly report migrants and refugees’ common problems and needs in access to rights and services,
• Report challenges and progress recorded when realization of duties.
• Preparing monthly report in coordination with legal assistant.