Job Details:

• Organization: Yemen Red Crescent Society “YRCS” – Hodeidah Branch 
• Job Title: Legal Counsellor
• Duty Station: Hodeidah Governorate 
• Reporting To: Protection Assistant
• Duration of Assignment: 7 Months with possibility of extension 
• Terms of employment: Employment is full time according to YRCS guidelines 
• Application Deadline: 27/04/2026

Organizational Context
The Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) is a humanitarian organization established by Republican Decree No. (15) of 1970. The northern and southern branches of the YRCS were unified in 1993 into a single national society. It was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1982 and joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement the same year.
YRCS operates across all governorates of Yemen and enjoys unique and widespread community acceptance for delivering humanitarian services to the most vulnerable. Its humanitarian approach aims to build community resilience during and after disasters. With support from international partners and local communities, YRCS has strengthened its core functions and operational capacity to improve efficiency and deliver effective humanitarian and relief operations throughout Yemen.

Role Summary
The Legal Counsellor provides community based legal aid services to vulnerable IDPs, returnees, and host communities. This includes support for national ID issuance/renewal, birth certificates, and Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) dispute resolution. The role ensures that marginalized groups—including women, elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and minority groups—gain access to documentation and legal protection. S/he conducts legal screenings, delivers counselling, manages case files, administers legal grants, and coordinates with partners to strengthen legal literacy and reduce barriers to justice.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Case Identification and Legal Screenings

• Conduct household visits in targeted areas to identify individuals lacking documentation or facing HLP issues.
• Apply criteria to prioritize cases involving children, women, elderly, PWDs, and households at risk of eviction.
• Perform HLP risk assessments, draft action plans, and escalate urgent eviction threats to the HLP Working Group.

Case Management and Documentation

• Maintain up to date case records using Legal Assistance Case Forms and secure case management databases.
• Serve as Data Protection Officer for legal case files; enforce confidentiality protocols and manage secure file storage.
• Monitor progress of cases, update records with outcomes, and ensure gender disaggregated data is captured.

Legal Aid and Counselling

• Provide one on one legal counselling on documentation rights, civil procedures, and HLP issues.
• Guide beneficiaries through Civil Registration Authority (CRA) processes—prepare applications, accompany to offices, verify submissions and receipts.
• Administer two installment legal grants; verify costs, disburse first installment for fees/transport, and release second installment upon ID receipt.
• Refer complex or sensitive cases to specialized legal aid partners and track referral outcomes.

Awareness Raising and Community Engagement

• Draft and distribute simple legal awareness materials (pamphlets, stickers) on documentation rights and procedures.
• Facilitate legal awareness sessions for IDPs, returnees, and host communities focusing on ID rights and HLP awareness.
• Develop and deliver quarterly legal rights training for community leaders, OPDs, and field teams to strengthen local legal literacy.
• Liaise with OPDs to adapt legal support for PWDs and ensure accessibility of services.

Coordination and Advocacy

• Liaise with protection cluster, HLP Working Group, and NGOs to align on joint legal aid campaigns (e.g., mass ID issuance drives).
• Represent YRCS in meetings with local authorities, humanitarian actors, and civil society forums to maintain impartiality and strengthen collaboration.
• Track changes in national legislation or CRA procedures; update SOPs and inform Protection Assistant of implications.

Reporting and Learning

• Contribute detailed legal assistance reports including gender disaggregated data, case outcomes, challenges, and fraud prevention measures.
• Update and maintain project Legal Aid SOPs based on evolving cluster guidance and CRA process changes.
• Document best practices, challenges, and success stories to inform future programming and donor reporting.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Sharia, Human Rights, International Law or equivalent.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in legal aid, documentation support, or HLP dispute resolution in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Strong knowledge of national civil registration procedures, property law, tenancy rights, and HLP frameworks.
• Experience managing legal case files, administering grants, and maintaining secure databases.
• Proven ability to deliver legal awareness sessions and training for diverse groups, including vulnerable populations.
• Experience liaising with clusters, NGOs, and government authorities on legal aid campaigns.
• Fluency in Arabic and working knowledge of English.
• Proficiency with mobile data collection platforms (Kobo, Google/MS Forms, ….), and basic Excel for reporting.
• Training in HLP, PSEA, safeguarding, and data protection desirable.
• Experience working with OPDs, knowledge of gender and disability rights frameworks, and familiarity with humanitarian protection principles.

Competencies and Personal Attributes:

• Strong analytical skills in interpreting laws, regulations, and procedures.
• High ethical standards and strict adherence to data protection protocols.
• Clear and accessible communication skills; able to explain complex legal concepts simply.
• Builds trust with beneficiaries, community leaders, and authorities; culturally sensitive and respectful.
• Proactive in identifying legal risks, proposing solutions, and coordinating with partners for resolution.
• Skilled at representing vulnerable groups and promoting their rights in legal and community forums.
• Able to manage stressful caseloads and emotionally demanding situations.
• Flexible to adjust approaches based on evolving legislation, CRA procedures, and field realities.
• Honest, reliable, and committed to impartiality and humanitarian principles.
• Dedicated to inclusive participation of women, elderly, PWDs, and minority groups in legal aid processes.
• Strong attention to detail in case files, reports, and awareness materials.
• Capable of training, mentoring, and empowering community leaders and volunteers to strengthen local legal literacy.