About IRAP

The International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) is a dynamic and growing legal and policy 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 providing free and comprehensive legal services to people in need of a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.

IRAP operates offices in the U.S. (New York City, Washington, D.C.), Jordan (Amman), Lebanon (Beirut), and Europe (Berlin, Germany). Our legal and advocacy teams work closely with a corps of pro bono lawyers from leading law firms and multi-national corporations, and law students who have created IRAP chapters across the United States and Canada and are aiming to do so in Europe as well. Through this work, we aim to assist refugees and other displaced people to find safe passage and to transform the landscape of refugee rights. IRAP has over 100 full-time staff members. 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 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.

Opportunity

IRAP Europe is made up of 17 staff members, including a team of 12 who provide legal aid to clients in Family Reunification and Humanitarian Visa procedures through direct legal services and partnerships with local NGOs and pro bono law firms. Working primarily from our office in Berlin, Germany, our staff directly represents clients in French, German, and Swedish procedures, as well as in litigation before international courts. Our international practice gives us a unique view of structural hurdles and inconsistencies in family reunification processing, and in addition to providing direct legal aid, we seek to address these issues through advocacy and litigation.

IRAP Europe is seeking a Supervising Attorney (Swedish Law) for the Swedish Team. The Supervising Attorney oversees the team’s Swedish family reunification work, supervising the Staff Attorney and coordinating the team’s work to challenge systemic issues in refugee family reunification, including through litigation. The Supervising Attorney is also expected to maintain their own caseload of Swedish family reunification cases and to collaborate with the Staff Attorney (International Litigation) on litigation matters. Casework will primarily be done remotely, as IRAP clients are located throughout the world. The position reports to the Legal Director of IRAP Europe.

The deadline for application is Friday 18/4/2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by this date. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

Responsibilites

• Supervising Staff Attorneys and other staff members on Swedish family reunification cases by: (1) reviewing and and providing input on drafts; (2) providing input on legal arguments and strategy in individual cases; (3) coordinating and harmonizing the team’s strategy for challenging systemic issues in the family reunification process; (4) providing training and professional development opportunities; and (5) making recommendations for promotions and compensation adjustments, handling disciplinary issues, and responding to any grievances from staff.
• Representing clients seeking family reunification to Swedish at first instance and appeal levels.
• Coordinating team’s workflow, including through coordination with case referral partners.
• Coordinating with partner organizations on advocacy related to legal pathways to Sweden.
• Coordinating team’s work on publications, expert opinions, training sessions and workshops, and resources for other legal representatives.
• Coordinating team’s development of internal manuals, guidance materials, and Know Your Rights documents on relevant legal processes.
• In collaboration with the Legal Director of IRAP Europe and other supervisors, planning and developing IRAP’s work, expansion, and profile in Europe.
• Participating in IRAP-wide supervisory meetings and trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• Law degree (LLM or equivalent) required.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years of experience providing legal assistance to refugees and/or asylum-seekers in Swedish legal systems.
• Minimum of three years of experience supervising and/or mentoring caseworkers and attorneys.
• Experience litigating cases before the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Committees.

Values, Competencies and Skills:

• Excellent knowledge of Swedish and European legislative framework and jurisprudence regarding refugees and/or human rights.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Strong management skills, including caseload and workflow management, and the ability to provide strategic direction to independent practitioners.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills and prior experience interviewing and counseling clients in a legal setting.
• Highly organized and flexible, able to multi-task and manage a high-volume workload, and excellent time management skills.
• Sensitivity to client empowerment and to working with clients of all backgrounds, including LGBTQI+ clients, survivors of trauma, and other vulnerable populations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite

Benefits

IRAP’s benefits vary across office locations, and IRAP seeks to offer equitable and generous benefits to all employees. Benefits for IRAP’s employees in Germany include:

• Supplementary company health insurance for staff as well as their partners and dependents.
• Berlin transport pass (A, B, C).
• Daycare reimbursements.
• A wellness reimbursement twice per year.
• Generous professional development opportunities.
• Resilience and well-being coaching.
• Company retirement plan.
• 25 vacation days.
• Office closure December 25-January 1.
• Approximately 20 additional paid office closures throughout the year (incl. Public holidays).

Job-related Requirements

• The position is based in Berlin and may be remote.
• If remote, this position requires travel to the Berlin office.

The annual full-time equivalent salary range for this position is:
(€87,040-€98,025) commensurate with experience. Compensation is based on internal equity, education, and years of experience.

To Apply:

Please provide the following documents:
1- Updated resume
2- Cover letter customized to IRAP
3- Three References

The deadline for application is Friday 18/4/2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by this date. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.

Location:

The candidate will work in IRAP’s office in Berlin. Remote candidates who are willing to travel to Berlin (at IRAP’s expense) on a periodic basis will also be considered.

IRAP is an equal-opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. IRAP does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all local, state, and federal laws related to the Fair Chance Act.