GUARDIAN LAWYER

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

POSITION:                                                    GUARDIAN LAWYER

WORK LOCATION:                                    Sarajevo, Social Protection Service Ilidža, Temporary Reception Center Blažuj,

NUMBER OF POSITIONS:                         1 Position

DEALINE FOR APPLICATIONS:               April 22, 2026

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Guardians are key components of protection for Unaccompanied and Separated Children migrants (UASC) who are deprived of family care and whose parents cannot represent their interests. Position of Guardian Lawyer in have wide-ranging responsibilities, from preparing relevant legal documents or other administrative proceedings, to ensuring that all decisions concerning children are taken in their best interests, as well as acting as a bridge between the child and other actors in the child protection system.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Implementation:

• Submit information to the Center for Social Welfare on the collected information on UASC.
• Ensuring approvals from the Social Welfare Centre for planned relocations and for the accompaniment of UASC by guardians.
• Submit information to the Center for Social Welfare on the collected documentation collected due to reactivation of guardianship (in case that UASC return to the reception center)
• Provide information to the Center for Social Welfare if UASC leaves the reception center and doesn’t return to reception center for more than 72 hours, and provide information necessary for termination of guardianship.
• Informs guardians about the call by the Asylum Sector for registration with the Ministry of Security.
• Attends and represents the guardianship authority in specific cases of actions by other institutions (i.e. police, court, prosecutor’s office).
• Inquires the presence of UASC in the camp, at the request of Service for Foreigners and sends information to guardians and initiates the process of guardian appointing.
• Performs tasks within the legal profession related to the appointment of guardians, providing security for migrant children, resolving the status of unaccompanied children, care for children’s health, care for children’s education, care for possible return of children to their countries of origin, family reunification, or long-term resolution of the status of children who will remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Cooperation with Center for Social Welfare in terms of exercising the rights and protection of children under guardianship.
• Participation in all legal activities related to resolving the status of children under guardianship.
• Participation in planning and reporting on project activities, including assistance in preparing reports.
• Participation in preparation of project documents.
• Providing support to Emergency Response Program Coordinator in terms that project documentation and activities implemented are in line with donor and audit requirements.
• Seeks to develop awareness and understanding of other actors about the role of the guardian and the importance of involving guardian in all decision-making processes for children whose protection is critical and where additional support is needed to provide basic care.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE POSITION:

• Bachelor’s degree in law with proven record in collaboration with local organization/Center for Social Welfare and in an area of Child Protection
• Master degree in law would be considered as an asset
• Prior experience with children especially adolescent will be considered as an asset
• Professional experience in the field of law or in organizations which deal with immigrants or poverty alleviation is an asset;
• Must be socially perceptive to work with children who have difficulty expressing their needs.
• Must be organized and practical.
• Previous experience with migration context or projects would be considered as an asset.

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRED AS A MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION:

• Ability to compromise, negotiate and work well with others.
• Ability to work and problem-solve in high-stress situations;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize
• Ability to perform well individually and as team member
• Fluent in verbal and written English and local language.

PREFERRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrates ability to work in collaborate manner with colleagues and partners
• Shows genuine care and empathy for others, expressed in appropriate ways for the context
• Take the initiative to quickly respond to critical situations or opportunities
• Interpersonal communication skills
• Computer literacy (office package)
• Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules, code of conduct and WVI core values https://www.wvi.org/our-core-values

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only