Associate Legal Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an organization established in 1950 with the mission to protect the rights and well-being of refugees and displaced persons. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 employees dedicated to providing assistance and protection to those in need. The organization aims to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and it strives to promote durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country.

Job Overview:
The Associate Legal Officer position is integral to the protection or legal team within UNHCR, either at Headquarters or in a regional bureau, or in a country or sub-office. The role involves reporting to senior legal or protection officers and may include supervisory responsibilities over legal staff. The incumbent is expected to coordinate effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (POC) and ensure their involvement in decision-making processes that affect their rights and solutions to their problems. This position requires building and maintaining relationships with communities, authorities, and partners to enhance protection efforts. The Associate Legal Officer must adhere to UNHCR's regulatory framework and core values, ensuring professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity in all interactions and responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Associate Legal Officer include monitoring the development of law and doctrine, contributing to advocacy for proper legal interpretations, and preparing legal advice and drafting position papers on relevant issues. The officer must consistently apply international and national law alongside UNHCR policies and standards, provide input for protection strategies, and liaise with various UNHCR units and external actors to promote awareness of protection principles. Participation in meetings with internal and external stakeholders is essential, as is contributing to the drafting of protection documents and policies. The officer will also assist in project proposal development and implementation, manage risks, and ensure decision-making aligns with the functional area of work. Additional duties may be assigned as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess excellent legal research, analytical, and drafting skills. Completion of UNHCR learning programs on protection is desirable, as is any equivalent external training. The position requires a strong understanding of legal frameworks and the ability to apply them effectively in practice. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to UNHCR's core values and competencies, including accountability, analytical thinking, client orientation, and teamwork.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in Law or a related field is required for this position. Candidates with a graduate degree or doctorate in relevant fields such as Refugee Law, Human Rights Law, or International Humanitarian Law will be considered favorably, with reduced years of experience required based on the level of education attained.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of relevant experience for candidates with an undergraduate degree, two years for those with a graduate degree, or one year for those holding a doctorate. Relevant experience should be in legal practice, particularly in areas related to refugee law, human rights, or international humanitarian law, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex legal issues effectively.

Languages:
Knowledge of English is mandatory, along with proficiency in the UN working language of the duty station if it is not English. For national professional jobs, knowledge of the local language is also required. Candidates should have at least a B2 level proficiency in the required languages to ensure effective communication and documentation.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a Junior Professional Officer (JPO) role and is reserved exclusively for candidates with Chinese nationality. The target start date for the position is March 21, 2024, and the application deadline is August 4, 202

• The role is a regular assignment and is expected to be full-time. The selected candidate will be confirmed based on an offline process, and the position does not require functional clearance.