Legal Officer

Legal Officer

The Legal Officer is a member of the protection or legal team at either Headquarters, within a Regional Bureau, or in a Country or Sub‑Office.

Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the position may also serve as Head of the Protection or Legal Unit.

The role reports to the Senior Protection or Senior Legal Officer, Head of Sub‑Office, or, in smaller offices, directly to the Representative.

The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for protection or legal staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement and education.

They provide functional protection oversight to information management and programme staff, supervise protection standards, deliver legal and policy advice, and oversee operational procedures in protection delivery at the local or country level.

The Legal Officer also advises senior management on protection strategy, represents the organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders, and acts as an advisor on protection doctrine and policy.

The position is relied upon to plan, lead and coordinate timely protection responses for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.

This includes ensuring that operational and advocacy responses are protected‑oriented, mainstream protection methodologies throughout all sectors, and integrate protection safeguards.

Key responsibilities also involve engaging forcibly displaced and stateless persons in decision‑making that affects them and building interfaces with communities, authorities and partners to strengthen protection.

Duties

• Monitor the development of law and doctrine.
• Advocate for the proper interpretation of law and doctrine and the development of protection standards.
• Provide legal advice and draft position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
• Offer guidance and support in the formulation of protection strategies.
• Liaise with DIP, Division and Bureau work units and external actors to enhance awareness of protection principles.
• Engage with external partners and stakeholders, including governments, NGOs and international organizations, on legal protection principles and related international law.
• Handle individual cases and situations that raise special questions of application or interpretation of international, refugee and human‑rights law.
• Represent the Office in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts.
• Prepare protection documents and policies in cooperation with the supervisor.
• Participate in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Support the identification and management of risks, and seek opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility.
• Ensure risk‑based decision‑making and raise risks, issues and concerns to the supervisor or relevant functional colleague(s).
• Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

• For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with an Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with a Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with a Doctorate degree.
• Fields of education include: Law, Refugee Law, Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, or other relevant fields.
• Certificates and/or Licenses
• HCR Learning Programme (essential).
• Relevant Job Experience
• Essential. Excellent l
• #J-18808-Ljbffr