GradeNOA
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonTemporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily<p></p><p></p>
Residential location (if applicable)
Target Start Date2024-02-01
Target End Date2024-07-31
Job Posting End DateFebruary 3, 2024
Standard Job Description
Assistant Legal Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Legal Officer is a member of the protection or legal team in a Country or Sub-Office. He/she may report to the (Senior) Protection or (Senior) Legal Officer, Head of Sub-Office or to the Assistant Representative for Protection. In smaller Offices, the post may report directly to the Representative.
The Assistant Legal Officer assists the Office in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (POC). S/he is also required to assist the office in ensuring that POC are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern and authorities as well as protection and assistance partners.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Assist in the preparation of legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
- Stay abreast of the domestic legal issues and pertinent laws regarding POC and advise the Office accordingly.
- Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
- Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
- Assist the Office in providing legal counselling to persons of concern.
- Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to POC.
- May act as interpreter during meetings with authorities, if required.
- Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
- Assist in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law; Human Rights Law; Refugee Law;
International Humanitarian Law;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection would be an asset or any other equivalent external courses.
Functional Skills
LE-Legal Research
LE-Draft legal settlement agreements
UN-UN System - Legal Status and Structure
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate ProfileThe Assistant Legal Officer is a member of the protection team in the South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) based in Pretoria, South Africa and covering 9 countries in the Southern Africa region. He/she will report to the RSD Officer. The Assistant Legal Officer assists the Office in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of forcibly displaced or stateless people in the countries covered by the operation, specifically in the areas of Protection Policy and Law, Access to Justice and Human Rights Engagement. In detail the duties of the incumbent will be:
- Assist in preparing legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal, policy and operational issues.
- Stay abreast of the domestic legal issues and pertinent laws and policies regarding forcibly displaced and stateless people and advise the Office accordingly.
- Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
- Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
- Liaise and intervene with national and local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to forcibly displaced and stateless people.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, human rights bodies, NGOs and other relevant institutions to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Maintain and guide relationships with UNHCR’s legal partners towards UNHCR’s strategic priorities.
- Support the implementation of the operation’s judicial engagement strategy.
- Organize and facilitate trainings for state asylum authorities, judges, magistrates, and lawyers.
- Contribute to the compilation of information and preparation of UNHCR submissions on countries to be examined under the various Human Rights mechanisms and treaty bodies.
- Undertake legal research on human rights issues relating to forcibly displaced and stateless people in the region.
- Foster and maintain relationships with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in the region.
- Collaborate with other international organizations and agencies working in the field of forced displacement and statelessness to coordinate efforts and share best practices.
- Support the wider protection team to engage with affected communities to understand their legal needs and empower them to advocate for their rights.
- Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
- Assist in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility.
- Ensure decision-making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues, and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
Desirable: Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD. Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals. Competencies of empowering and building trust, policy research and development and political awareness are also desirable.
Functional ClearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
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Additional Qualifications
SkillsLE-Draft legal settlement agreements, LE-Legal Research, UN-UN System - Legal Status and Structure
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Refugee Law
CertificationsHCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
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