Senior Legal Associate

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 persons of concern 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.
• Liaise with the Legal Affairs Service on issues related to immunities of UNHCR personnel and provide corresponding guidance and support locally to concerned staff.
• Liaise and intervene with national, regional or local authorities in relation to the above areas of responsibility, as required.
• Assist in the organization of training sessions for legal professionals and asylum case workers and judges in the field of asylum.
• Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
• Assist the office in providing legal counselling to persons of concern.
• Assist in the collection and analysis of relevant legal and protection information.
• Provide assistance in UNHCR’s legal publications, in dissemination of legal information on refugee law, in UNHCR’s legal website and other legal advice as needed.
• Support translation of legal and policy documents and act as interpreter at high level meetings with the authorities when needed.
• Provide advice and support the office reviewing their contracts.
• Provide support on a wide range of corporate and institutional issues, including on the interpretation and application of UNHCR regulations, rules, policies and procedures within the local legislation context.
• Assist the office in providing legal counselling to personnel on various types of contractual arrangements.
• In close cooperation with the Protection team, assist UNHCR’s drafting of law commentaries to draft national legislation related to refugee law, in compliance with UNHCR’s positions and Guidelines.
• Support the Protection team in maintaining and strengthening relations with governmental, as well as non-governmental, actors in order to strengthen a network for assisting refugees and asylum seekers and also in strategically approach both national and local political figures.
• Prepare drafts for office correspondence concerning protection issues.
• Monitor/make briefing on legislative/judicial developments for the purpose of preparing office responses and/or to feed into briefing kits for external visitors.
• Support the implementation of activities with various institutions and civil society partners.
• 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:

• Years of Experience / Degree Level
• For G7 – 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Experience:

Essential:

• Experience in dealing with authorities as well as within a multicultural environment.

Functional Skills:

• CO-Drafting and Documentation
• IT-Computer Literacy
• LE-Legal Research

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.

Source: https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Manila-Philippines/Senior-Legal-Associate_JR2450257-2