Assistant Legal Officer

BFamilyFamilyNOANational Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular AssignmentNo2024-02-01January 8, 2024

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.

Job Experience
• Knowledge of the humanitarian landscape in Iran, and exposure to the work done with refugees and other displaced populations in the country.
• Knowledge of legal developments affecting refugees in Iran/shaping the protection environment.
• Demonstrated experience in legal research. Litigation experience in the Iranian judicial system would be an asset.
• Experience working for a UN agency or international organization, with a focus on aid and development issues.
• Experience in analysing national legislation and policy frameworks.
• Previous experience with developing/being involved in advocacy platforms with high level national actors and relevant global institutions is an advantage.
Competencies:
• Highly organized and autonomous, able to multitask and prioritize workload when necessary.
• Excellent writing and documentation skills, demonstrating high levels of attention to detail.
• Strong time management skills, including the ability to work quickly and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work as a team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including across cultural contexts.
• Works well in a multicultural team and has a strong work ethic; strives to deliver high-quality, error-free deliverables

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: 
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
 

Nature of Position:

The Islamic Republic of Iran hosts one of the largest and most protracted refugee situations globally, hosting around 3.4 million registered refugees and individuals in refuge-like situations (of some 4.5 million refugees in the country). This also includes the 2.6 million Afghans who participated in a recently concluded headcount exercise conducted by the Government of Iran  

Despite economic challenges, the country's exemplary inclusive policies benefit refugees and asylum-seekers, especially in education and health, enabling refugees and undocumented Afghans to access to these services within the national system. UNHCR supports the Government through the provision of protection and humanitarian assistance for refugees, and also contributes to enhancing national services, which benefit persons of concern and host communities. UNHCR also works closely with sister UN agencies, NGOs, and other international organizations under the umbrella of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) and as per the inter-agency Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Afghanistan situation.

Amongst displaced populations, there is also the presence of approximately 11,000 Iraqi registered refugees in the country. Access to refugees remains limited largely to those who approach UNHCR via the reception and helplines. Refugees live predominantly in urban areas, and a lesser number are in 20 settlements in various parts of Iran. Outreach work continues to be challenged due to access limitations, due to which it is important to have an innovative approach on advancing community-based protection work.

The Assistant Legal Officer ensures, under the supervision of the Senior Protection Officer, that UNHCR’s advocacy is Protection centred and well informed considering legislative and political developments. He/she ensures that the legal research and analysis work of the Legal Unit supports the Protection Strategy of UNHCR in Iran. The Assistant Legal Officer ensures UNHCR advocacy contributes to favourably shaping the legislatives developments in support to the UNHCR mandate.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

LE-Draft legal settlement agreements, LE-Legal Research, UN-UN System - Legal Status and StructureBachelor of Arts (BA): Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Refugee Law

Certifications

HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Organizational awareness, Policy research & development, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test and/or Interview.
No late application will be accepted.The English version is considered original and authoritative, translation to other language(s) serve the purpose of advertisement of local positions where applicable but are not considered as official translationsمسئول امور حقوقیThis position doesn't require a functional clearance