Title: Legal Officer
Duty station: Home Based
Section/Unit: DIPS/PLS/PPLA
ICA Level: IICA-2
Corresponding level: P3
Duration: from 01/03/2026 to 31/12/2026
1. General Background
The Division of International Protection & Solutions (DIPS) leads UNHCR’s global protection and solutions work, combining legal expertise, operational support, and partnerships to uphold rights and resolve forced displacement and statelessness. It promotes inclusion, accountability to affected populations and community-based protection. DIPS anchors UNHCR’s mandate by linking protection and solutions, combining legal and policy leadership with pragmatic operational support to safeguard rights and advance solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
The Protection Policy and Legal Advice (PPLA) Section leads UNHCR’s work on the development of international law relevant to the rights of refugees and other displaced people pursuant to UNHCR’s mandate and supervisory responsibility for refugee law instruments.
UNHCR is undertaking a project to update and consolidate its legal guidance, including the 1979 Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status (HB) and Guidelines on International Protection (GIPs).
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The Legal Officer, under the supervision of the Project Coordinator, is responsible for legal research in the field of international law, in particular international refugee law and international human rights law, for development of updated and consolidated guidance on international refugee law, in line with the Project’s internal research guidance. The incumbent will focus in particular on work on criteria for determining refugee status under the 1951 Convention, its 1967 Protocol and regional refugee law instruments. In accordance with the project terms of reference, key responsibilities and duties include:
1. Undertake desk-based documentary research to determine the current state of international refugee law and related areas of international law, including any emerging approaches to the interpretation of that law by analysing a range of UNHCR and non-UNHCR sources, including international, regional, and national legislation, case-law, State and judicial guidance, travaux préparatoires, and academic commentary.
2. Coordinate with and guide any external partners assisting with research.
3. Undertake a meticulous review of all UNHCR’s relevant legal guidance to identify and document: any internal inconsistencies; convergences and divergences between UNHCR’s interpretation or position and State practice and academic commentary; and any significant gaps.
4. Based on the research findings and the outcomes of the review of UNHCR guidance, draft the research note, background research papers and discussion notes based on the instruction of the Head of Research and of the Project Coordinator.
5. Maintain an accurate record of research findings, drafts, review outcomes, and the rationale for the legal guidance and reasoning presented in the drafts.
6. Ensure documentation of project activities and deliver regular status updates to the Project Coordinator.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
For each of the topics of research agreed at the beginning of the contract, the contractor will need to provide:
1. An internal research mapping note
2. A short discussion note on contentious, controversial or sensitive substantive issues identified as requiring decisions by the Editorial Committee.
3. An archive of the following
a. The list of materials surveyed;
b. The list of issues and sub-issues for analysis;
c. The Background Research Document documenting each of these issues/sub-issues;
d. The drafts of the discussion note
e. Revised drafts in line with the feedback received;
f. All the materials deposited in the SharePoint folder indicated.
4. Any other research tasks discussed and agreed upon with the Head of Research and the Project Coordinator
Regular (weekly or bi-weekly) meetings are scheduled with the Head of Research and the Project Coordinator to discuss progress, challenges and plan forward.
4. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
University degree in law, international law, refugee law, human rights law and/or humanitarian law.
b. Expertise and Work Experience
– 6 years relevant experience with undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with doctorate degree.
– In-depth knowledge of international refugee law and human rights law.
Demonstrated excellent legal research, analytical, and drafting skills.
– Attention to detail.
– Demonstrated experience of drafting legal guidance in a clear and concise manner in English to publication standard.
– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
– Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
– Proficiency in the use of legal research tools.
– Excellent written and spoken English.
Desirable
– Proficiency in other UN languages.
c. Key Competencies
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
​​Empowering and Building Trust​
​​Managing Performance​
​​Judgement and Decision Making​
Cross-Functional Competencies
​​Analytical Thinking​
​​Policy Development and Research​
​​Political Awareness​
Location and Conditions
This is a full-time assignment and the successful candidate will be homebased.
Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.
The remuneration level and the applicable entitlements and benefits may differ based on the residence of the most suitable selected candidate.
Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
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.
How to apply
Apply here