Deadline for Applications
April 7, 2026
Hardship Level
H (no hardship)
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
GS6
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
General Service
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date
2026-05-01
Standard Job DescriptionLegal Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships: The Legal Associate is a member of a protection team. S/he normally reports to a higher grade Legal Officer. The Legal Associate assists the supervisor to prepare legal analysis required for quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern. Another important function of the position is to contribute to the involvement of the persons of concern with an 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 support involvement of communities of concern and relevant authorities in continuous cooperation. Additionally, the Legal Associate is expected to contribute to the capacity building activities for local and central state authorities in the area of protection of persons of concern either directly or in cooperation with partners. The Legal Associate assists an office in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern. S/he is also required to assist an office in ensuring that persons of concern are involved with the office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. In addition, the Legal Associate is in charge of the office's corporate legal work and advises on all matters of Labour Law affecting refugees.
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.
Responsibilities- Monitor the development of law and doctrine.
- Provide input to assist in analysis of relevant emerging legislation in line with protection and humanitarian principles, international law and standards.
- Provide inputs to selected advocacy efforts of the operation.
- Contribute to the preparation of legal advice and draft position papers.
- Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
- Liaise with relevant state authorities at central and local levels, partner NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.
- Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
- Contribute to draft protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor.
- Provide guidance and support in the formulation of protection strategies.
- Assist in handling individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law.
- Prepare protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor.
- Participate in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
- Assist in the preparation of legal advice and drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues.
- Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development of standards of protection.
- Liaise and intervene with local authorities on the legal issues pertaining to persons of concern.
- Assist in providing legal advice on all cases referred from all units of UNHCR, most notably RSD, RST and Registration.
- 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.
Years of Experience / Degree Level: For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
Field(s) of Education: Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses: Law, Human Rights, Political Science. (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential).
Relevant Job Experience: Essential: Previous relevant legal related work experience.
Desirable: Experience in facilitating training. Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection or any other equivalent external courses.
Functional Skills:
- CO‑Drafting and Documentation
- LE‑Legal Research
- TR‑Training - Virtual and face to face
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.
Desired Candidate ProfileMulti‑Country Office (MCO) Belgium ensures the liaison with EU Institutions and oversees UNHCR’s presence in Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Portugal. Within its EU affairs related functions, it also supervises teams working with Frontex in Poland and the EU Asylum Agency in Malta.
The Legal Associate reports to the Government Liaison Officer based in The Hague under the overall oversight of the Senior Protection Officer and of the Representative, both based in Brussels.
In coordination with the Brussels‑based MCO Legal Associate, the Regional Bureau for Europe and other relevant units at Headquarters and in line with the strategic priorities of the region and the MCO, as well as those agreed for the country, the Legal Associate works on critical protection issues related to access to and quality of the asylum procedure, reception, alternative to detention, resettlement and complementary pathways, among others, to strengthen the domestic protection space.
The desired candidate must be able to operate effectively in a complex legal and policy environment, and coordinate with the MCO Belgium team, under the supervision of the Government Liaison Officer as line manager.
Essential competences required for the position are the ability to analyse complex legislation and regulations, draft legal analysis, position papers and advocacy interventions to influence the Government and other actors to respond to refugees’ needs.
Negotiation and interpersonal skills are also required to effectively work with diverse teams of both national and international staff in a multi‑country office set‑up, as well as interact with external stakeholders at the country level.
A university degree in law, notably in the fields of public international law and international human rights law or other relevant qualification are desirable.
Required years of experience for G6: three years relevant experience in the field of migration and asylum, including in the national context with High School Diploma, or two years with Bachelor degree or higher.
Strong understanding of EU and national legislation, policies and practices in the field of asylum and of international standards relating to refugees and statelessness is required. Sound knowledge of UNHCR’s mandate and policies, 1951, 1954 and 1961 Conventions, and other international standards relating to refugees, nationality and statelessness is also required.
Excellent English is required for the role, both orally and in writing. Knowledge of Dutch is a requirement.
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & result orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Teamwork & collaboration.
Additional Information: To be eligible, candidates must have the right to reside and work in the European Union.
Functional clearance: This position doesn't require a functional clearance.
UNHCR Salary Calculator: https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
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