GradeGS6
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonTemporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment
Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily<p></p><p></p>
Residential location (if applicable)
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2023-05-17
Target End Date2023-12-31
Job Posting End DateJune 4, 2023
Standard Job Description
Legal 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.
Duties
- 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.
- Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
- 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.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
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
(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 ProfileORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Colombia is the country most impacted by the outflow of over 5.9 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants, hosting over 1.84 million Venezuelans, the majority of whom in an irregular situation or in the process of regularization. In addition, and despite the 2016 Peace Agreement, conflict and armed violence continue to uproot Colombians (an estimated 650,000 people newly displaced by the internal conflict since November 2016) and, in a growing and worrying trend, also Venezuelans and other nationalities.
In February 2021, the Government of Colombia issued a Temporary Protection Status (TPS) that is likely to benefit the 1.84 million Venezuelans already in Colombia as well as those who arrive through official border points over the next two years. The TPS provides a 10-year protection status and access to a full range of rights including healthcare, education, formal employment, and financial inclusion. However, xenophobia against Venezuelans has considerably increased in the last year, and it is projected to worsen with the introduction of the TPS. Misinformation and the perceptions that Venezuelans will take away job opportunities from Colombians, fuel general discontent and makes it even more difficult for refugees and migrants to secure a job. Nonetheless, UNHCR believes that TPS is a very promising pathway for addressing the vulnerable situation of Venezuelan refugees and migrants who are in an irregular situation. This situation continues to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a devastating impact in Colombia, especially on refugees, migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.
The position of Legal Assoc in Colombia is focused on being the INTERNAL legal adviser of the Rep and the operation, on issues that are not traditionally developed by UNHCR protection officials, nor by legal officers, but rather is focused on the interpretation of private law ( non-public) and that UNHCR can comply with internal COL legislation, particularly with regard to the interpretation of the concept of Immunities and Privileges of international organizations and its headquarters agreements with Col, as host government, according to international law and international law. internal.
DUTIES
- Drafting legal concepts in matters related to Criminal, Tax, Commercial and Civil Law, which are
required for the operation of the Organization.
- Provide legal advice aimed to ensure protection of Personal Data within the Operation country according
to the UNHCR legal regulations.
- Provide input to assist in analysis of relevant emerging legislation in line with protection and
humanitarian principles, international law and standards.
- Provide legal advice and draft position papers for the Field Offices and Units.
- 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.
- Provide legal support to guarantee defense and respect of UNHCR privileges and immunities before
local administrative and judicial authorities.
- Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts at the relevant level.
- Contribute to draft protection documents and policies in cooperation with supervisor.
- Participate in the development of project proposals and project implementation.
- Contribute to advocacy towards proper interpretation of law and doctrine as well as in the development
of standards of protection.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Functional ClearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)
,
,
Desired languagesSpanish
,English
,
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCO-Drafting and Documentation, LE-Legal Research, TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
EducationBachelor of Science (BS): Human Rights, Bachelor of Science (BS): Law, Bachelor of Science (BS): Political Science
CertificationsHuman Rights - Other, Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work ExperienceLegal
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