Contribute to the development of a coherent legal strategy within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
Develop background and general policy and legal positions.
Provide legal and policy advice and guidance on the interpretation and application of international instruments and regional where relevant - relating to forcibly displaced and stateless persons , global protection positions and policies and, as required, on the development of situation/country-specific guidance.
Monitor and support the development of national and/or regional laws, policies and processes, as appropriate.
Develop and contribute to strategies at the regional and country level, including on legislative and judicial engagement and UN human rights mechanisms and/or regional ones and other protection frameworks, and integrate human rights standards in protection strategies and advocacy.
Coordinate monitoring, engage with, comment on and report on domestic legislative developments in the region/country.
Engage with external partners and stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, etc. on issues related to legal protection principles and related international and/or regional or national law.
Handle individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law.
Organize expert and other meetings on specific issues, including preparation of background research materials.
Gather, analyse and disseminate information on political, legal, social and economic developments which have a bearing on UNHCR¿s protection activities in the area to promote the adoption of protection policies and activities.
Represent UNHCR in meetings and fora on legal and international protection.
For Senior Legal Officer in Regional Bureaux and Country Operations:
Coordinate quality timely and effective policy and legal advocacy interventions with relevant stakeholders at regional
Benefits
Vision insurance
Additional Information
Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.
Deadline for Applications
June 12, 2026
Hardship Level
A (least hardship)
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
PR4
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date
2026-05-28
Standard Job Description
Senior Legal Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Legal Officer (SLO) position is located either at Headquarters (within the Division of International Protection) or in a Regional Bureau or in a Country Office and reports to the Deputy Director or Head of Protection Service or Representative or Deputy Representative, as appropriate.
The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for legal and protection staff. Responsibilities and accountabilities may include inter alia: statelessness, the Global Compact on Refugees commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, child protection, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, registration, human rights standards integration national legislation, judicial engagement, internal displacement, mixed movements, and climate-related displacement, S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive legal strategy and response related to the protection of refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons and represents the organization in contacts with national and/or regional authorities and officials, UN sister entities, other intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, embassies and academic institutions that can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions which reflect international legal principles. The incumbent will also build networks with external legal experts and lawyers, high level government officials, and activists to advocate for, promote, develop and/or defend UNHCR's views and positions, and will represent UNHCR in senior level legal and policy fora.
If based in a Regional Bureau or Country operation, the SLO works in close collaboration with the Division of International Protection.
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.
Unhcr · Amman (rb), Jordan