Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS6
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2025-09-01
Deadline for ApplicationsAugust 28, 2025
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.
- 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
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 Profile Operational context:
Slovakia continues to receive individuals crossing its borders to flee ongoing hostilities. Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, more than 166,000 refugees have applied for temporary protection (TP) in Slovakia, predominantly women and children. As of May 2025, over 132,000 individuals hold valid TP status granted by the Slovak government. Women and children constitute nearly 80 percent of the total displaced population, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with urgent health needs.
Slovakiaโs strategic geographical position and EU membership will continue to place it at the crossroads of regional displacement and migration dynamics, including as a potential transit or destination country. Given these dynamics, the country remains central to the regional humanitarian architecture and requires sustained engagement by international actors. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum establishes a comprehensive approach to make migration management in Europe more efficient and sustainable.
The Pact is due to be implemented by mid-2026, and Slovakia will be one of the first countries to be reviewed by the EUAA in 2026. In this context, UNHCR will continue to reinforce its role as a technical and strategic partner to national authorities, supporting the translation of international commitments into national practice, including those under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
This will include providing national authorities with specialized expertise on reforming legal, regulatory, organizational and operational frameworks to meet the new legal obligations under the Pact, policy guidance and capacity-building support to ensure that protection-sensitive responses remain at the core of the framework for managing human mobility.
The extension of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) until 4 March 2027, together with the European Commissionโs proposed coordinated measures for the transition from temporary protection, marks a key moment in the EUโs response to displacement from Ukraine. Within this evolving framework, UNHCR plays a key role in monitoring the implementation of the TPD, advising on legal safeguards, advocating for simplified, harmonized, and rights-based procedures, strengthening access to legal counselling, providing technical guidance to national authorities and supporting pathways to durable solutions.
With the protracted nature of displacement, the needs of refugees from Ukraine in Slovakia have also shifted. While considerable progress has been made in many sectors of the response, including by national authorities and humanitarian partners, specific risks and needs among the refugee population remain unresolved, and several challenges require targeted and sustainable solutions. These include barriers to inclusion in national systems, legal obstacles affecting their access to protection and essential services, and protection risks faced by vulnerable groups.
UNHCR will maintain its leadership role in the refugee response while shifting from direct service provision to strengthening Slovak institutions, systems, and civil society actors for long-term sustainability. In doing so, UNHCR aims to safeguard asylum space, promote inclusive policies, and ensure that the voices of refugees continue to inform decisions that affect their lives.
Nature of the position:
Due to the increasing legal needs in the current operational context, the position of Legal Associate has been created to ensure timely and effective protection responses for the people we serve. This role is essential in addressing the growing complexity and volume of legal matters related to refugee protection and asylum processes, particularly in the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
UNHCRโs presence in Slovakia is focused on supporting national authorities in strengthening asylum systems, ensuring access to territory and fair procedures, and promoting durable solutions for refugees and asylum seekers. The incumbent will operate within this evolving legal and political landscape, contributing to the protection of persons of concern through legal analysis, advocacy and capacity-building.
The Legal Associate will contribute to providing advanced legal expertise, enabling UNHCR Slovakia to navigate complex legal frameworks and offer strong legal support to refugees and asylum seekers. In addition, this position will contribute to policy development and advocacy, shaping national legislation for the benefit of those we serve.
The incumbent will be based at UNHCRโs National Office in Bratislava, Slovakia, reporting to the Associate Protection Officer (P2). Physical presence in the office is required, along with flexibility for missions within Slovakia as needed. The incumbent will work as part of the Protection Unit, ensuring communities are consulted and involved in the decisions that affect their lives in line with UNHCRโs Age, Gender, and Diversity approach.
The incumbent will collaborate closely with other team members, including the Assistant Government Liaison Officer, to monitor legislative developments, provide legal advice on asylum and statelessness issues, and support the alignment of national practices with international and EU standards. The role will also involve engaging with civil society, legal aid providers, and government counterparts to promote rights-based approaches and ensure that the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum does not undermine core protection safeguards.
Specifically, the key responsibilities of the incumbent will include:
1. Supporting the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
2. Mapping the development in the applicable legal and policy frameworks concerning people under UNHCRโs mandate, s/he will assist in the analysis of the applicable national legal framework and its compliance with protection and humanitarian principles, international law and standards, and conduct regular monitoring visits to borders, immigration detention centres and asylum facilities.
3. Supporting effective protection responses to the needs of people of concern to UNHCR by providing individual protection counselling and managing individual protection cases.
4. Ensuring that the processing and protection of personal data of people under UNHCRโs mandate is in line with international standards relating to the right to privacy and applicable legal frameworks, including internal policies and guidelines.
5. Liaise with relevant authorities to ensure effective protection responses and procedures, advocating for the enjoyment of the widest possible range of rights and freedoms by people under UNHCRโs mandate, including through monitoring missions, and assisting in the implementation of local partnersโ compliance with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
Desired Candidate Profile:
Given the complexity of the regional context and ongoing legal reform, the incumbent must demonstrate strong legal research and drafting skills, a solid understanding of EU asylum law, and the ability to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders.
In addition, the incumbent will be involved in the development and delivery of UNHCR training courses on various protection topics. Experience in engaging the host government to expand access to social and legal protection is an asset, along with strong protection and solutions skills.
The office requires an experienced Legal Associate who is able to contribute to the coordination of the legal response in Protection areas and engage with government interlocutors and other stakeholders. Previous experience in legal counselling and contributing to the drafting of position papers and guidelines on pertinent legal and operational issues is highly desirable. The ability to analyse the context, frame protection risks and propose strategic responses is essential. Strong analytical skills are essential, and strategic thinking skills are preferred. Given the unpredictable context resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, the incumbent must be flexible and adaptable, ready to take on a wide range of tasks that may evolve depending on the needs of the Office in Slovakia.
Desirable qualifications and skills include:
โข a law degree is highly desirable;
โข previous experience working within the Slovak legal framework and public institutions, including public consultation processes in Slovakia;
โข understanding of international, EU and national laws, UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct;
โข experience in handling individual cases and situations that raise specific questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law;
โข relevant experience in protection work, including child protection and risk mitigation in displacement contexts;
โข strong drafting and reporting skills in both English and Slovak;
โข negotiation skills to maintain operational space with government counterparts and other stakeholders would be an advantage;
โข strong communication and problem-solving skills due to the necessity of dealing with protection interlocutors;
โข knowledge of the regulatory frameworks of EU funding schemes would be an asset;
โข experience in developing and delivering UNHCR training courses on various protection topics with a focus on building the capacity of national authorities, civil society, and frontline responders.
Language Requirements:
โข Knowledge of English (B2) as the UN working language of the duty station and Slovak language (mother tongue level) is required.
Remuneration:
In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
G-6 salary range: NET EUR 1,996 - NET EUR 2,350
Benefits:
Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).
Pension system: Staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).
Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members in Slovakia will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is also optionally available for eligible family members.
Eligibility:
This position is advertised to internal applicants and UNHCR experience applicants.
Internal Candidates: current General Service staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above, as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfil the criteria as per the job advertisement. Staff members must serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another position within the same category.
The minimum one-year requirement is waived in respect of staff members whose position is being changed or who encumber a position identified as โsuitableโ in a comparative review process and staff members whose assignment/appointment through the AC is in a replacement capacity.
Candidates with UNHCR experience: Regardless of the category of the position, the following candidates are considered candidates with UNHCR experience: Junior Professional Officers; Temporary Appointment holders; affiliate workforce; interns; staff loaned/seconded from another UN organization/ international organization/ government entity, or former UNHCR international and local staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within two years of separation for males and five years females).
Staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment applying for a vacancy in a category different from their own are considered candidates with UNHCR experience.
Locally recruited staff members applying for a position two grades above their own are considered candidates with UNHCR experience.
Applicants must be nationals of Slovakia or other EU/Schengen country OR in the possession of a valid Slovak residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted.
Applications:
All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector Generalโs Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Slovak
,English
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Desired languages
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,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCO-Drafting and Documentation, LE-Legal Research, TR-Training - Virtual and face to face
Education
CertificationsHuman Rights - Other, Law - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Teamwork & collaboration
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Compendium
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance