Legal Officer (UK)

Legal Officer (UK)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:

Direct supervision is exercised by the Senior Legal Officer. The incumbent advises, persuades and obtains assistance of others on matters of non-routine significance. Contacts are predominately with persons on subject matters of importance to UNHCR¿s programme (e.g. counterparts at the UK Border Agency, the judiciary, NGOs, academia).

The incumbent acts as adviser and representative of the organization with authority to discuss and agree with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) the implementation of the joint UNHCR/UK Government Quality Integration Project which is based on decision made by the UNHCR/UKBA Grant Agreement Board.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT:

Accountability

- The protection of populations of concern is strengthened through advocacy, litigation and research, and UNHCR¿s  operation in the UK is guided by a coherent strategy to provide quality protection for all populations of concern.
- UNHCR¿s UK operation is capacitated to protect, assist and find solutions for all persons of concern.The host government assumes its responsibilities towards all persons of concern.

Responsibility

- Scrutinize cases for judicial engagement and assess whether they are in line with UNHCR broader strategy and provide substantive guidance and legal inputs to interventions before UK courts, including the Supreme Court, to maximise the export value of decisions taken by the UK;
- Contribute, in consultation with the Regional Representation and HQs, to submissions before the European Court for Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, as required;
- Monitor and promote that standards of protection in the UK are in line with international norms and best practices, closely follow legislation concerning all refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons and observes the administrative practise;
- Within the context of the UK Government/UNHCR Quality Integration Project, further enhance the quality of decision making in the first instance in the asylum system;
- Discourage the use of detention for reasons of administrative convenience in asylum procedure in the UK;
- Support the establishment of a status determination procedure for stateless persons;
- In coordination with the Regional Representation in Brussels and relevant Headquarters¿ Units, support and take part in refugee law and protection training and capacity building activities in the region;
- Oversee the individual case related work of UNHCR London and seek to positively influence that persons of concern to UNHCR receive adequate protection;
- Establish and maintain contacts with the UK Border Agency, the Independent Chief Inspector, and the judiciary to promote adequate implementation of refugee law;
- Assist the Senior Legal Officer/Representative in drafting/developing policy papers/reports;
- Prepare and advise the Representative for political tasks with government interlocutors to promote awareness for the protection needs of refugees and UNHCR concerns;
- Advise and support the  Senior Legal Officer to develop and implement a strategic protection framework which ensures to preserve and - to the extent possible - increases the asylum space in the broader context, namely that access to asylum is organized in a protection sensitive manner by the UK;
- Advise and support the  Senior Legal Officer to ensure that refugees and persons fleeing violence from countries in conflict are granted with an appropriate status in the UK by strengthening the quality of the asylum procedure by supervising the Quality Integration;
- In close consultation with the Division of International Protection Services (DIPS) represent UNHCR at the International Maritime Organization headquartered in London, namely the Subcommittee on Radio Communications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR);
- Provide a substantive contribution to UNHCR interventions strategy, by preparing submissions, in consultation with the relevant UNHCR units, in individual cases raising special questions in the application or interpretation of  refugee law principles, particularly by means of judicial litigation at higher courts and the UK Supreme Court as well as cases which could be referred to international courts;
- Establishe and maintain a network of mutual trust with relevant authorities (e.g. Government, NGOs, academic institutions, lawyers and representatives of refugee organizations), by providing independently professional advice and guidance on law, doctrine and policies regarding refugee protection;
- Peform any other duties as required.

Authority

- Advise authorities on law and principles relating to asylum and refugee protection, and provide a constructive and well argued UNHCR views to the appropriate decision makers and other stakeholders;
- Intervene with relevant government authorities at the appropriate level to discuss and agree actions on significant protection issues which impact on the work of UNHCR, or precedent setting individual cases.
- Oversee the Quality Integration Project and one Protection Associate who is dealing with IC related work at UNHCR London.
- Represent UNHCR in meetings and for a related to the functions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

- Advanced University Degree in Law/International Law or related subjects.
- Comprehensive knowledge of common law in relation to asylum and refugee protection.
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant professional job experience of which 2 years in international capacity.
- Excellent writing and communication skills in English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES:

- Comprehensive knowledge of EU law in relation to asylum and refugee protection.
- Experience with court litigation.
- Knowledge of other UN language(s).
- Completion of UNHCR Protection Learning Programme (PLP).