Legal Associate

November 25, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

FamilyUNOPS LICA6

2027-02-15Title: Legal Associate
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Duration: 6 months, with possibility for extension
Contract Type: UNOPS Local Individual Contractor Agreement
Level: LICA-6
Start date: 15 February 2027

Operational Context:

UNHCR has maintained a presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1992. The UNHCR Representation for Central and South-East Europe covers nine operations, including Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). In BiH, UNHCR works with national authorities, civil society, UN agencies and other partners to strengthen a sustainable and protection-sensitive asylum and solutions system and to promote effective access to rights for refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons and other persons under UNHCR's mandate.

BiH has established an asylum legal framework broadly aligned with international standards and the EU acquis and has made important progress in developing its national asylum system. The current context offers opportunities to consolidate these achievements, including by further strengthening access to asylum procedures, the quality and efficiency of refugee status determination, access to free legal aid, and the effective enjoyment of rights by persons granted international protection, while advancing sustainable approaches to refugee inclusion and integration. BiH’s multi-level institutional structure also creates an important space for strategic legal engagement, advocacy and coordination with authorities at different levels of government.

UNHCR's engagement in BiH focuses on strengthening national ownership and sustainable protection systems, including through institutional capacity development, strengthened public free legal aid, refugee inclusion and integration, and the prevention and reduction of statelessness. This work is also closely linked to BiH's EU accession process and continued alignment of national legislation and practice with international protection standards and the EU acquis.

Against this background, the Legal Associate will be part of the Protection team and will support legal and policy analysis, monitoring of legislative and jurisprudential developments, preparation of legal comments and advocacy materials, organization of capacity building/advocacy events, monitor and follow-up on individual cases involving legal or protection issues.

Particular attention will be given to asylum procedures and procedural safeguards, access to justice and free legal aid, access to rights and integration of persons granted international protection, civil registration, nationality and statelessness. The incumbent will liaise with relevant authorities, legal aid institutions, civil society organizations and other partners and contribute to capacity-development activities aimed at strengthening sustainable, nationally owned protection systems.

The position requires strong legal research, analytical and drafting skills, sound knowledge of the legal and institutional framework in BiH, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of national and international stakeholders.

Desired Candidate Profile:

Essential Attributes:

The ideal candidate will have relevant legal work experience and demonstrate strong legal research, analytical and drafting skills. Experience in areas relevant to UNHCR's mandate, but not limited to, including asylum and refugee protection, human rights, migration, administrative law, access to justice/free legal aid, nationality or statelessness, would be particularly relevant. Previous experience in the field of rule of law is beneficial.

The candidate should have:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the legal and institutional framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina relevant to the functions of the position.

• Demonstrated knowledge of international refugee and human rights law and relevant international protection standards.

• Experience in legal research and drafting, including preparation of legal analyses, comments on legislation, briefing notes, reports or similar legal and policy documents.

• Experience engaging with government authorities, judicial or administrative institutions, legal aid providers, civil society organizations or other relevant stakeholders.

• Strong analytical, communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and maintain accuracy and attention to detail.

• Experience in advocacy.

Desirable Attributes:

• Experience in asylum and refugee protection, including asylum procedures, refugee status determination, procedural safeguards or judicial review.

• Experience in free legal aid/access to justice and/or nationality and statelessness.

• Familiarity with the EU asylum acquis, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU accession process.

• Experience reviewing legislation, bylaws or policies and preparing legal comments or recommendations.

• Experience supporting training or capacity-development activities for authorities, legal practitioners or civil society organizations.

• Additional academic qualifications or specialized training in law, refugee protection, human rights, migration or a related field.

• Previous experience with UNHCR, another UN organization, an international organization or an organization working in refugee protection, human rights or access to justice.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses:

Law; Human Rights: Political Science

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:

Essential:
• MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
• LE-Legal Research

Desirable:
• TR-Training/Coaching/Facilitation

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (B2) and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (B2) is required.
• Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the operational context would be considered an asset.

Remuneration:

In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

LICA-6 salary range: NET BAM 4,955 - NET BAM 6,056

Benefits:

Annual leave: UNOPS LICA personnel 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).

Health insurance plan:

UNOPS LICA personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be enrolled in the medical insurance plan provided by CIGNA.

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.

Applicants must be nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina OR in the possession of a valid Bosnian residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted.

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 General’s 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.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The Legal Associate is a member of the protection team. S/he normally will report to the Assistant Protection 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 Legal Associate 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 affiliates 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 UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, affiliates are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional and cross-functional 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.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Key Competencies:

Core Competencies:

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies:

Analytical Thinking
Planning & Organizing
Policy Research & Development

 

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Bosnian

,

English

,

Desired Languages

Serbian

,

Croatian

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No