Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family

UNOPS LICA5

2025-01-01

October 31, 2024

1. General Background

France early signed and ratified all major instruments for the protection of refugees and stateless people (the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol as well as the 1954 Convention) except for the 1961 Convention, which it only signed. Its normative framework is heavily based on international and European Union law and largely codified in the Code of Entry and Residence of Foreigners and the Right of Asylum (CESEDA). At the national administrative level, the Ministry of Interior is responsible for migration and asylum through its network of Prefectures. The asylum procedure is conducted by the French Office of Protection of Refugee and Stateless (OFPRA, 1st instance body also conducting a statelessness determination procedure) and the National Court for the Right of Asylum (CNDA, 2nd instance body).
UNHCR maintains a high-quality dialogue with national authorities on all aspects of refugee protection and particularly on RSD procedures. More specifically, UNHCR collaborates with the CNDA by selecting and training specialized judges.
The Legal Officer’s main role is to contribute to initiatives to ensure quality of the asylum procedure in France (mainland and overseas) in collaboration with UNHCR relevant counterparts. The incumbent of the post will provide support and advice to the Legal officer in carrying out these tasks.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Senior Legal Assistant is a member of the protection team in the Country Office. He/she reports to the Legal Officer.

The Senior Legal Assistant assists the Legal Officer to prepare legal analysis required for quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. The Senior Legal Assistant supports the unit’s activities in terms of advising the competent French asylum authorities, prevention of statelessness and protection of asylum seekers and refugees. In this context, the incumbent ensures legal monitoring to monitor developments of the legal texts relating to immigration and asylum, the case law, the French procedures and practices with a view to respecting their status and their compliance with international protection norms and standards. He/she contributes to the preparation of strategic notes and elements of language to support the Protection Unit’s advocacy efforts with institutions, governments, parliamentarians and NGO actors, particularly in the field of the reception of asylum seekers and the quality of the asylum procedure. The incumbent provides support for the monitoring of the situation in the overseas territories in these areas as well. Additionally, the incumbent provides supports to maintaining working relationship with state institutions in charge of RSD in France and managing a pool of judge assessors at the CNDA.

Duties:
-Assist the Legal Officer in monitoring the emerging legal acts and judicial practice.
-Contribute to legal analysis and review.
-Contribute to the preparation of legal advice and draft position papers.
-Participate in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts (OFPRA/ CNDA) at the relevant level.
-Act as a focal point for the community of assessor judges (organize trainings, events etc..)
-Perform other related duties as required.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Biannual reports to the legal officer on the legal situation analysis in France.
Quarterly reports on the number of assessor judges and their attendance to trainings/events/updates meetings.

4. Qualifications and Experience

2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

Field(s) of Education Law or other relevant field.
Relevant Job Experience Essential Knowledge of French domestic law (particularly administrative, aliens and refugee law). Desirable Previous experience in training on RSD or in the RSD system in France is an asset.

c. Key Competencies
* Desired Functional Skills
PR-RSD – Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance LE-Drafting & development of data protection policies & guidelines based on best practices
Language Requirements
Fluency in French (C2) and English (C1).

* Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Not specified.
Cross-Functional Competencies

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

French

,

English

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Masters of Arts (MA): Human Rights, Masters of Arts (MA): International Humanitarian Law, Masters of Arts (MA): Public law, Masters of Arts (MA): Refugee Law

Certifications

Human Rights – Other, Law – Other

Other information

n/aThis position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No