Legal Internship

The Legal Intern will work in Bucharest, Romania under the direct supervision of the Protection Officer. Within the Protection Unit, the incumbent will be part of a small team that is focused on general protection issues including legal matters such as access to the territory, border monitoring, access to documentation for beneficiaries of temporary protection as well as asylum-seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, the refugee status determination procedure, legal orientation and aid, access to rights more broadly and legal developments that have a potential impact on the rights of these populations as well as on stateless persons. The team also supports the coordination of the Protection Working Group, which has been set up under the RRP to coordinate the protection response by UN agencies, NGOs and civil society. The Legal Intern’s support will be key with a view to helping the team staying abreast of legal developments and analyzing relevant draft bills as well as other legal provisions in addition to several other tasks as described in the terms of reference. The internship will provide the intern with an excellent opportunity to obtain experience on the core of UNHCR’s mandate, be exposed to a wide range of protection issues and analyze legal developments and provisions with a view to understanding their impact on the protection of refugees. S/he is also expected to further develop research and analytical skills and liaise with different Units across UNHCR as well as a range of actors that are involved in the refugee response. 

Duties and responsibilities:

• Keep abreast of legal developments relating to beneficiaries of international protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection.
• Analyze and summarize relevant legal initiatives and other legal provisions in understandable terms, including for a non-legal audience.
• Prepare analytical notes and talking points related to legal issues impacting the protection of asylum-seekers and refugees, including beneficiaries of temporary protection.
• Carry out legal research as needed to contribute to legal comments and other legal documents.
• Analyze asylum-related statistics as required.
• Liaise with UNHCR’s main legal partner, CNRR, to exchange information on legal developments.
• Participate and contribute to regular meetings with legal counsellors in different reception centers to analyze relevant trends related to the asylum procedure.
• In coordination with information management colleagues, analyze data received through protection monitoring and profiling exercises and draft protection briefs on main findings.
• Prepare meeting minutes.
• Assist with the preparation of events and trainings as required.
• Assist with providing follow-up on individual cases as required.
• Carry out any other tasks in accordance with the needs of the Protection Unit and its legal team.

Minimum qualifications required:

In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be a recent graduate from a university or higher education facility accredited by UNESCO in Law.
• Demonstrated knowledge on national legislation and the international protection of human rights and/or international refugee law, with knowledge of legislation on refugees and/or migration considered as an asset.
• Previous work experience, including volunteering, working with vulnerable populations and in particular with refugees is considered an asset.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Fluency in English and Romanian, with solid English drafting skills (both languages mandatory).

Source: https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Bucharest-Romania/Legal-Intern_JR2448738