Legal Officer

Job Summary Provide comprehensive legal assistance and counseling to individuals, with a focus on civil documentation, legal identity, refugee status determination (RSD). Facilitate and support UNHCR Persons of Concern (PoCs) in obtaining and renewing essential civil and legal documents, including Paper Tazkira, E-Tazkira, Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Passports, and Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) documentation. Coordinate closely with the Project Manager, Legal Counselors, Legal Assistants, UNHCR Legal Unit, and relevant government authorities to ensure the timely and effective delivery of legal assistance services. Monitor changes in national legislation, policies, and legal frameworks affecting refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and other vulnerable populations, and provide timely legal analysis and recommendations. Represent and advocate for the legal rights and protection of UNHCR Persons of Concern before relevant authorities and stakeholders, ensuring compliance with national and international legal standards. Conduct legal awareness sessions, community outreach, and information campaigns to educate beneficiaries on their legal rights, civil documentation procedures, and available legal remedies. Prepare high-quality legal reports, case summaries, progress updates, and analytical briefs, highlighting achievements, challenges, risks, and recommendations to support informed program management and donor reporting. Maintain accurate case management records and ensure confidentiality, accountability, and compliance with organizational policies and legal protection principles. Establish and strengthen beneficiary feedback and complaint mechanisms to enhance service quality, accountability, and client-centered legal assistance. Build and maintain effective working relationships with government institutions, humanitarian partners, legal service providers, and community representatives to improve access to legal services and protection outcomes. Contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of legal assistance and protection activities in line with UNHCR guidelines and organizational objectives. Perform any other legal, protection, or program-related duties assigned by the Project Manager or senior management in support of organizational priorities. Job Requirements Education: Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognized university is required. A Master's Degree in Law or a related field is preferred. Candidates must possess a valid practicing license issued by the Afghanistan Bar Association (AIBA) or the relevant legal licensing authority. Professional Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in legal aid, legal counseling, court representation, case management, and protection-related legal services. Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of Afghan civil, family, and administrative law, civil documentation procedures, refugee protection principles, Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights, and access to justice mechanisms. Sound understanding of national legal frameworks and relevant international human rights and refugee law is highly desirable. Relevant Experience: Demonstrated experience providing legal assistance and protection services to refugees, returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, and other vulnerable or marginalized populations. Previous experience with UN agencies, international NGOs, or humanitarian organizations is highly desirable. Legal Competencies: Proven ability to conduct legal assessments, provide legal counseling, prepare legal documentation, represent clients before courts and government authorities, and advocate for beneficiaries' rights in accordance with national legislation and international legal standards. Core Skills: Excellent legal research, analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, mediation, communication, report writing, and case management skills. Ability to prioritize competing tasks, manage multiple cases simultaneously, and work effectively under pressure while meeting deadlines. Interpersonal Skills: Strong interpersonal, coordination, stakeholder engagement, and teamwork skills, with a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, confidentiality, integrity, accountability, and humanitarian principles. Computer Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Experience with legal case management systems, data management platforms, or UNHCR protection databases is considered an asset. Languages: Fluency in Dari and Pashto (both written and spoken) is required. Good working knowledge of English (written and spoken) is highly desirable and will be considered a strong asset.