UNHCR Hired Lawyer (Tehran) at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

29 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

29 Dec, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Legal Advice, Legal Assistance, Dispute Resolution, Reporting, Community Engagement, Legal Awareness, Human Rights, Networking, Collaboration, Case Management, Client Representation, Policy Analysis, Legal Research, Communication, Problem Solving, Cultural Sensitivity

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Deadline for Applications January 11, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) B Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type UNOPS LICA8 Target Start Date 2026-01-01 Terms of Reference 1. General Background The objective of UNHCR's Legal Services Project is to provide legal assistance to refugees in Iran. This is done through the Dispute Settlement Committees (DSCs) and the UNHCR Hired Lawyers (UHLs). DSCs provide an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for refugees involved in civil disputes with other refugees or with members of the local population. They are composed of four main members: (1) a judge introduced by the Judiciary, (2) a UHL representing UNHCR, (3) a refugee focal point representing the refugee community, and (4) a BAFIA representative. UHLs were originally contracted to take part in the DSCs and to monitor their activities on behalf of UNHCR. Their role has now been expanded into also providing free legal advice and assistance to Afghan and Iraqi refugees in their offices and/or in UNHCR Offices. UHLs also serve as points of contact with the refugee community and are expected to inform UNHCR of any changes in the situation of the local refugee population, especially from a legal point of view. 2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment a) Providing legal advice and assistance to Afghan and Iraqi refugees and asylum seekers living in Iran (hereinafter “the Beneficiaries”) in her/his office or in the UNHCR office, if requested; b) Upon special written instruction from UNHCR, taking any action on behalf of the Beneficiaries in courts, tribunals or other adjudicatory instances, in order to uphold their rights; c) Reporting, in cooperation with the Afghan Refugee Focal Point (ARFP), on the situation of the Beneficiaries in designated province(s) and, if possible, in its neighboring provinces, as far as the implementation of the Iranian authorities’ policies with respect to refugees and asylum seekers are concerned; d) Reporting to UNHCR on the number, nature, and breakdown of types of cases dealt with in their offices or in the UNHCR office; e) Representing UNHCR in Dispute Settlement Committee (DSC) sessions and reporting on the activities of the DSC according to the forms provided by UNHCR; f) Participating actively in the discussions of the DSC with the objective of finding amicable solutions for the legal issues raised by refugees to the DSC; g) Participating in community-based projects along with UNHCR staff, upon the request of the supervisor, to provide legal services to refugees in urban areas or STLs; h) Upon referral of cases in which the court judgment is issued for the deportation of a beneficiary, to urgently act to intervene, when possible, in coordination with the UNHCR Office; i) Holding legal awareness raising sessions for refugees, as requested by the UNHCR Office, in coordination with BAFIA. The UHL is expected to, inter alia: a) Find the most expeditious way for settling the legal issues of the Beneficiaries, by using all the legal means and ways accessible to her/him and by following up on cases. b) Inform Beneficiaries to UNHCR that their legal counselling service is free of charge. c) To be familiar with the International Framework for Human Rights. d) Actively participate in a network of lawyers dealing with cases of the Beneficiaries, established and supervised by UNHCR. e) Refrain from requesting or receiving any payments from the Beneficiaries for the services rendered to them. f) Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNHCR or the United Nations, and avoid engaging in any activity, which would be incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations or the Mandate of UNHCR, to ensure the protection of the Beneficiaries, by observing the provisions included in the UNHCR Code of Conduct. g) Participate in all meetings and gatherings she/he has been invited to by UNHCR, whether for training or for any other purposes. h) Share with UNHCR any relevant information related to government policies and legislation. i) Provide monthly reports during the first week of every month, as well as annual reports, of his or her activities and report any case of fraud and sexual exploitation and abuse that will come to her/his attention according to UNHCR procedures. j) Maintain a good working relationship with legal experts in BAFIA in the AoR, and consistently liaise with them on the legal issues of refugees. k) Maintain a good working relationship with the Judiciary, Bar Association and other legal entities, and, in coordination with UNHCR and BAFIA, for the benefit of refugees. l) Represent and act in accordance with UNHCRs perspective and position with regard to the issue of women’s rights and child protection in the DSCs and other formal meetings. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. 3. Qualifications and Experience a. Education Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Law b. Work Experience Minimum 3 years of experience as a certified member of the Iranian Bar Association c. Language Requirements Working knowledge of English d. Key Competencies Admission to practice law in the duty station as an attorney-in-law Standard Job Description Required Languages , , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test and/or Interview. No late application will be accepted.This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote No Important notice: Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member's country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact. Why a career with UNHCR? Our dedicated staff work to protect and assist people fleeing conflict and persecution at a time when global forced displacement is at a record high. Our colleagues bring a wide range of specialized skills, including expertise in legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs, health and other disciplines. Disability inclusion If you are a person with a disability and you expect you may face challenges during the recruitment process, you can indicate it in your application form. There are options to select any health conditions you may have and outline any necessary adjustments related to disabilities during the recruitment phases. Providing this information is optional. It will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for the purpose of finding out how to better assist you during the recruitment process. Adjustments for candidates with disabilities will be provided as best as possible and as needed upon request. All candidates will be assessed based on meeting the requirements for each vacancy in relation to experience, skills, and education.

Responsibilities

The UNHCR Hired Lawyer will provide legal advice and assistance to Afghan and Iraqi refugees in Iran, represent UNHCR in Dispute Settlement Committee sessions, and report on the legal situation of beneficiaries. They will also participate in community-based projects and hold legal awareness sessions as needed.