About the opportunity
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. The Department of Legal Affairs advises on and promotes the consistent interpretation and application of international law throughout the Agency, covering areas such as international human rights law, international humanitarian law, refugee law, and United Nations law. This position is opened in the context of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) scheme sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands. The Associate Legal Officer will report directly to the Director of Legal Affairs, handling a diverse portfolio of cases across both the General Law Unit and the International Law Unit. Duties include legal advisory work, managing an assigned portfolio of legal matters and projects, participating in official meetings and follow-up actions, and engaging in legal coordination across the United Nations system.
Salary and benefits
- Fixed-term contract of 1 year with the possibility for extension
- Stipend and salary commensurate with the P2 UN grade level
- An annual Duty Travel and Training Allowance (DTTA) of USD 4,000 supporting relevant learning activities, duty travel, and professional development
- Structured 3-year learning and development program covering induction, advanced legal practice, consolidation, and career development
- Relocation and family duty station benefits in Amman, Jordan
Who can apply?
- Addressed exclusively to nationals from the Nedworc Foundation list of developing countries
- Nationals of Jordan are not eligible to apply
- Maximum age limit is 32 years as of 31 December of the year of application
- Master's degree in law, or a Bachelor's degree in law plus a minimum of 2 years of paid and relevant working experience
- In exceptional cases, candidates with a Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 4 years of relevant working experience can be considered
- Admission to practice at a national Bar
- Substantive parts of the candidate's academic training (Bachelor and/or Master) must have taken place in a developing country that appears on the list of eligible countries
- Work experience within the UN system should not exceed 1 year, including UNV, paid UN internship, and UN consultancy
- Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Arabic or another UN official language is an asset
Required documents
- A brief motivation letter in English explaining why you are the candidate for the position using examples of interests and achievements
- Copy of your passport or other national ID
- Copy of your educational degrees (Bachelor's and Master's, as applicable)
When to apply
- Date Posted: 2026-10-30
- Application Deadline: 2026-11-22 at 22:59 UTC
- Approximate start of assignment: February 2027
How to apply
- Review the vacancy details and verify eligibility on the official Oracle Recruiting Cloud platform
- Prepare the required documents including your English motivation letter, passport or national ID copy, and educational degrees
- Submit your application through the official UNRWA/UNDP online candidate experience portal before the deadline
Additional information
- The duty station is Amman, Jordan, categorised as a family duty station
- Mobility required/no mobility: no mobility required
- Practice Area: Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement
- Specialization in public international law, the law of international organisations, international administrative law, and/or litigation is considered an asset
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Early-career legal professionals with a background in public international law, human rights, or international humanitarian law looking for foundational experience within the UN system.
- Candidates holding citizenship in an eligible Nedworc Foundation developing country who meet the under-32 age threshold.
- Applicants possessing a Master's degree in law and admission to a national Bar, or a law Bachelor's degree with the required years of relevant paid practice.
- Professionals eager to work in a high-impact, multicultural environment focusing on refugee protection and institutional legal advisory work.
What should you think carefully about?
- Strict nationality restrictions apply: nationals of Jordan cannot apply, and eligibility is limited exclusively to the Nedworc Foundation list of countries.
- An age cap of 32 years as of 31 December of the application year applies strictly.
- Relocation to Amman, Jordan, is required for the duration of the assignment.
- Prior work experience within the United Nations system must not exceed one year.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This JPO position offers an exceptional stepping stone for legal professionals aiming for a long-term career within the United Nations or international humanitarian law sectors. The structured three-year learning curriculum and annual training allowance directly foster advanced legal practice, institutional networking, and robust case management experience.
Our take
Eligible early-career lawyers who meet the nationality, degree, and age criteria should strongly consider applying. Those who exceed the age limit, hold unsupported nationalities, or have extensive prior UN service will find this opportunity unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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