Legal Fellow - Refugee Law & Policy (DC)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, seeks several post-graduate Legal Fellows to work full-time in the Protection and Solutions Unit (PSU) at UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office in Washington, D.C. The fellowship lasts one year starting Sept 2027, with fellows crafting a portfolio of work and securing external funding.

Fellows will engage in law and policy analysis, regional protection policy, and case support for asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless persons in the United States and related regions.

Qualifications

• Must be a 2027 degree candidate or recent graduate from a U.S. law school.
• Must have completed coursework in international law; refugee law; and/or human rights; additional coursework in U.S. immigration law preferable.
• Preference for experience in U.S. asylum; refugee law; and/or other topics related to refugees, asylum-seekers, and statelessness.
• Experience with legal clinics or direct service with asylum-seekers or statelessness would be helpful.
• Fluent Spanish is essential for certain areas; highly desirable for others.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Detail-oriented, with strong research and legal analysis skills.
• Self-directed, with ability to multi-task and prioritize with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Provide law and policy analysis at the intersection of international and domestic law.
• Engage in regional protection policy work and monitoring of protection conditions.
• Assist in preparing amicus briefs and commenting on proposed legislation and regulations.
• Support information-sharing on displacement trends and protection issues for UNHCR stakeholders.

Skills

Legal research

Strong written communication

Strong oral communication

Detail-oriented

Self-directed

Multitasking

Spanish language

Education

J.D. candidate (2027) from a U.S. law school

Coursework in international law or refugee/human rights law

Job description

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, seeks several post-graduate Legal Fellows to work full-time in the Protection and Solutions Unit (PSU) at UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office in Washington, D.C. The fellowship lasts one year starting Sept 2027, with fellows crafting a portfolio of work and securing external funding.

Fellows will engage in law and policy analysis, regional protection policy, and case support for asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless persons in the United States and related regions.