Legal Intern

Job Description:

Deadline for ApplicationsMay 28, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)E (most hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family with Residential Location

Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Internship

Target Start Date2026-07-01

Terms of ReferenceTerms of Reference
Internship
UNHCR Somalia

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a full-time onsite internship with the Protection Section at UNHCR Somalia.
Established in December 1950, UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for asylum seekers, refugees, returnees, internally displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. UNHCR currently operates in over 130 countries, using its long expertise to protect and care for millions.
Title: Legal Intern
Internship Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Division/Section/Service: Protection.
Duration (length of internship): 6 months (with possibility of extension, subject to performance and operational needs)
Contract Type: Internship (Full time) - Onsite
Eligibility: Open to Somali nationals
Start date: June 2026
Organizational context
The Somalia operation operates in a complex humanitarian and legal environment marked by protracted displacement, protection risks, and evolving regulatory frameworks. The Legal Unit provides legal advice and support to ensure compliance with national laws, international legal standards, and organizational policies. The Legal Intern will support the unit in research, documentation, and administrative legal tasks.
The position
In Somalia Operation, within the Protection section, the Intern will be under the direct supervision of the Snr. Protection Officer.
The Intern will be required to support activities (see specific tasks under "Duties and Responsibilities") in line with relevant areas of the Somalia Operation protection strategy.
The ideal candidate should be enthusiastic and committed to upholding the core values of the United Nations. He/she should be able to collaborate effectively in a multicultural setting and possess strong analytical and communication skills.

Duties and responsibilities
* Analysis of Somalia's legal framework in view of international law and standards.
* Analysis of potential for naturalisation and local integration within the FMS in accordance with current legislation and suggestions for amendments
* Contribute to drafting or reviewing policy notes, advocacy briefs, and talking points for engagement with government counterparts, UN partners, and donors.
* Support inputs to Protection Cluster and inter-agency coordination from a legal perspective, including preparing summaries from meetings and consultations.
* Assist with translation or review of legal and protection documents (Somali-English, as relevant) to ensure accuracy and clarity.
* Organize and maintain legal reference materials, case records, and guidance notes relevant to the Somalia operation.

Minimum qualifications required.
In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
* Be either a recent graduate (having completed their studies within two years of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO ; and
* Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR .
* Candidates with previous UNHCR Internship experience must not have exceeded the
maximum total cumulative full-time internship duration of eight (8) months.

Desirable qualifications and skills
* Legal background, familiar with local context
* Basic understanding of international refugee law, human rights law, and national legal frameworks relevant to protection.
* Fluency in English and Somali (written and spoken) is required

Conditions
It is a full-time role based in Mogadishu, Somalia with working hours starting from 8.00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday to Wednesday and 8.00 am to 2:00 pm on Thursday. The intern must comply with all applicable security regulations, standard operating procedures and code of conduct.
How to apply
The selected candidate will receive a link to the UNHCR recruitment portal to create a profile.
Obligations
The selected candidate will need to provide UNHCR with a proof of health insurance coverage applicable to the assigned internship location and a certificate of good health from a qualified medical practitioner certifying their fitness for work. In the event the candidate is not able to produce the required certificate, they will not be admitted to the Internship Programme.
Allowance: Interns who do not receive financial support from an outside party will receive an allowance to partially help to cover the cost of food, local transportation and living expenses.
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.
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UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, or training).
We welcome applications from candidates with a refugee or stateless background.
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.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages
Somali
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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills
Education
Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo