Legal Advisors

Non-Medicalfull_timeVerifiedPosted 8 Jun 2026

About the role

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.

Legal Advisors

Legal advisors provide technical legal expertise in support of the mission, identify the legal constraints and obligations applicable to MSF, assess the risks and provide recommendations in order to support MSF activities in the country.

Responsibilities

As a legal advisor working with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), responsibilities include:

Centralizing legal issues and providing legal advice
Providing reasoned legal opinions – and practical solutions, adapted to MSF specificities, particularly in the areas of social law, contract law, fiscal law and administrative law applicable to NGOs.
Referring request related to legal areas not covered by the Intersectional Legal Advisor to the relevant ILD advisor.
Drafting/ Revising Mission’s HR Documents, Contracts and Correspondence
Promoting and when necessary adapting the templates developed by the ILD according to the applicable local requirements.
Ensuring the Follow-Up of Litigation Files
Ensuring that the proposed strategy is in the best interest of MSF, assesses the risks and proposes alternatives solutions
Reporting to his/her superiors and to the HR or Finance teams on the progress of the cases
Managing Individual Risk (ILD Unit 3)
Providing legal support to HR teams and providing updates to the coordination teams
Coordinating the liaison among sections or directly liaises with relevant authorities like Labor Office/Ministry of Labor, MOH partner and Medical Order
Managing Legal and Administrative Framework Related Risks (ILD Unit 4)
appropriate support to follow-up registration/operational licenses of all MSF sections and providing legal advice on framework and project MOU
Providing legal support to ensure the facilitation of administrative procedures, ensuring consistency between sections present in the country
Preparing a risk analysis including all the legal and administrative blockages that MSF could face
Training / Project Visits
Reporting
Providing regular activity reports to superiors
Providing a complete end of mission report
Management (when applicable): Responsible for the recruitment and supervision of legal officers and legal assistants, when applicable

Requirements

At least 4 years’ experience as an in-house lawyer or as an attorney, including an experience in an NGO.
Experience with MSF or other international NGOs in lower-income countries
Lawyer (law degree), ideally with a specialization in Labor Law; knowledge of tax and/or commercial law is an asset.
Fluent in English and French (MSF working languages)
Commitment to MSF’s guiding principles and values
Able to cope with high levels of stress/able to work in stressful environments
Strong team player
Ability to work within a diverse team

Before you apply

As you consider applying to undertake an MSF assignment, it is essential that you have a well-informed and realistic personal reflection. Assignments often mean long hours with a heavy workload, basic living conditions, and working and living in often chaotic and volatile environments.

Security and Safety

Because Doctors Without Borders’ purpose is to bring medical assistance to people in distress, the work may occur in settings of active conflict, or in post-conflict environments