Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The Office of Legal Affairs is the central legal service of the Organization and provides legal advice to the Secretary-General, Secretariat departments and offices and United Nations organs in the field of public and private law; represents the Secretary-General in legal conferences and in judicial proceedings; performs substantive and secretariat functions for legal organs involved in public international law, the law of the sea and ocean affairs and international trade law; and performs the functions conferred on the Secretary-General in Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
This position is located in the General Legal Division of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). The Legal Officer reports to the Senior Legal Officer, the Principal Legal Officer and the Director of the General Legal Division.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Handles a range of issues related to constitutional, international, public, private and administrative law, including the interpretation and application of constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations, in consultation with senior Legal Officers.
- Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence.
- Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies, etc.
- Advises on internal and external investigations into the use of UN financial and human resources. With respect to external investigations, assists in providing the Organization’s cooperation to relevant authorities within the framework of the Organization’s status, privileges and immunities.
- Prepares or assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts.
- Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public or private law issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly resolutions and decisions involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, criminal prosecutions, institutional questions, constitutional and administrative law of the Organization.
- Prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs and other public and private entities, as well as in the negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes in handling private international law.
- Assists in representing the Organization before arbitral and other tribunals or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases.
- Provides legal advice on human resources matters; reviews administrative matters.
- Provides guidance to more junior staff.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Knowledge of international law, including the privileges and immunities of intergovernmental organizations. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law with emphasis in public international law is required. A first-level university degree in combination with the required work experience plus two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Admission to the practice of law in a Member State of the United Nations is required.
Work Experience
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, including experience in:
- providing comprehensive general legal services as a legal officer in the legal office of an international intergovernmental organization; and
- dealing with issues related to white collar crimes, such as fraud and corruption, is required.
- Experience as a legal officer in the legal office of a peacekeeping mission of the United Nations or of a similar international organization is desirable.
- Experience working with the status, privileges and immunities of international organizations is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.
Application instructions
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