Legal Officer, P-4

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). The incumbent reports to a Senior Legal Officer.

Responsibilities

In the area of concentration and within the limits of delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as an expert in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multi-disciplinary and complex legal matters involving issues of public international law, including the interpretation and application of the Charter of the United Nations and the law and practice of the Organization.
• Provides legal advice on diverse and complex substantive and procedural questions of public international law.
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Reviews, advises on, drafts and negotiates complex agreements and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.
• Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required; promotes the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
• Coordinates and direct teams of junior legal officers dealing with significant problems, as required, and/or mentors and supervises the work of junior legal officers on specific projects.
• Contributes to the review and design of new, or new applications of, legal instruments, policies, guidelines, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of public international law, in particular in relation to the interpretation and application of the Charter of the United Nations and the law and practice of the Organization. Familiarity with the institutions and organization of the UN system. Knowledge of the law governing international peace operations. Familiarity with requests for international legal cooperation. Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex and unusual legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions. Strong analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive legal research on a range of issues, including those of a unique and/or complex nature; proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal opinions and a variety of legal instruments and related documents. Discretion and sound judgment in applying legal expertise to sensitive, complex legal issues. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement. Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/cases. Knowledge of contemporary international relations and of UN system organizations and their interrelationships. 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.
• 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.
• Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public international law. A first- level university degree in law in combination with the required work experience plus an additional two years of professional work experience in public international law may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing, is required. At least two years of professional service as a lawyer in the legal office of a government department or ministry or of the secretariat of an intergovernmental organization are required. Professional legal experience advising on issues of public international law relating to international peacekeeping operations is desirable. Professional legal experience advising on issues of public international law relating to international special political missions is desirable. Professional legal experience advising on questions of international humanitarian law is desirable. Professional legal experience handling requests for international cooperation in criminal investigations and proceedings is desirable. At least two years of professional experience working with the UN or a related intergovernmental organization is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English, is required. Knowledge of French is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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