Associate Legal Officer

Contract

This is a P-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 57,661 USD and 78,318 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located within the International Trade Law Division (ITLD), Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), which serves as a substantive secretariat to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and is based in Vienna. The Associate Legal Officer will work under the overall guidance of the Director of the Division and the direct supervision of a Senior Legal Officer.

For more information on UNCITRAL, please visit https://uncitral.un.org/ .

Responsibilities Within assigned authority, the Associate Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Conduct legal research and analysis and prepare comparative studies in international trade law, briefs, reports, commentaries and correspondence.
• Assist Legal Officers in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material, in particular by identifying important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies.
• Assist in the preparation of draft background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts.
• Prepare or assist in the preparation of publications as well as other promotional, capacity-building, teaching and other non-legislative materials in the field of international trade law and private international law, including online.
• Assist senior colleagues in servicing meetings of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and its subsidiary bodies, conferences, expert groups and other bodies, including organization of webinars and informal consultations, preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, etc.
• Assist with the preparation of (virtual) international trade law seminars and symposia, prepare and give presentations on various legal issues at such events.
• Assist senior colleagues with the preparation of e-learning materials to build capacity in the understanding and use of UNCITRAL texts.
• Assist the Legal Officer serving as legal content manager for the UNCITRAL website and social media platforms to ensure that information is posted in a coordinated and structured manner; assist in developing and maintaining the content of the UNCITRAL website.
• Assist in the preparation for, invitation to UNCITRAL events, recording, editing and posting of video messages on the UNCITRAL website or streaming during outside conferences and meetings.

• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

  Competencies Professionalism: Has knowledge of the civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Has knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and is able to conduct research and analyse information on a wide range of legal issues. Is able to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Is able to apply legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Has good drafting skills and is able to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Is able to apply good legal judgement in the context of assignments given. Has strong interpersonal and communication (written, spoken and presentational) skills. 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.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP)/ United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Work Experience A minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in commercial law, comparative law, international trade law or a related field, including legal analysis, research and writing or the successful completion of the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP)/United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P) is required.

Experience in the use of online meeting platforms and production of video messages is desirable.

Experience within the United Nations system or another international/governmental organization is desirable.

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

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice This position is expected to be available for a period of four months. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to availability of the post and funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect.

The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

Vienna is classified as a H and family duty station.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.