Counsel
Provide legal support on operational and advisory matters.
This opening expired 3 years ago.
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Overview
Provide legal support on operational and advisory matters.
You have:
- At least five years of relevant experience in addition to a JD, LLB, LLM or equivalent.
- Excellent oral and written English is required.
- Working knowledge of Spanish/ French/Portuguese is desirable.
- Knowledge of Multilateral Development Banks’ legal framework and policies and procedures is desirable.
Contract
This is a World Bank Group grade: GF contract. More about World Bank Group grade: GF contracts.
Counsel
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The WBG is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org.
The Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal support to internal and external World Bank clients on operational, advisory and corporate matters. LEGVP provides legal services required by the World Bank and plays an active role in all the World Bank's activities. In addition, LEGVP helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the institution's Articles of Agreement, as well as its operational policies and procedures. Organizationally, LEGVP includes geographically-based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank's lending operations, Policy and Advisory Practice Groups which provide advice on operations policy, environmental and international law, development finance and structured finance and guarantees and Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate finance, administrative and institutional matters for the World Bank.
Unit Context
LEGAS provides operational legal support to two regions: (a) East Asia and the Pacific comprising seven country management units: Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands; Indonesia and Timor Leste; China, Mongolia & Korea; Vietnam; Cambodia, Lao PDR & Myanmar; Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand & Brunei; as well as Singapore; and (b) South Asia, which covers eight diverse countries which are grouped into five country management units: Afghanistan; Bangladesh & Bhutan; India; Pakistan; and Sri Lanka, Nepal & Maldives. Specialist lawyers within LEGAS also provide legal support for structured finance and guarantee operations (SG).
The legal support by LEGAS is characterized by both real-time presence of lawyers in the field in select country offices and support from lawyers, legal analysts and other staff in Washington, DC.
LEGAS invites qualified candidates to apply for its Counsel position. The location of the duty station is initially Washington, D.C.
The Counsel will be expected, at some point during his/her tenure, to move to a decentralized position in one of the Bank’s Country Offices, as business needs of LEG VPU might require.
The selected lawyer will work primarily in the East Asia and Pacific portfolio. The selected lawyer will be expected to travel to all countries in the areas covered by LEGAS. The selected lawyer will work under the immediate supervision of legal counsels in the Bank offices in Asia and Washington DC. Work will primarily support IBRD, IDA and donor trust fund financing of projects, focusing on analysis of project proposals, drafting of necessary contracts, negotiating those contracts, and participating in the supervision of their implementation, all in support of investments in all sectors and work will also include advising country management on operational, institutional and other matters that arise from time to time in the country offices. The Counsel will be a lawyer who can operate independently to handle legal, operational and policy issues related to the Bank’s operations while working collaboratively with other lawyers within the Practice Group and LEG as a whole.
The incumbent will report to the Chief Counsel, LEGAS East Asia and Pacific, based in Washington DC.
Duties & Accountabilities:
The Counsel position requires demonstrated ability of rigorous analytical skills, to work harmoniously in a team, and to exercise good judgment. The level and quality of these skills will be a determining factor in the selection for the position, and references will be given consideration in this determination.
Duties and Accountabilities will include:
- Conduct legal due diligence for projects to ensure compliance with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s and the International Development Association’s Articles of Agreement and operational policies, and general adequacy of projects’ institutional and other arrangements with the relevant country’s legal framework;
- Draft and negotiate agreements (e.g., Loan, Financing and Grant Agreements, Guarantee Agreements, and Project Agreements);
- Prepare and/or review subsidiary agreements and other on-lending and on-granting agreements, and legal opinions, and recommend appropriate changes;
- Carry out portfolio management, including drafting amendments and other project-related legal documents;
- Advise project teams on World Bank policies and procedures;
- Prepare legal memoranda on pertinent legal issues, including on matters related to local law (at the national and sub-national levels) and international law;
- Participate in identification, preparation, appraisal and supervision missions with project teams and attend any other operational meetings;
- Provide guidance to Administrative Client Support staff and/or paralegals on processing of project documentation;
- Assist with legal and judicial reform work, if any (including analysis of local legislation, judicial system, etc.); and
- Carry out any other complementary duties or any ad hoc tasks as assigned by legal counsels and/or the Chief Counsel.
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The WBG is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org.
The Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal support to internal and external World Bank clients on operational, advisory and corporate matters. LEGVP provides legal services required by the World Bank and plays an active role in all the World Bank's activities. In addition, LEGVP helps to ensure that all World Bank activities comply with the institution's Articles of Agreement, as well as its operational policies and procedures. Organizationally, LEGVP includes geographically-based regional Operational Practice Groups devoted to the legal and policy aspects of the World Bank's lending operations, Policy and Advisory Practice Groups which provide advice on operations policy, environmental and international law, development finance and structured finance and guarantees and Corporate Practice Groups, which provide advice on corporate finance, administrative and institutional matters for the World Bank.
Unit Context
LEGAS provides operational legal support to two regions: (a) East Asia and the Pacific comprising seven country management units: Papua New Guinea & Pacific Islands; Indonesia and Timor Leste; China, Mongolia & Korea; Vietnam; Cambodia, Lao PDR & Myanmar; Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand & Brunei; as well as Singapore; and (b) South Asia, which covers eight diverse countries which are grouped into five country management units: Afghanistan; Bangladesh & Bhutan; India; Pakistan; and Sri Lanka, Nepal & Maldives. Specialist lawyers within LEGAS also provide legal support for structured finance and guarantee operations (SG).
The legal support by LEGAS is characterized by both real-time presence of lawyers in the field in select country offices and support from lawyers, legal analysts and other staff in Washington, DC.
LEGAS invites qualified candidates to apply for its Counsel position. The location of the duty station is initially Washington, D.C.
The Counsel will be expected, at some point during his/her tenure, to move to a decentralized position in one of the Bank’s Country Offices, as business needs of LEG VPU might require.
The selected lawyer will work primarily in the East Asia and Pacific portfolio. The selected lawyer will be expected to travel to all countries in the areas covered by LEGAS. The selected lawyer will work under the immediate supervision of legal counsels in the Bank offices in Asia and Washington DC. Work will primarily support IBRD, IDA and donor trust fund financing of projects, focusing on analysis of project proposals, drafting of necessary contracts, negotiating those contracts, and participating in the supervision of their implementation, all in support of investments in all sectors and work will also include advising country management on operational, institutional and other matters that arise from time to time in the country offices. The Counsel will be a lawyer who can operate independently to handle legal, operational and policy issues related to the Bank’s operations while working collaboratively with other lawyers within the Practice Group and LEG as a whole.
The incumbent will report to the Chief Counsel, LEGAS East Asia and Pacific, based in Washington DC.
Duties & Accountabilities:
The Counsel position requires demonstrated ability of rigorous analytical skills, to work harmoniously in a team, and to exercise good judgment. The level and quality of these skills will be a determining factor in the selection for the position, and references will be given consideration in this determination.
Duties and Accountabilities will include:
- Conduct legal due diligence for projects to ensure compliance with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s and the International Development Association’s Articles of Agreement and operational policies, and general adequacy of projects’ institutional and other arrangements with the relevant country’s legal framework;
- Draft and negotiate agreements (e.g., Loan, Financing and Grant Agreements, Guarantee Agreements, and Project Agreements);
- Prepare and/or review subsidiary agreements and other on-lending and on-granting agreements, and legal opinions, and recommend appropriate changes;
- Carry out portfolio management, including drafting amendments and other project-related legal documents;
- Advise project teams on World Bank policies and procedures;
- Prepare legal memoranda on pertinent legal issues, including on matters related to local law (at the national and sub-national levels) and international law;
- Participate in identification, preparation, appraisal and supervision missions with project teams and attend any other operational meetings;
- Provide guidance to Administrative Client Support staff and/or paralegals on processing of project documentation;
- Assist with legal and judicial reform work, if any (including analysis of local legislation, judicial system, etc.); and
- Carry out any other complementary duties or any ad hoc tasks as assigned by legal counsels and/or the Chief Counsel.
Selection Criteria
At least five years of relevant experience in addition to a JD, LLB, LLM or equivalent, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction.
Excellent oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of Spanish/ French/Portuguese is desirable.
Required Competencies:
* Legal Drafting, Research and Communication: Proven ability to draft transactional documentation (e.g., loan agreements or other financial agreements), briefs and variety of legal instruments and related documents independently. Conducts research as necessary to acquire insight and information. Is aware of the need for precision and focus on quality. Uses a writing style that is clear and precise.
* Legal Reasoning: Breaks down problems into their component parts. Articulates the implications of situations in a step-by-step way. Remains objective when reviewing problems or situations to understand the issues. Makes sure he/she possesses all the facts.
* Multilateral Development Bank Legal and Policy Framework: Knowledge of Multilateral Development Banks’ legal framework and policies and procedures is desirable but not mandatory.
* Independence: Carries out work with due care, preparing accurate documents and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts are fairly presented without seeking to obfuscate (either through too much information or withholding relevant information). Interprets information in an objective manner, exercising professional skepticism when required. Does not divulge or exploit confidential information.
* Professional Maturity: Understands others and the reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarify others' points of view so that progress can be made particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Proven ability to deal sensitively and effectively across organizational boundaries, as a team member, in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.
* Recommends and takes decisive action: Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBG’s strategy. Evaluates risk and anticipates the short and long-term implications of decisions. Commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.
At least five years of relevant experience in addition to a JD, LLB, LLM or equivalent, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction.
Excellent oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of Spanish/ French/Portuguese is desirable.
Required Competencies:
* Legal Drafting, Research and Communication: Proven ability to draft transactional documentation (e.g., loan agreements or other financial agreements), briefs and variety of legal instruments and related documents independently. Conducts research as necessary to acquire insight and information. Is aware of the need for precision and focus on quality. Uses a writing style that is clear and precise.
* Legal Reasoning: Breaks down problems into their component parts. Articulates the implications of situations in a step-by-step way. Remains objective when reviewing problems or situations to understand the issues. Makes sure he/she possesses all the facts.
* Multilateral Development Bank Legal and Policy Framework: Knowledge of Multilateral Development Banks’ legal framework and policies and procedures is desirable but not mandatory.
* Independence: Carries out work with due care, preparing accurate documents and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts are fairly presented without seeking to obfuscate (either through too much information or withholding relevant information). Interprets information in an objective manner, exercising professional skepticism when required. Does not divulge or exploit confidential information.
* Professional Maturity: Understands others and the reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarify others' points of view so that progress can be made particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Proven ability to deal sensitively and effectively across organizational boundaries, as a team member, in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.
* Recommends and takes decisive action: Applies critical thinking and seeks inputs and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with the WBG’s strategy. Evaluates risk and anticipates the short and long-term implications of decisions. Commits to a decision and takes action once a decision has been reached.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
Potential interview questions
| Can you provide an example of a complex legal issue you have handled effectively? | The interviewer wants to assess your problem-solving and legal reasoning skills. | Describe the situation clearly and outline the steps you took to resolve the issue. |
| How do you prioritize your work when handling multiple projects with tight deadlines? | This question gauges your time management and organizational skills. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with a diverse team to achieve a common goal. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What approach do you take when drafting legal documentation to ensure clarity and compliance? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain how you handle feedback and criticism related to your work? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
Added 3 years ago
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Updated 1 year ago
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Source:
worldbank.org
