INTERN - Legal

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This internship is located in the Legal Office of the Pension Administration of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Legal Office provides unified legal services for the Fund's management and operations, and supports the work of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board.

The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund is a Fund established by the General Assembly of the United Nations to provide retirement, death, disability and related benefits for the staff of the United Nations and the other organizations admitted to membership in the Fund. The Fund is an inter-agency body and pays benefits in 17 currencies to approximately 80,000 beneficiaries who reside in more than 190 countries, and services more than 130,000 participants who work in the 25 Member Organizations of the Fund.

Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Legal Officer, the incumbent will have responsibilities which include:

• Assist in conducting legal research on issues related to the Fund and its operations;

• Assist in developing a database of legal rulings and decisions on pension matters;

• Assist in the review of legal documents, instruments or other material;

• Assist in drafting and preparing official and legal documents;

• Attend and take notes at meetings;

• Working on website and/or presentations;

• Any other duties that may be assigned.

  Competencies - Professionalism: Knowledge of research methodologies, data collection and maintenance. Ability to identify, extract, analyze and format data from a wide variety of standard and non- standard sources. 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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

• 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 To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

1. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent or higher);

b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (Bachelor's level or equivalent); or

c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation;

2. Be computer literate in standard software applications;

3. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and

4. Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Work Experience No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

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

Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager for further consideration.

Special Notice Duration of need: Six (6) months. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or not currently in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa, and if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.

To apply: A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. To complete an online application, please create and complete a personal history profile (PHP) and a cover letter in the UN e-Recruitment system (careers.un.org). Please ensure that you indicate your proficiency in the English language in your PHP. Please note that incomplete applications with not be reviewed.

The cover note should include: (1) Title of the degree currently being pursued by the applicant and the specific subjects taken;

(2) Graduation Date (When will you be/are graduating/have graduated from the programme?)

(3) List of IT skills and programes that you are proficient in;

(4) List your top three areas of interest;

(5) Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship;

(6) Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme and how an internship with the UNJSPF-PA fits within your education/career plan;

(7) Available start and end dates for internship. In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences (if applicable), IT skills, and three references.

Please note that due to high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

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.