INTERN - LEGAL AFFAIRS

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 The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) is recruiting interns for the period from November 2021 to January 2022 for its six (6) divisions located in New York. We are seeking highly motivated graduate or undergraduate students who wish to gain professional experience in international law within an international organization in order to supplement their studies. This internship will include practical educational experience which provides the opportunity to work in a multicultural intergovernmental organization. Under the supervision of legal officers, interns will work on projects and tasks assigned by them, which may include assignments that are relevant to their educational background and interests. The interns will have an opportunity to apply and further develop their theoretical knowledge.

Responsibilities Responsibilities of internship positions range widely, encompassing many aspects of OLA's work. These responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting in conducting legal research on issues related to international law and other areas of specialization using multiple research resources;
• Assisting in the review of legal documents, instruments or other material;
• Assisting in drafting and preparing official and legal documents;
• Attending and taking notes at conferences and meetings;
• Assisting in servicing conferences and meetings;

• Working on website and/or presentations.

  Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Applicants must demonstrate a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter of the United Nations. They must have an ability to work effectively in a team and in a multicultural environment, and to work collaboratively with colleagues and external counterparts. In addition, they must have good drafting and oral communication skills, and be computer literate in standard software applications.

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.

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 The degree programme which applicants are enrolled in or have recently graduated from must be in Law. Applicants must demonstrate their intention to study further or to work in a field relevant to the work of OLA.

Applicants to the United Nations Internship Programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Either (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent).

  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 in New York. For the internship advertised, proficiency in oral and written English is required, and knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language, i.e. Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish, is an advantage.

  Assessment Due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the Division concerned. Interviews may be held with applicants.

  Special Notice TO APPLY:

• Please create and complete a Candidate Profile with a Motivation Statement in the UN e-Recruitment platform, Inspira at inspira.un.org. In your Candidate Profile, please indicate if you are proficient in the English language. PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.

• It is imperative that the Motivation Statement includes the following details: (1) Title of the degree currently being pursued and the specific subjects taken; (2) Expected graduation date from the degree programme or graduation date if graduated within the past year; (3) The applicant's objectives for undertaking an internship with the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and how it fits within their education/career plan; (4) Three (3) Divisions of interest for internship from among the six Divisions in the Office of Legal Affairs located in New York (in order of preference) with #1 being the most preferred. The six Divisions of OLA are: the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG), the Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC), the General Legal Division (GLD), the Codification Division (COD), the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), and the Treaty Section (TS); (5) An explanation why the applicant is suitable for the specific Division; (6) The applicant's availability to commence the internship between November 2021 and January 2022.

Important Note: - The duration of an internship in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) is a minimum of two (2) months to a maximum of six (6) months depending upon the particular needs of the Division. - Internships in OLA are not paid. Travel costs, travel arrangements (including visas), and living accommodations are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution. - In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants will 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 the entirety of the internship. - OLA interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any position in the professional or above categories, within the United Nations Secretariat for a period of six (6) months following the end of their internship. Any employment with the UN at that point in time shall be subject to established recruitment and selection procedures. - Internship positions are full-time. For more information about the United Nations internship Programme in general, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=IP&lang=en-US. For details on OLA's mandate and the specific functions of its divisions, please visit our internet site at: http://legal.un.org/ola/Default.aspx

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.