Legal Assistant (Climate/Environment)

Volunteering Legal Admin Environment

Overview

Provide legal assistance on environmental damage assessments

You have:

• One month of experience in Law, Political Science, Public Administration, International relations, Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Business, Economics, Finance or other relevant area required.
• Preferably, any research experience in national legislation development, preferably climate, environmental protection, Green Deal.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. Sound security awareness.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.

Contract

This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.

On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military invasion of Ukraine. The unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine has caused severe human and physical damage, also heavily targeting the civilian population and civilian infrastructure nationwide.

The purpose of the Environmental Damage Assessment project is to enable the State Environmental Inspectorate to effectively fulfil its responsibilities in calculating the damage, losses, and harm caused to the environment and state natural resources within its jurisdiction, as a result of accidents, emergencies, military aggression, terrorism, or other criminal acts, particularly since the onset of martial law.

The project involves creation of an Interactive Environmental Damage Register Platform as an information and analytical subsystem integrated into the State Inspectorate’s existing electronic document circulation system, and platform will facilitate and accurately document activities related to calculating the damage, losses, and harm caused to the natural environment and state natural resources within the Inspectorate’s jurisdiction, due to accidents, emergencies, military aggression, terrorism, or other criminal acts, particularly since the onset of the martial law.

Additionally, the upcoming module of the integrated information and analytical subsystem will equip state inspectors of Ukraine in environmental protection with the necessary information support, facilitate the preparation, approval, and processing of documents, and aid in the implementation of environmental measures to enhance control over environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources, and radiation safety.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Legal Assistant will be responsible for advising the project "Mitigating the risks of long-term environmental disasters in Ukraine through the establishment of a Coordination Centre on Environmental Damage Assessment" in legal assistance to the project in the area of climate change and environmental damage.

The Legal Assistant will be responsible for conducting the following activities:

Legal Assistance to the project:

• Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Legal Assistant will be responsible for preparing publications and/or articles pertaining to environmental damage assessment or environmental protection, including international/EU law.
• Analyze the existing international experience and recommend best practices for the state authorities in environmental damage assessment.
• S/he will ensure the provision of quality and timely services and processes for the Project.
• Perform various legal aid activities for the State Environmental Inspectorate and the Project Manager;
• Provide legal advice and guidance to climate law development and/or environmental damage assessment, environmental protection as defined by the State Environmental Inspectorate or Project Manager;
• Assist in the organising the meetings, conferences, and training for Project stakeholders;
• Participate in the meetings, conferences, and trainings if required by the State Environmental Inspectorate and/or Project Manager;
• Prepare analytical papers if requested;
• Ensure that all project’s needs are met through the timely provision of legal services support under the supervision of Project Manager;
• Perform other duties as may be required by UNDP management.

Administrative Assistance to the Project:

• Perform administrative support functions to facilitate the implementation of the Project activities, including personnel matters, attendance records, facilitating missions, office maintenance;
• Provide support with project recruitments and personnel management; - Support the project with timely and accurate preparation of the documents for selection processes and contract extensions;
• Participate, as requested by management in project activities (meetings, round tables, conferences, and other public activities); preparation, implementation, and follow up, take meeting minutes etc., including as appropriate those organized as part of the Energy and Environment Portfolio to ensure synergies between projects;
• Support in keeping project inventory up to date and assure that UNDP regulations on equipment use, storage, and proper maintenance are adhered to
• Provide assistance with project document translation and interpretation as needed; - Maintain stationery and office supplies, purchase office equipment when needed; - Handle project correspondence;
• Provide support to various project activities at the national and sub-national levels; - Provide support to communication activities and events of the project;

The Legal Assistant will report to the Project Manager of the project “Mitigating the risks of long-term environmental disasters in Ukraine through the establishment of a Coordination Centre on Environmental Damage Assessment”. The Legal Assistant will provide written monthly reports on the progress of activities and the key challenges and opportunities, and deliverables reports as required.

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

One month of experience in Law, Political Science, Public Administration, International relations, Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Business, Economics, Finance or other relevant area required. - Preferably, any research experience in national legislation development, preferably climate, environmental protection, Green Deal. - Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. - Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. Sound security awareness. - Have affinity with or interest in the SDG, green recovery, climate change, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System. - Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.

As it is a national UN Volunteer's assignment, the UN volunteer shall organize his/her accommodation by themselves.

Entitlements of National UN Volunteer 

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract.

Allowances: 

• Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA):  A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 1270 (equivalent in UAH)  is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”.
• USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment.

Medical and life insurance: 

• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. 
• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum. 

Leave entitlements: 

• Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment.
• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.
• Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. 

Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period. 

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org