Legal Intern
Contract
This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.
Background
UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.
The Office of Legal Services (OLS) serves as in-house counsel in UNDP. The Office consists of two Practices, which provide advice and assistance on a range of legal matters relating to the UNDP’s operations, programming and administration.
The Administrative Law Practice (AL) is responsible for advising senior management in Headquarters, Country Offices and of affiliated funds and programmes on legal issues of the status and conduct, the formulation of policies and procedures and the resolution of claims, with respect to staff members and UN volunteers and representing the Organization in cases and settlements within the internal justice system.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor and supporting the lawyers in the AL of the Office of Legal Services, the intern will:
Provide in-depth research based on Staff Regulations, Rules and jurisprudence in matters concerning the handling of formal cases under the UN system of the administration of justice;
Support the handling of cases, disputes and inquiries by lawyers with analysis of the background of specific legal issues;
Assist the lawyers by setting out and drafting initial text and background for formal correspondence;
Contribute to the process of OLS review of legal issues arising in policies and procedures;
Provide other support to the office that may be required.
Competencies
Functional:
- Strong organizational and research skills;
- Excellent analytical, communication (oral and written) and writing skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills;
- Respect for diversity: understanding of the United Nations system, operations and structures;
- Work under minimum supervision and tight deadlines;
- Computer proficiency: MS Office applications
Corporate:
- Demonstrate integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP values and ethical standards;
- Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
In order to qualify for the program, the student must be enrolled in a graduate-level degree program leading to a Juris Doctor degree, Master of Laws (LLM) or one that is comparable if outside the United States. If the applicant has graduated, the internship must commence within one year of graduation.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in written and spoken English; Fluency in written and spoken French; knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).
UNDP Terms & Conditions for Internship
- Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
- Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
- Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
UNDP interns are eligible to receive a monthly stipend, with the rate that varies depending on the duty location. The stipend will be paid monthly, and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.
- Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend.
- Except for the stipend, all other expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring government or institutions.
- UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.
- The intern must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan;
- Interns are not considered staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
- Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the successful candidate will be expected to work remotely.
Application Procedure:
- Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website;
- The application must contain a) Cover letter and b) Curriculum Vitae. Please compile all the documents into one pdf. file to be uploaded with your application.
The selected candidate will have to provide the following additional documents:
- A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether he/she is fit to travel and has had the required inoculations for the country or countries to which the intern is to travel;
- Proof of medical insurance valid for the duration of the internship.
- Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree program, specifying the expected graduation date, or diploma if the applicant has graduated within the last year;
- Copy of current school transcript