LEGAL OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 168,113 USD and 216,746 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located within the Collection, Analysis and Sharing Section (CASS) of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011 (IIIM).

The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the Senior Legal Officer for Collections and Analysis and the overall direction of the Deputy Head and Head of the IIIM.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Prepares or coordinates actions with the Senior Legal Officer for Collections and Analysis. Assists in fulfilling his or her supervisory functions and provides legal direction and investigative recommendations;

2) Provides legal and policy advice on the preparation of case files and evidentiary modules as well as the IIIM’s structural investigation more broadly;

3) Assesses whether the evidence collected proves the elements of the offences considered, and meets other legal requirements, such as admissibility and reliability;

4) Together with the other Legal Officer, contributes to legal work of the section, including the preparation of case files and evidentiary modules, and independently handles a wide range of multidisciplinary and complex legal matters;

5) Coordinates and directs the work of other legal officers, analysts and investigators dealing with significant issues as required, and supervises the work of junior officers generally, as well as on specific projects;

6) Prepares and/or supervises the preparation of legal documents to be shared with national authorities;

7) Serves as a legal focal point for investigation related issues including by overseeing and/or participating in the drafting and updating of SOPs and other guidance documents relevant to the IIIM’s collection/investigations work;

8) Attends in-house briefings, plans meetings and renders advice as necessary;

9) Assesses the IIIM’s investigative priorities. Identifies avenues of investigation and conducts interviews of witnesses and suspects as required.

10) Under the guidance of the Senior Legal Officer (Collections and Analysis), provides legal advice to the Head, Deputy Head and staff of the IIIM on diverse substantive and procedural legal issues of international and domestic criminal law, which can include questions of considerable complexity and those related to policy and diplomatic matters;

11) Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, briefs, reports and correspondence;

12) Performs other assignments as requested.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Sound knowledge of international legal procedures and instruments, including international criminal law, with a particular emphasis on the legal practice of the international criminal tribunals. Sound knowledge of the functioning of criminal investigations and prosecutions at the national and international levels and experience in litigation. Ability to apply legal expertise to analyzing a diverse range of complex issues and in developing innovative solutions. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in legal writing and expression and ability to prepare legal documents. Ability to work well in a multicultural environment. Ability to work to tight deadlines and to handle multiple concurrent projects. Good computer skills and ability to use relevant software applications and online legal research tools. 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; 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.

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.

PLANNING AND 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 A first level university degree and an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law, criminal law or international criminal law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. The candidate must have been admitted to practice law in a national system.

Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible legal experience is required. At least five (5) years of experience in international criminal law is desirable. Experience working in a domestic or International Criminal Tribunal is desirable. Experience drafting or reviewing indictments (or the equivalent) is desirable. Legal work experience in relation to the Syrian context is desirable. Experience prosecuting sexual and gender-based crimes is desirable. Experience addressing conflict-related crimes against children is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of funds.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2020, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.

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.