Legal Officer

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 137,951 USD and 180,636 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 Support and Sharing Section (SSS) 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 will report to the SSS Senior Legal Officer.

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

• Assists the SSS Senior Legal Officer in managing all activities relating to Requests for Assistance (RFAs) and sharing activities, including by engaging and liaising with judicial authorities to ensure expeditious and adequate responses to RFAs and proactive sharing to support accountability efforts;
• Participates in collection efforts in identifying relevant evidence for collection, preparing targeted collection requests, liaising with information providers as required, and assisting investigators in the preparation of RFA-related investigative activities;
• Reviews the analytical work performed in relation to RFAs or proactive sharing, conducts legal reviews and analysis of relevant information and evidence relating to alleged violations of international humanitarian law and human rights to assess shareability and determine transmission modalities, and organizes the transmission of relevant information, evidence and analytical products in response to RFAs or as part of proactive sharing;
• Prepares or assists in the preparation and negotiation of sharing cooperation frameworks with information and evidence providers from State or non-State entities;
• Assists in the development of processes, tools, policies, manuals and standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing the treatment of RFAs, the sharing of information and evidence, and regulating the preparation and negotiation of cooperation frameworks, which take due account of the requirements pertaining to information security;
• Liaises closely with all IIIM sections to facilitate collection, investigation, consolidation and analysis of information and evidence relevant to RFAs, as well as to inform IIIM strategies in these areas through the work performed in response to RFAs;
• Provides legal and policy advice to the SSS Senior Legal Officer and IIIM Leadership Team on all issues relating to the sharing of information and evidence and cooperation frameworks, as well as support on multidisciplinary, legal and administrative matters, either independently or in cooperation with other sections of the Mechanism, as required;
• Participates in briefings, conferences and workshops with other members of the IIIM, as well as with actors external to the IIIM including national judicial authorities, governmental officials, civil society actors, members of other UN entities and international organizations relevant to the collection, analysis and sharing of information and evidence;

• Performs other duties, as required.

  Competencies - PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the international criminal law framework and international humanitarian law principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given. 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 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.

  Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international or criminal law is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing relating to core international crimes obtained at the domestic or international level, is required.

  Prior work experience as a prosecutor, adjudicator or counsel with a court or tribunal dealing with core international crimes, or as a legal officer with an international criminal law accountability mechanism is desirable.

  Prior experience working on requests for assistance in a judicial context is desirable.

  Prior experience drafting and/or negotiating cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding is desirable.

  Prior work experience in relation to the Middle East is desirable.

  Prior work experience in relation to the Syrian conflict is desirable.

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

Fulfillment of the responsibilities of this position may necessitate engagement with material and/or information that may be distressing.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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.