LEGAL OFFICER

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OHCHR - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

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Application deadline 3 years ago: Thursday 12 Nov 2020 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The Legal Officer will work under the guidance of the Human Rights Officer, and the general supervision of the Head of Office.

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

  • Handles a range of legal issues on all areas of human rights, by providing advice and legal analysis on national and international law, legislative instruments, constitutional law, local legal protocols and local practices, commentaries of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK); conducts interviews with victims/witnesses of violations; undertakes field monitoring and verification work; assesses information and follows up on different cases and situations; identifies emerging legal problems, evaluates their impact and suggests adaptive actions.

  • Conducts extensive legal research using multiple research sources, on the legal and human rights developments relevant to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, interprets local laws and legal documents and provides analysis thereof, including issue-based or situational assessments of legislative, policy or implementation gaps. Prepares findings for the Head of Office.

  • Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal advice on a wide range of international law issues, international mechanism and recommendations on human rights.

  • Participates in the elaboration of thematic and analytical documents, as well as prepares or assists with the preparation of legal documents and reports.

  • Prepares and conducts workshops and assists the office in capacity building and training activities on international criminal law and international human rights law.

  • Facilitates knowledge building and management, and contributes to promote and disseminate international human rights standards and principles.

  • Provides information on and follows up the development of the repository on human rights violations committed in the DPRK.

  • Follows-up the recommendations issued by human rights mechanisms and procedures as well as treaty bodies.

  • Performs other duties as may be requested.

    Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of international human rights standards and their practical implementation and exposure to a range of human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address sensitive problems. Professional competence and mastery of law and human rights. Ability to analyse and synthesize information including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation. 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; and 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.

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 Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law is required. 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.

Work Experience A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in legal analysis, research and writing is required. Experience at national and/or international levels in the human rights or related field is desirable. Previous legal experience working with the United Nations common system or other comparable international organization is desirable. Experience of interviewing witnesses/victims of human rights violations for criminal justice and accountability purposes is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and Korean (both oral and written), is required.

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

Special Notice THIS POSITION IS TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2020, WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION - SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

  • If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. - While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. - Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. - This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. - Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. - Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

    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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: careers.un.org