LEGAL OFFICER

Overview

Handle legal issues related to international law and prepare relevant documents.

You have:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, including international commercial law, legal analysis, research and drafting.
• Admission to the practice of law in a Member State of the United Nations.
• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law required.
• Proficiency in English (Required) and either Spanish or French (Desirable).

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 131,084 USD and 171,644 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 in the General Legal Division of the Office of Legal Affairs. The Legal Officer reports to a Senior Legal Officer, Principal Legal Officer and the Director of the General Legal Division.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties: •Handles a range of issues related to international commercial law, public and private international law, and administrative law, including the interpretation and application of constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations. •Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepares briefs, memoranda, reports and correspondence. •Undertakes extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies, etc. •Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of substantive and procedural questions, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support, procurement and contracts, peacekeeping and other operational matters, separately administered programmes and funds, claims and arbitrations, administrative appeals, accountability and judicial cooperation, etc. •In particular, prepares and assists in providing analysis, advice and support in resolving (i) disputes arising out of contracts with commercial vendors, consultants, individual contractors, and other personnel, and (ii) third-party claims of a private law character involving the operations and activities of the Organization, its organs or its separately administered funds and programmes. •Assists in advising on and participates in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes, to include establishing strategy and approach, terms and conditions of settlement, and recommendations on the merit of claims and the Organization's risk exposure in arbitration, etc. •Prepares or assists in the review, advice on, drafting and negotiating of complex contracts with commercial vendors and agreements with NGOs and other public and private entities, as well as in the development of institutional and operational modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances. •Prepares, and provides substantive input on to, motions/submissions in the course of arbitral proceedings or administrative proceedings. •Services or assists senior colleagues in servicing committees, ad hoc working groups, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of members, meeting reports, etc. •Assists in representing the Organization before arbitral tribunals or in administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases, before the United Nations Appeals Tribunal. •Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of financial and staff regulations and rules, including the review of administrative decisions and the drafting administrative issuances; prepares analyses and evaluations of human resources policies and other administrative policies and practices. •Provides guidance to more junior staff. •Performs other duties as assigned.

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 civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Proficiency in legal drafting skills and ability and 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) in law is required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Admission to the practice of law, or otherwise qualified to practice law, in a Member State of the United Nations is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, including international commercial law, legal analysis, research and drafting to be obtained either in a law firm or in a legal office of an international intergovernmental organization or in a legal office of a government or court is required. Qualifying years of work experience are calculated following the receipt of the university degree in law recognized by the United Nations. Substantial experience in claims analysis and in international commercial arbitration is required. Experience in the practice of law with an international intergovernmental organisation is desirable. Experience in publishing articles on topics of international commercial law, public or private international law, administrative law or international arbitration is desirable. Experience in advising on the status and the privileges and immunities of international intergovernmental organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Spanish or French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

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LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingSpanishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026. 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. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.

Potential interview questions