Legal Officer, P3

United Nations Office of Legal Affairs (UNOLA)

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Substantial Contracts and Procurement Cluster in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). The Legal Officer reports to the 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:

• Independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international, public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of concentration;
• Provides legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support, procurement and contracts, arbitration and claims, accountability, and peacekeeping and other operational activities of the Organization, its organs and funds and programmes;
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence; provides legal advice in support of the unit/division;
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public or private law issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly resolutions and decisions involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, institutional questions, and the constitutional and administrative law of the Organization;
• Provides advice and support on the Organization’s procurement activities, both at Headquarters and Offices away from Headquarters and the field, including on procurement relating to logistical support requirements for United Nations peacekeeping and other missions;
• Prepares or assists in drafting or analysis of complex contracts and agreements with governments, NGOs, commercial vendors and other public and private entities, as well as in the negotiation of disputes and claims against the Organization. In particular, assists in the negotiation and settlement of claims, and, where necessary, the adjudication of claims and disputes arising from activities of the Organization, including its funds and programmes, private third party claims arising from peacekeeping or similar operations, or commercial claims arising from UN contracts;
• Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of financial regulations and rules, and staff regulations and rules, including the review of administrative decisions; prepares draft amendments to the financial regulations and rules and staff regulations and rules; reviews draft administrative issuances or amendments thereto and verifies their consistency with the existing financial regulations and rules and/or staff regulation and rules; prepares analyses and evaluations of human resources and other policies and practices;
• Services committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting reports, etc.;
• Assists in representing the Organization before arbitral and other tribunals or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases; in Tribunals;
• 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. Knowledge of international commercial law. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Proficiency in legal drafting skills and ability to draft clearly and well 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. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional 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 the practice of commercial law, including drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, legal analysis, research and writing, to be obtained either in the legal office of an international intergovernmental organization, a law firm, the legal office of a multinational corporation or similar entity, or the legal office of a Government is required;
• Admission to the practice of law in the Member State of the candidate’s nationality or in another Member State of the UN, is required. Experience in working with the status and the privileges and immunities of international organizations is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Application instructions