Senior Legal Officer-Administrative Law

The Senior Legal Officer (Administrative Law) provides legal advice, training, outreach and assistance on administrative and employment law matters. The role includes advising on investigations, disciplinary matters, drafting and reviewing submissions to UN tribunals, and providing legal input into Agency strategy and policy related to human resources and internal justice system administration.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice, training, outreach and assistance on matters relating to administrative and employment law.
• Advise on investigations, disciplinary matters and draft or review drafts of Agency submissions to the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal and the UN’s Appeals Tribunal and appear before the Tribunals as required.
• Advise on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s regulatory framework, including UNRWA’s Area and International Staff Regulations, Rules and associated administrative issuances, and organizational directives.
• Provide legal input into development and implementation of Agency strategy and policy, particularly relating to human resources issues and administration of the internal justice system for UNRWA staff members.
• Draft or review drafts of all types of Agency contractual modalities, including contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, memoranda of understanding with partners and funding agreements.
• Advise on the status, mandate, privileges and immunities and related responsibilities of the Agency and its personnel, especially related to standards of conduct of personnel.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in law, preferably with some specialization in administrative law, employment law and/or public international law, and admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction.
• A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least seven years’ experience as a lawyer in the United Nations, other international organization, government service, the commercial/private sector or NGO, including a period of experience in administrative or employment law or court/tribunal related work is required.
• Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for an international post must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship.
• A passport or a national identity number is required.
• Familiarity with the UN Common System and practices is desirable.
• Experience in appeals to the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, United Nations Appeals Tribunal, ILO Administrative Tribunal or other international administrative tribunal is desirable.
• Indicate your current involvement in any outside activities, including employment, independent contractor/freelance consultant, board member, expert group, lobby, public speaking/writing, teaching, conferences, training, press statement, voluntary work, political activity, fundraising/donation for non-UNRWA entity, running for public office, role in political party or organizations, owning business, work for government/NGO/private company/charity, UNRWA partner/vendor, full/part-time, paid or not.

Skills

• Administrative Law
• Employment Law
• Public International Law
• Legal Advice
• Legal Training Development
• Legal Outreach
• Disciplinary Matters
• Legal Drafting
• Legal Review
• UN Dispute Tribunal Appeals
• UN Appeals Tribunal Appeals
• ILO Administrative Tribunal Appeals
• Human Resources Law
• Internal Justice System
• UN System Familiarity
• Legal Investigations
• Policy Development
• Legal Assistance
• Legal Practice
• Legal Research

Languages

English, French, Arabic