Legal Officer

The Legal Officer in the General Legal Division of the Office of Legal Affairs handles issues related to international commercial law, public and private international law, and administrative law. The role involves legal research, drafting legal opinions, advising on disputes and contracts, and supporting arbitration and administrative proceedings.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of substantive and procedural questions, including 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.
• Prepares and assists in providing analysis, advice and support in resolving disputes arising out of contracts with commercial vendors, consultants, individual contractors, and other personnel, and third-party claims involving the Organization.
• Assists in advising on and participates in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes, including strategy, terms and conditions of settlement, and recommendations on merit and risk exposure in arbitration.
• Prepares or assists in the review, advice on, drafting and negotiating of complex contracts with commercial vendors and agreements with NGOs and other entities, and development of institutional and operational modalities.
• Prepares and provides substantive input on motions/submissions in arbitral 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 and meeting reports.
• 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 review of administrative decisions and drafting administrative issuances.
• Provides guidance to more junior staff.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 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.
• Admission to the practice of law, or otherwise qualified to practice law, in a Member State of the United Nations is required.
• 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.
• English is required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Either French or Spanish is desirable, with French at UN Level II and Spanish at UN Level I for reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• International Commercial Law
• Legal Analysis
• Legal Research
• Legal Drafting
• Claims Analysis
• International Commercial Arbitration
• Practice of Law
• Legal Opinions
• Contract Law
• Administrative Law
• Advising on Privileges and Immunities
• Legal Writing
• Legal Advice
• Legal Proceedings

Languages

English, French, Spanish