Legal Officer P2

The Legal Officer P2 will provide legal advice and services supporting WFP offices globally, focusing on employment law and related legal matters. The role involves legal research, drafting, litigation support, and advising on WFP's employment framework and contractual modalities.

Responsibilities

• Undertake legal research and analysis on legal issues of a substantive and procedural nature.
• Review a variety of legal documents, including agreements, memoranda of understanding and contracts, in order to identify relevant legal issues and risks and ensure compliance with the applicable legal framework and jurisprudence.
• Assist in preparing legal advice on the interpretation and application of WFP's Regulations, Rules, Policies and Procedures, as well as applicable conventions, resolutions and agreements.
• Draft legal documents including opinions, reports, memoranda, submissions, agreements and contracts.
• Provide legal support in representing WFP in administrative or tribunal proceedings and arbitration.
• Assist in the assessment of disciplinary cases.
• Assist in the assessment of appeals.
• Assist in the preparation of litigation submission for WFP.
• Assist in the preparation, negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes involving WFP and its personnel.
• Identify legal risks and potential liabilities and assist in developing practical risk mitigation measures to support informed decision-making.
• Assist in reviewing administrative decisions and providing legal interpretations relating to the application of WFP's legal framework.
• Support senior Legal Officers in servicing committees, task forces, expert working groups and other bodies through legal research, drafting and legal advice.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in law, or first university degree in law with additional relevant experience and training in private, commercial, or public law.
• Must be qualified to practice or admitted to practice by a recognized national or state bar or law society.
• At least three years of progressively responsible experience practicing law within a law firm, an international organization, a governmental service, or a company.
• Prior litigation and/or employment law experience are assets.
• Fluency in oral and written English.
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).
• Ability to work autonomously with minimum supervision.
• Tact and a high degree of discretion and confidentiality.
• Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for the review, examination and processing of a range of legal documents.
• Knowledge of various legal research sources and techniques, and ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments and draft legal papers.
• Clear, concise and persuasive legal analysis and drafting skills.
• Business acumen.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Skills

• Legal Practice
• Employment Law
• Litigation Support
• Legal Research
• Legal Drafting
• Legal Analysis
• Application of Legal Principles
• Reviewing Legal Documents
• Interpretation of Legislative Instruments
• Contract Law
• Business Acumen
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills
• Communications Skills
• Interpersonal Skills

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese