UN Jobs in the United States

Position: Legal Officer in the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs

About position

The Legal Officer will report directly to the Principal Legal Officer and the Director of the Legal Division. In addition to that, s/he will do the following duties

• Serves as a lead officer in one or more areas of concentration, and independently handles a wide range of multi-discipline and complex legal
• Provides legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity
• Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence. Also, provides legal advice to the unit/division.
• Provides advice on a wide range of complex issues relating to peacekeeping, special political missions and other operations in the field,
• Reviews, advises on and drafts complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities, and other legal documents. Similarly, develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.
• Advises on and participates in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes, to include establishing strategy and approach. And also, deciding on the legal text for terms and conditions of contracts, on the recommendations on the merit of claims, etc.

Furthermore,

• Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of financial and staff regulations and rule. Similarly, prepares analyses and evaluations of human resources and other administrative policies and practices.
• Represents the organization on more complex cases before arbitral and other tribunal or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals; in Tribunals, acts on behalf of the Prosecutor as co-counsel in proceedings before Trial or Appeal Chambers.
• Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required. On the other hand, promotes the work of the United Nations and represents the organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
• Coordinates and direct teams of other legal officers dealing with significant problems as required, as well as mentors and supervises the work of junior officers on specific projects.
• Contributes to the review and design of new or new applications of, legal instruments, policy, guidelines, etc.
• Furthermore, performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in law, including legal analysis, research, and writing. However, candidates with a bachelors degree in law with two additional years of qualifying work experience can also apply.
• In addition to that, a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research, and writing. Also, experience in a law firm or in an international organization or in governmental service dealing with matters of international law.
• Strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills. Similarly, strong leadership capacity and excellent teamwork skills.
• Fluency in English. Knowledge of French is desirable and also, knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.