Associate Legal Officer

Job Title: Associate Legal Officer (Environmental Law)

Organizational Context

This UN Volunteer position is located in the Law Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and is under the direct supervision of the Special Assistant of the Law Division. The assignment supports the implementation of the Montevideo Programme V, the long-term strategy for the development and implementation of environmental law.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Special Assistant of the Law Division, the UN Volunteer will:

• Assist in performing UNEP’s roles and functions as Secretariat under Montevideo Programme V, including servicing meetings, preparing background documents, and drafting meeting reports;
• Conduct legal research on a diverse range of assigned issues in environmental law under Montevideo Programme V, including but not limited to environmental rule of law, human rights and the environment, and emerging issues such as rights of nature and environmental crime;
• Assist in reviewing legal documents, instruments, or other material on environmental law and related areas under Montevideo Programme V;
• Support the Special Assistant in providing effective administrative services to implement the Division’s mandate and functions, including enhancing the Law Division’s digital and knowledge platforms;
• Support the communications needs of the Law Division, including updating and enhancing UNEP’s website, InforMEA, and UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform (UNEP-LEAP), and assist in the Division’s reporting needs;
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law, with a specialization in environmental law and governance.

Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in environmental law and governance;
• Progressively responsible experience in environmental law and governance, including legal analysis, research and writing;
• Prior work experience at the international level is desired;
• Prior work experience with communications is desired.

Additional Responsibilities as a UN Volunteer

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and actively participating in UNV activities (for instance, events marking International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles or write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.