Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Section, the Legal Officer represents the Secretary-General in written and oral proceedings before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and may be responsible for the following duties:

• Handles a range of issues related to international, public, private 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 prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence.
• Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies, etc. Prepares or assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public or private law issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly resolutions and decisions involving constitutional and administrative law of the Organization.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of agreements and the negotiation and settlement of claims and disputes in the context of the administration of justice matters
• Assesses evidence for relevance and admissibility.
• Prepares and assesses briefs of evidence.
• Provides legal advice on human resources matters; reviews administrative matters.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible legal experience is required. Of these five years, two years in litigation at the national or international level and must include first-hand experience in appearing and leading the evidence of witnesses before a court or tribunal or equivalent administrative board and bodies is required.
• Experience at the national or international level in administrative and employment or labour law is required.
• Experience with staff regulations and rules, policies, procedures and operations of the United Nations or a similar international organization is desirable.