Legal Officer, P-3

United Nations

New York, United States

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of Administration of Justice and specifically in the Registry of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) in New York. The position is under the overall supervision of the UNAT Registrar as the First Reporting Officer, and the Principal Registrar is the Second Reporting Officer. The UNAT hears and decides appeals filed by or on behalf of current and former staff members appealing judgments rendered by the United Nations Dispute Tribunal or other first-instance tribunals.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

In the framework of the Registry, provide substantive, technical and administrative support for the adjudication of cases by the UNAT judges;
Review the parties’ submissions to the UNAT;
Support the Judges by conducting legal research and preparing briefing memoranda on cases;
Support the Judges in producing accurate, comprehensive judgments, including review of draft judgments for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies, and ensuring editorial uniformity prior to publication;
Support the Judges in review of interlocutory motions and issuance of orders;
Identify issues, draft legal texts and handle a wide range of complex legal matters involving interpretation and application of administrative/employment law;
Conduct extensive legal research and provide detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence;
Prepare summaries of judgments for inclusion in the OAJ case law portal;
Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions;
Draft, review and advise on legal documents and correspondence;
Perform other duties in support of Registry initiatives, as requested.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent degree) in international law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. At least one year of experience in administrative or employment/labor law is required. Experience as a judicial/legal clerk, legal officer or legal professional in a related field is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

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