Posting Title: Legal Officer, P3
Job Code Title: Legal Officer
Department/ Office: Office of Administration of Justice
Duty Station: Nairobi
Posting Period: 13 August 2014-12 October 2014
Job Opening number: 14-LEG-OAJ-36723-R-NAIROBI (X)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The funding for this position is of a temporary nature. Recruitment, selection or extension of appointments against this position will be subject to budgetary approval.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The post is located in the Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA) in Nairobi, Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ). The Legal Officer reports to the Chief of OSLA.
Responsibilities
The Legal Officer will be responsible for providing legal assistance to the persons included in the scope of the administration of justice as defined by GA resolution 63/253 on ‘Administration of Justice in the United Nations’.
Duties will include:-
- Advise clients on issues relating to appeals against administrative decisions and the imposition of disciplinary matters;
- Represent and litigate on behalf of clients before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal; Prepare written and oral submissions to these bodies and ensure that they meet procedural requirements;
- Identify, where applicable, cases that are amenable to informal resolution, such as settlement or mediation and assist clients in the process;
- Assist in responding to complex inquiries and correspondence; Identify legal issues, draft, review and advise on legal documents and correspondence; Conduct extensive legal research and provide detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence;
- Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions;
- Assist the Office in producing accurate, comprehensive submissions, including by reviewing draft submissions for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies;
- Assist in maintaining the Office’s registers (electronic and online) and a legal precedent reporting database;
- Assist in the preparation of reports on the work of the Office to the General Assembly and other bodies, as may be mandated;
- Assist in ensuring administrative and budgetary requirements of the Nairobi Office;
- Perform other duties as required;
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.
Planning and Organizing:
- Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
- identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;
- allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
- foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
- uses time efficiently.
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 degree or equivalent) in Law, emphasis on Administrative, Employment, Criminal or International Law is required.
- 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, preferably Administrative, Employment, Civil and Criminal Law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required.
- Litigation experience and one year of work experience appearing before courts and tribunals is required.
- Experience at the international level is desirable.
- Experience working for an international public organization is desirable.
- Experience in a complex or high-volume case management law setting is desirable. Membership to the Bar in any national jurisdiction is also desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
- For the post advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required.
- Knowledge of French is desirable.
- Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.
Assessment Method
- Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
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