United Nations Careers 2018 - Associate Legal Officer

Publish Date: Jun 15, 2018

Deadline: Aug 09, 2018

Candidates are invited for YPP positions

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located primarily in the Office of Legal Affairs, the Department of Management, the Office of Administration of Justice, the Office on Drugs and Crime, International Criminal Tribunals and in Peacekeeping and political missions, but may also be found in other offices throughout the United Nations Secretariat. Incumbents typically report to a senior Legal Officer, or, in Tribunals, to a Prosecuting Trial Attorney.

Successful candidates will be considered for YPP positions as they become available throughout the Secretariat, including field offices. Initial appointments will be for two years and subject to review for a continuing appointment. The Organization promotes mobility within and across duty stations and job families.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Associate Legal Officer may be responsible for the following duties: 

•Conducts legal research on a diverse range of assigned issues in international law and other area(s) of specialization in public and private law, using multiple research sources; selects relevant material, analyzes information and presents findings for internal review.

•Assists Legal Officers in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities and inconsistencies, etc.

•Assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, etc.

•Assists in the preparation of legislative and other legal standards, legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public and private law issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly resolutions and decisions involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, peace and security, institutional questions, treaty law and practice, comparative and international commercial law, procedural issues arising during meetings of United Nations organs, constitutional and administrative law of the Organization.

•Assesses the relevance or admissibility of evidence gathered by investigators.

•Assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs and other public and private entities, as well as claims and disputes.

•Assists in representing the Organization before arbitral and other tribunals or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases.

•Assists in providing legal advice on human resources matters and assists in reviewing administrative decisions.

•Assists in administering programmes of legal technical assistance.

•Assists Legal Officers in servicing diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, etc.

•Performs other duties as assigned.

The duties above are generic and may not be performed by all Associate Legal Officers.

Competencies

Professionalism: 
•Has knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents 
•Has knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and the ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues.
•Is able to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely, draft legal papers and work under pressure, and 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 

Teamwork: 
•Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals 
•Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others 
•Places team agenda before personal agenda 
•Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position 
•Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings 

Planning & 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

Education

At least a first-level university degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree of at least three years) in the main course of study “Law” including any of the following fields of study:

General Law, History of Law, International Law, Jurisprudence, Labor Law, Local Magistrates, Maritime Law, Law of the Sea, Comparative Law, International Commercial Law, Human Rights Law, Humanitarian Affairs Law, Environmental Law.

Important: when preparing your application in Inspira, please choose the field of study that is closest to your degree, from the “Field of Study” dropdown menu, and write the exact title of the degree (both in its original language and its translation in English or French). Do not select “other” for main course of study or field of study.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Languages

Fluency (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

The assessment process is divided into 3 stages: 
1)Screening of applications
2)Written examination taken online
3)Oral examination. 

Knowledge of UN languages may be tested at any of these stages.

1.Applications will be screened on the basis of the eligibility criteria in this Job Opening. 

2.The written examination is planned to be conducted via an online testing platform. Candidates convoked for the written examination will be responsible for identifying and securing a location suitable for them to complete the examination (i.e., a computer with a reliable internet connection). Further information regarding the online testing platform and suggestions for a suitable testing environment will be provided to those convoked for the examination. The written examination is planned to be offered in two parts with the following tentative timeframe: Part I in October 2018 and Part II in December 2018 (exact date to be announced on the UN Careers YPP Page). 

The written examination shall consist of: 

•General Paper, which assesses drafting skills in an international affairs context.
•Specialized Paper, which assesses knowledge and abilities related to responsibilities listed in the job opening.

3.Only examinees who are successful in the overall written examination will be invited to the oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted via online video conference. The oral examination will assess the key competencies for the job family, as described in the Job Opening. Part of the final assessment stage, either before, during or after the oral examination may include an element to verify the candidate’s answers given in the Specialized Paper as well as the information in the Personal History Profile submitted. The anticipated timeframe for the oral examinations is sometime in Spring 2019.

Special Notice

•The purpose of the present Job Opening is to invite applications from external candidates who wish to take the 2018 Young Professionals Programme (YPP) examination in the job family of Legal Affairs. UN Secretariat staff members who are eligible to apply through the “G to P” or “G to N” track must not apply through this Job Opening.

•The eligibility requirements of the examination are: 
1.At least a three-year first level university degree in the field of study listed in the Education Section of this Job Opening;
2.Born on or after 1 January 1986; 
3.Fluent in either English or French; and
4.A national of a participating Member State. The participating Member States for the 2018 YPP are: 

Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam. 

•Submitting applications for more than one job family (YPP exam area) will result in automatic disqualification in all job families, e.g., applying to both Legal Affairs and Social Affairs will result in disqualification in both areas.

•Success in the YPP examination process will result in placement on a roster of eligible candidates for selection into specific vacancies which may arise over the course of a three-year period (beginning from when the roster is established). 

•Upon selection, successful YPP candidates will be initially appointed at the P-1 or P-2 level depending on their qualifications. Those appointed at the P-1 level shall be promoted to a position at the P-2 level following a minimum of two years of satisfactory performance and depending on the availability of posts. 

•Incomplete applications and applications that are received after the above deadline (11:59 pm New York HQ local time) will not be accepted under any circumstances. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid problems, for example due to heavy last-minute internet traffic.

•Applicants should monitor the UN Careers YPP Page (careers.un.org/ypp) frequently. All important notifications and updates will be posted there.

 

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.


This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=97458&utm_source=armacad.info&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=armacad.info

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