Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226508
Job Network : Legal
Job Family : Legal Affairs
Category and Level : Professional and Higher Categories, P-2
Duty Station : NEW YORK
Department/Office : Office of Legal Affairs
Date Posted : Jan 26, 2024
Deadline : Feb 8, 2024

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs. The incumbent reports to the Legal Officer in charge of the Registration and Depositary Units of the Section and the Chief of the Section.

The Office of Legal Affairs is the central legal service of the Organization and provides legal advice to the Secretary-General, Secretariat departments and offices and United Nations organs in the field of public and private law; represents the Secretary-General in legal conferences and in judicial proceedings; performs substantive and secretariat functions for legal organs involved in public international law, the law of the sea and ocean affairs and international trade law; and performs the functions conferred on the Secretary-General in Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

•Handles a range of issues related to public international law, including the interpretation and application of treaties and other instruments, the discharge of the Secretary-General’s depositary functions under multilateral treaties and the registration of treaties under Article 102 of the United Nations Charter, in consultation with senior Legal Officers.
•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, teaching materials in the field of international law of treaties.
•Prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public law issues, including the Charter of the United Nations, General Assembly resolutions and decisions involving, inter alia, treaty law and practice.
•Services or assists senior colleagues in servicing diplomatic conferences, committees including in the preparation of Secretary-General reports, background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting reports, etc, as well as treaty ceremonies.
•Reviews, advises on and drafts final clauses of multilateral treaties.
•Assists in representing the Organization in treaty-related meetings.
•Administers programmes of legal technical assistance.
•Prepares or assists with the preparation of international law of treaties seminars and symposia, lecture on various legal issues at such events.
•Performs other duties as assigned.
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, particularly in the area of international law of treaties. 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.

•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
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) 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.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in international law, including legal analysis, research and writing or the successful completion of the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP)/United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P) is required.

Experience working in public international law, notably in the area of the law of treaties is desirable.

Experience working in the United Nations, or another international organization is desirable.

Experience working with electronic document management systems is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage