Legal Officer (P-3)

Organisational Context

The Secretariat (SASP) provides the Assembly and its Bureau and subsidiary bodies with administrative and technical assistance in the discharge of their functions under the Statute. The Secretariat provides substantive servicing of the Assembly and its subsidiary bodies. The substantive servicing functions include, inter alia, providing legal and substantive secretariat services, such as the provision of documentation, reports and analytical summaries, and supplying advice within the Secretariat on legal and substantive issues relating to the work of the Assembly.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of the Secretariat for the Assembly of States Parties (SASP), the incumbent performs following duties:

• Assist in servicing the Assembly, the Bureau, Credentials Committee, the Committee of Budget and Finance, The Hague Working Group, and other serviced bodies, including the preparation of studies and documentation which may require legal analysis;
• Conduct legal research and analysis and prepare draft advice on legal questions, including the rights and obligations of States Parties, observer States and invited States, inter-governmental organisations and non- governmental organisations, relations with the host State, and the rights, privileges and immunities of staff;
• Prepare draft legal opinions for the approval of the Director, which includes analysis of legal issues taking into account the context and past/analogous practice;
• Provide draft legal advice for the consideration of the Director on substantive and procedural issues related to the duties of the States Parties, credentials of representatives, relations with the host State, interpretation of draft amendments to the Statute and the rules of procedure of organs, conferences and other bodies;
• Support the Director in follow up to resolutions of the Assembly, Bureau or subsidiary bodies and propose course of action and timeframe;
• Take notes of discussions, summarise different approaches and prepare draft reports and draft studies for the clearance of the Director ensuring balanced reflection of different views in clear and concise language;
• Draft correspondence and letters/notes taking into consideration relevant background documents for the consideration of the Director;
• Perform ad hoc tasks as requested by supervisors.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

An advanced university degree in law, preferably with specialization in international, business or humanitarian law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of five years (seven years with a first-level university degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in international law, either in an international organization or in national service.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Familiarity with the norms and procedures governing the Assembly, intergovernmental negotiations and international relations;

Understanding of the inter-governmental process;

In-depth knowledge and practice of international, business or humanitarian law, including human rights law.

Knowledge of the application of international legal instruments;

Experience in applying legal expertise to complex, practical issues requiring innovative and creative solutions; Strong research and analytical skills and ability to conduct comprehensive research on a range of issues; Proficiency in legal writing and expression, and ability to prepare legal opinions, summaries of discussions, draft reports on proceedings, and a variety of related documents;

Good understanding of contemporary international relations, international organisations and their interrelationships;

Excellent drafting skills including letters;

Excellent inter-personal skills to contact and maintain a good working relationship with the representative of States, members of the Bureau, members of subsidiary bodies of the Assembly, relevant staff of the Court; Demonstrated planning and organisational skills and ability to work to tight deadlines and handle concurrent projects;

Ability to perform multitasking under pressure when so required, including long working hours;

Attention to detail when drafting, summarizing and reviewing;

Proficiency in computer skills and ability to use relevant software applications, in particular information databases, internet/intranet services, library sources etc.;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity.

Knowledge of languages:

Fluency in one of the working languages of the Court, English or French, is required. Knowledge of the other working language of the Court is desirable. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is considered as asset.