Legal Services Individual Contractor

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA) is a part of the United Nations, which aims to provide legal assistance to staff members in an independent and impartial manner. OSLA is accountable to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Executive Director and is responsible for managing the legal assistance program within the internal justice system of the UN. This includes handling administrative, disciplinary, and appellate proceedings before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) and the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT). The organization is dedicated to ensuring that staff members receive timely and high-quality legal services, thereby promoting fairness and justice within the UN system.

Job Overview:
The position of Legal Services Individual Contractor involves providing efficient, timely, and high-quality legal services to OSLA and its clients. The contractor will work under the supervision of the Chief of OSLA and will be responsible for a variety of legal tasks. These include providing legal advice to clients regarding their terms of appointment, representing clients in legal proceedings before the UNDT and UNAT, and preparing both written and oral submissions for these tribunals. The contractor will also be expected to identify cases that can be resolved informally and assist clients in the settlement process. Additionally, the role requires conducting extensive legal research and providing detailed analyses of cases and jurisprudence, ensuring that the Office produces accurate and comprehensive submissions, and maintaining the Office's legal registers and databases. This position is crucial for supporting the legal rights of UN staff members and ensuring that they have access to the necessary legal resources and representation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Legal Services Individual Contractor include:

• Providing legal advice to clients regarding their terms of appointment;
• Representing clients before the UN Dispute Tribunal (UNDT), UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), and other relevant forums;
• Preparing written and oral submissions for the UNDT and UNAT;
• Identifying cases that are suitable for informal resolution and assisting clients in the settlement process;
• Responding to complex inquiries and correspondence;
• Conducting extensive legal research and providing detailed analyses of cases and jurisprudence;
• Offering legal advice on various substantive and procedural questions;
• Assisting the Office in producing accurate and comprehensive submissions by reviewing draft submissions for inconsistencies or inaccuracies;
• Maintaining the Office's electronic and online registers and a legal precedent reporting database; 1
• Performing other duties as required by the Chief of OSLA.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for this position include an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, candidates must have five years of progressive experience in law, which includes legal analysis, research, and writing. Experience as an advocate or litigator before courts and tribunals is also required, while experience in administrative law within an international organization is considered desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international law. In cases where a candidate holds a first-level university degree, they must also have two additional years of qualifying experience to meet the educational requirements for this position.

Experience:
The position requires five years of progressive experience in the field of law, which should encompass legal analysis, research, and writing. Furthermore, candidates must have experience as an advocate or litigator before courts and tribunals, which is essential for effectively representing clients in legal proceedings. Experience in administrative law within an international organization is also desirable, as it provides relevant context and understanding of the legal framework within which the UN operates.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is desirable, as it is also a working language of the UN. Additionally, knowledge of another official United Nations language is considered a plus, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and is expected to last for a duration of 8 months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. Furthermore, the UN does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts, ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.