Intern in the Legal Affairs Department

Job Posting Organization:
The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is an intergovernmental organization and a specialized agency of the United Nations, established to facilitate international postal services. Founded in 1874, the UPU is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, and comprises 192 member countries. The organization aims to promote a quality and accessible postal service globally, enhancing social, cultural, and commercial communication among the world's peoples. The UPU serves as the main forum for cooperation among postal sector players and is responsible for regulating international postal services.

Job Overview:
The UPU is seeking an intern to work under the supervision of the Director of the Legal Affairs Department (DAJ). The intern will engage in various legal research and analysis tasks, preparing draft documents on legal issues pertinent to the UPU's structure, functions, and activities. This role will particularly focus on public law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law and administrative law, especially in relation to the United Nations common system. The intern will assist in analyzing legal instruments such as treaties, agreements, and regulations, and will support the Director and DAJ team in providing legal services, preparing background papers, reports, and synthesizing views on specific legal issues. The position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in international law within a prominent global organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern's responsibilities will include conducting thorough research and analysis on various legal matters affecting the UPU, drafting documents related to public international law and administrative law, and assisting in the preliminary analysis of legal instruments relevant to the UPU's operations. The intern will also help prepare background papers, reports, and other documents, and will be involved in drafting legal instruments such as treaties, agreements, contracts, and internal regulations. This role requires a proactive approach to legal research and a keen understanding of the legal frameworks governing international organizations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be law students currently enrolled in a university or institution, or recent law graduates who have completed their studies within six months prior to the internship start date. A strong understanding of public international law, international organizations law, and arbitration law is essential. The minimum age for applicants is 20 years. Candidates should possess excellent analytical skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should be pursuing a degree in law or have recently graduated from a law program. The educational background should include coursework or practical experience in public international law, international organizations, or related fields. Candidates must demonstrate that they are either currently enrolled in their studies or have graduated within the last six months.

Experience:
While prior professional experience is not mandatory, any relevant internships or academic projects related to international law, legal research, or the workings of international organizations will be considered an asset. The internship is designed for students or recent graduates, thus emphasizing the importance of academic knowledge over extensive work experience.

Languages:
Candidates must have an excellent command of either French or English (UN level III), along with a good command of the other language (UN level II). Proficiency in additional languages may be beneficial but is not a requirement for this position.

Additional Notes:
This internship is specifically reserved for students, and any other candidate profiles will not be considered. The traineeship is remunerated according to UPU Human Resources rules, although interns are not financially compensated by the United Nations. All costs related to travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of Switzerland may need to secure the appropriate visa and work authorization. It is important for successful candidates to discuss their visa requirements prior to accepting the internship offer. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.