Legal Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, established to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees. With over 30,000 staff members, UNRWA operates in five areas of operation, focusing on delivering education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to the most vulnerable communities. The agency is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual contributions. UNRWA's mission is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. For more details on UNRWA, please visit their official website at https://www.unrwa.org.

Job Overview:
The Legal Officer position at UNRWA involves providing legal support and analysis to the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal. The incumbent will be responsible for analyzing party submissions, identifying critical factual and legal issues, and drafting judgments, orders, and briefing notes as requested. The role requires substantive, technical, and administrative support to the Registrar and Judge of the Tribunal, ensuring compliance with the Tribunal's Statute, Rules of Procedure, and Practice Directions. The Legal Officer will also review submissions to ensure procedural requirements are met and identify cases suitable for informal resolution. Conducting legal research and providing detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence is a key function of this role. The Legal Officer will assist in managing large, consolidated cases, tracking data, and preparing reports on the Tribunal's work. This position requires a commitment to the UN's core values of integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, as well as strong competencies in communication, teamwork, and results-driven action.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Legal Officer will perform a variety of duties, including but not limited to:

• Analyzing party submissions and identifying critical factual and legal issues.
• Drafting judgments, orders, and briefing notes as requested by the Tribunal.
• Providing substantive, technical, and administrative support to the Registrar and Judge of the UNRWA Dispute Tribunal.
• Reviewing submissions to ensure compliance with procedural requirements and identifying cases for informal resolution.
• Offering legal and ad hoc advice on substantive and procedural questions as required.
• Conducting legal research and providing detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence.
• Assisting in the management of large, consolidated cases, including reviewing for procedural and substantive issues, categorizing cases, and advising on case management strategies.
• Tracking data and preparing reports on the Tribunal's work.
• Assisting the Registrar and Senior Legal Officer in supervising and guiding legal consultants as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law or a related field from an accredited educational institution. Alternatively, a first-level university degree along with admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction and an additional two years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree. The position requires at least five years of relevant work experience as a lawyer in the United Nations, other international organizations, government service, the commercial/private sector, or NGOs. Extensive experience in legal drafting and analyzing jurisprudence in English is mandatory. Candidates must also have at least one continuous year of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and their country of citizenship unless they are already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law or a related field from an accredited institution. A first-level university degree in law, combined with admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction and two additional years of relevant experience, may also be acceptable. This educational requirement ensures that candidates have a solid foundation in legal principles and practices necessary for the role.

Experience:
Candidates are expected to have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience as a lawyer, which can be gained through positions in the United Nations, other international organizations, government service, the commercial/private sector, or NGOs. Experience in litigation, including drafting judicial submissions or issuances, is desirable. Additionally, experience in administrative or employment law, particularly in disciplinary and neutrality matters, is also preferred. Familiarity with the UN and/or UNRWA regulatory framework and jurisprudence of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal is advantageous. Experience working on large, complex cases, such as class actions or cases with voluminous evidentiary records, is also desirable.

Languages:
For this position, English is required at UN Level III proficiency, which includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Arabic is considered a desirable language at UN Level II proficiency. The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French, but for this specific job opening, proficiency in English is mandatory, while knowledge of Arabic is an added advantage.

Additional Notes:
This position is a UN Regular Budget post with a fixed-term contract for one year, extendable based on need, availability of funds, and performance. Applications must be fully completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, and late applications will not be accepted. The Personal History Profile (PHP) should accurately reflect the applicant's work experience as per the job requirements. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified candidates with disabilities and may create a roster from the selection exercise for future appointments. The agency emphasizes the importance of integrity and neutrality in its hiring process and will not consider candidates with a history of misconduct or violations of international law. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment, and applicants are advised to follow all instructions carefully during the application process.