Legal Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located in the Nairobi office of the Appeals and Accountability Section of the Administrative Law Division (ALD), which is part of the Office of Human Resources in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance. The ALD is responsible for implementing the United Nations (UN) standards of conduct for all personnel across the UN Secretariat. The division provides strategic and legal advice on internal justice matters and represents the Secretary-General before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal. It also handles disciplinary matters related to Secretariat staff members and coordinates efforts to prevent and respond to unsatisfactory conduct, empowering UN Secretariat managers in addressing conduct and discipline matters.

Job Overview:
The Legal Officer plays a crucial role in representing the Secretary-General in both written and oral proceedings before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT). This position requires handling a variety of issues related to international, public, private, and administrative law. The Legal Officer is expected to conduct extensive legal research and analysis, preparing studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence. The role involves reviewing legal documents and identifying important issues, as well as preparing drafts of background papers, studies, reports, and legislative texts. The Legal Officer will also provide legal opinions and advice on a wide range of international public or private law issues, including those related to the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolutions. Additionally, the position entails preparing agreements and negotiating claims and disputes in the context of justice administration matters, assessing evidence for relevance and admissibility, and providing legal advice on human resources matters.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Chief of Section, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties: handling a range of legal issues related to international, public, private, and administrative law; conducting extensive legal research and analysis; preparing studies, briefs, reports, and correspondence; reviewing legal documents and identifying key issues; drafting background papers, studies, reports, and legislative texts; providing legal opinions and advice on various legal issues; preparing agreements and negotiating claims; assessing evidence for relevance and admissibility; preparing briefs of evidence; providing legal advice on human resources matters; and performing other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a strong knowledge of law, preferably in administrative and employment or labor law, with the ability to apply legal principles and concepts in litigation contexts. Candidates should have knowledge of the jurisprudence of the UN Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal, as well as the ability to exercise sound judgment and handle confidential material with discretion. The Legal Officer should demonstrate professional competence, efficiency in meeting commitments, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Additionally, the candidate should take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in law is required for this position. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) combined with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of five years of progressively responsible legal experience. This experience should include at least two years in litigation at the national or international level, with first-hand experience in appearing and leading evidence before a court or tribunal or equivalent administrative bodies. Experience in administrative and employment or labor law at the national or international level is also required, along with familiarity with staff regulations and rules, policies, procedures, and operations of the United Nations or a similar international organization.

Languages:
English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. French is considered desirable for this role. Candidates should refer to the UN Language Framework for the minimum required level for each skill in these languages.

Additional Notes:
The job posting does not specify the contract duration, seniority level, or whether the position is full-time or part-time. There is no indication of whether the recruitment is international or national, nor are there details regarding compensation and benefits.