Intern (Legal Affairs)

The internships are located in the International Trade Law Division (ITLD), Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations, Vienna (Austria). The Division functions as the substantive secretariat of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). The positions are for a minimum duration of two months and up to a maximum of six months with various starting dates within the period of 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the direct supervision of professional staff of ITLD in the Legislative Branch and/or the Technical Assistance and coordination-section" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Coordination Section. UNCITRAL received from the United Nations General Assembly the general mandate to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade. UNCITRAL has since come to be the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. The activities of UNCITRAL are focused on commercial law and involve only a little interplay with the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO). ITLD includes a Legislative and a Technical assistance and Coordination Section. Those are tasked, respectively, with the development of harmonized legislative texts, and the provision of technical assistance with respect to the adoption and use of UNCITRAL legal texts and coordination among organizations working in the field of international trade law. For more information on UNCITRAL, please visit https://uncitral.un.org. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.

The objective of the internship is on the one hand to assist the officers of ITLD in fulfilling the mandate of UNCITRAL and on the other hand to provide practical training to the intern. During the internship, the intern will gain experience in international trade law. Specific assignments during the internship include: Legislative Branch: • Assisting with the research and preparation of comparative legal studies; • Assisting with the preparation and drafting of legal texts (e.g. draft conventions and model laws), including conducting related background studies; • Undertaking ad hoc legal and administrative assignments as requested. Technical Assistance and Coordination Section: • Contributing to the identification of legislative reform needs and assistance requirements in selected countries and/or sectors; • Assisting with the collection and analysis of case law on UNCITRAL texts; • Assisting with the development and maintenance of the UNCITRAL website; • Assisting with the coordination functions of the Division.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be 'clients' and seeks to see things from client's point of view. Human Rights Reference: Promotes and advocates for the fundamental values, standards, and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for and protection of human rights. Ensures that human rights are promoted, respected, protected, and advanced through, within, and by their own organizational entity/unit.

Applicants for an internship must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); (OFFICIAL MATRICULATION PROOF IN SUPPORT OF ONE OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION). The fields of study for this JO are as follows: commercial law, international trade law or private international law. • Be computer literate in standard software applications; strong communications skills and social media experience are an advantage; • Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and of the UN International Trade Law Commission (UNCITRAL), and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and • Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in either English OR French, i.e., oral and written proficiency, is required for the internship. Knowledge of both working languages or of an additional official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or Russian) is an advantage.