Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of Administration of Justice and specifically in the Registry of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) in New York. The position is under the overall supervision of the UNAT Registrar as the First Reporting Officer, and the Principal Registrar is the Second Reporting Officer. The UNAT hears and decides appeals filed by or on behalf of current and former staff members appealing judgments rendered by the United Nations Dispute Tribunal or other first-instance tribunals.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • In the framework of the Registry, provide substantive, technical and administrative support for the adjudication of cases by the UNAT judges; • Review the parties' submissions to the UNAT; • Support the Judges by conducting legal research and preparing briefing memoranda on cases; • Support the Judges in producing accurate, comprehensive judgments, including review of draft judgments for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies, and ensuring editorial uniformity prior to publication; • Support the Judges in review of interlocutory motions and issuance of orders; • Identify issues, draft legal texts and handle a wide range of complex legal matters involving interpretation and application of administrative/employment law; • Conduct extensive legal research and provide detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence; • Prepare summaries of judgments for inclusion in the OAJ case law portal; • Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions; • Draft, review and advise on legal documents and correspondence; • Perform other duties in support of Registry initiatives, as requested.

Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts and procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the civil law and/or common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • 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. • CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent degree) in international law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. • At least one year of experience in administrative or employment/labor law is required. • Experience as a judicial/legal clerk, or in a tribunal registry or appeals board secretariat, or experience drafting appellate briefs, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Spanish or French or Arabic or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingSpanishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIFrenchUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIArabicUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIChinese (Mandarin)UN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIRussianUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice
• This Temporary Job Opening (TJO) is issued to address a critical and time-bound staffing requirement. The position will be filled on a temporary basis, subject to operational needs. • The position is temporarily available as soon as possible for a period until 31 December 2026 with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.