Senior Legal Officer

UN Secretariat; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA) within UN Secretariat’s Office of Administration of Justice in New York seeks a Senior Legal Officer (Chief) to lead OSLA’s program of legal aid for staff in internal justice matters.

The role oversees legal officers, advises clients, represents them before the UN Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal, and guides policy and resource management to ensure OSLA’s mandate is fulfilled. Strong leadership and strategic legal skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master's) in law is required; alternatively, a first-level degree (Bachelor's) in law with two additional years of relevant work experience.
• Work experience: Minimum of ten years of progressive legal experience, including analysis, research, and writing, with at least five years as a litigator in administrative, labor, or employment law, and three years in management.
• Languages: English required; French desired.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and supervise a network of counsel and staff.
• Provide strategic legal and policy advice to clients.
• Manage human and financial resources for OSLA.
• Develop procedures for problem prevention and dispute resolution.
• Advise clients on administrative decisions, disciplinary measures, and complex legal questions.
• Represent clients before the UN Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal and prepare submissions.
• Maintain unit registers and databases; contribute to reports.
• Analyze emerging issues and coordinate outreach and training.
• Advise the Executive Director on operational matters.

Skills

Professionalism

Analytical skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Briefs and submissions

Witness examination

Oral advocacy

Discretion

Judgment

Negotiation skills

Deadlines

UN system knowledge

Staff rules knowledge

Managerial skills

Interpersonal skills

Electronic search engines

Client orientation

Leadership

Performance management

Education

Master's degree in law

Bachelor's degree in law + 2 years relevant work experience

Job description

Organizational context: The Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA), within the Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ) in New York, provides legal assistance to staff members. The Chief (Senior Legal Officer) heads OSLA, reporting to the Executive Director of OAJ. This role is crucial for managing the program of legal assistance within the UN's internal justice system, covering administrative, disciplinary, and appellate proceedings.

Job purpose: The Senior Legal Officer (Chief) is responsible for the effective management and functioning of the Office of Staff Legal Assistance (OSLA). This involves overseeing the provision of legal assistance to staff members navigating the UN's internal justice system, including administrative, disciplinary, and appellate proceedings before the UN Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal. The role requires strategic legal and policy advice, coordination of legal officers, and efficient resource management to ensure the mandate of OSLA is met. The incumbent will advise clients, represent them in formal proceedings, and contribute to dispute resolution and problem prevention strategies, ultimately supporting the Executive Director of OAJ.

Responsibilities: The Senior Legal Officer (Chief) ensures the effective discharge of OSLA's mandate by coordinating and supervising legal officers and staff. Responsibilities include providing strategic legal and policy advice, managing human and financial resources, and developing procedures for problem prevention and dispute resolution. The role involves advising clients on administrative decisions, disciplinary measures, and complex legal questions, representing clients before the UN Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal, and preparing submissions. Additionally, the incumbent will maintain unit registers and databases, contribute to reports, analyze emerging issues, coordinate outreach and training, manage a network of counsel, and advise the Executive Director on operational matters.

Education: An advanced university degree (Master's) in law is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor's) in law with two additional years of relevant work experience is acceptable.

Work experience: A minimum of ten years of progressive legal experience, including analysis, research, and writing, is required. This includes at least five years as a litigator in administrative, labor, or employment law, and three years in management, including supervising lawyers. Experience in providing legal advice on civil procedure, administrative law, or employment law is also required. Experience in criminal law litigation and within the UN common system is desirable.

Skills: Professionalism, strong analytical and legal research skills, proficiency in legal writing and expression, ability to prepare legal briefs and submissions, witness examination, oral advocacy before tribunals, discretion, sound judgment, negotiating skills, ability to work under deadlines, knowledge of the UN system, knowledge of UN staff rules and regulations, strong managerial and interpersonal skills, ability to use electronic search engines, client orientation, leadership, and performance management.

Required languages: English

Desired languages: French