Legal Assistant

Job title:

Legal Assistant

Company

United Nations

Job description

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 Principal Registrar and reporting directly to a Legal Officer of the New York UNAT Registry (First Reporting Officer) and to the UNAT Registrar in New York (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 and other first-instance tribunals which have accepted the jurisdiction of the UNAT.ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the incumbent will provide a wide range of general administrative, paralegal and information system support. Duties will include: • Independently handle a variety of relatively complex verbal and written inquiries from internal or external parties, including providing detailed information on processes and procedures related to filing appeals with the UNAT; • Manage the processing of appeals in the OAJ Court Case Management System; • Proofread, format and conduct final checks for accuracy prior to publication of UNAT judgments and orders; • Manage the UNAT Registry input to the OAJ Case Law Portal on the OAJ website; • Maintain internal databases or other tools for tracking and trend analysis; generate statistical reports from these sources; • Create and maintain the Registry’s MS Teams files, including by managing case records and ensuring that all related correspondence and other documentation are appropriately filed; request official translation of legal documents; coordinate transcription services; • Coordinate organizational assistance for oral pronouncements of the UNAT, including scheduling rooms, webcast and interpretation services; • Supervise the logistical support for the UNAT deliberation sessions three times per year; • Conduct basic research to respond to requests by the UNAT Judges or Legal Officers on relevant rules and regulations or other assigned issues; • Perform and/or oversee completion of a variety of administrative duties to support the UNAT Judges, including processing travel requests, preparation of travel claims, delivery of case records, and visa support; • Manage the UNAT Registry’s e-mail box and draft responses, in consultation with the Registrar or Legal Officer; • Coordinate the preparation of financial documentation related to the processing of appeals; payment of honoraria and consultants; • Provide guidance and training to less-experienced staff; • Perform other duties as assigned.Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of organizational legal framework, relevant legal processes, procedures and terminology for review, examination, preparation and processing of legal documents. Ability to conduct research using diverse legal research sources (including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other data bases). Ability to review and synthesizes information and present findings and recommendations in a required format. Knowledge of information management, classification and retrieval systems. Ability to show tact and discretion in dealing with high-ranking officials and with confidential matters and materials. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. • 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. • Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

EducationHigh school diploma or equivalent is required.Job – Specific QualificationNot available.Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of experience in paralegal work, conference servicing, general office support or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. • Experience with editing and proofreading legal documents is desirable. • Experience with court or legal case management software is desirable

LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.Special Notice

• This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to Staff Rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for General Service and related positions must be authorized to work in the country where the position is located. A staff member subject to local recruitment is not eligible for the allowances or benefits applicable to international recruitment. • Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. • 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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Expected salary

Location

New York City, NY

Job date

Tue, 21 May 2024 04:31:06 GMT

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