Legal Officer

Organizational Context

The Office of Legal Affairs (LEG) advises IOM's leadership, regional, and country offices, ensuring operations align with IOM's legal framework and international law. LEG comprises several divisions, including the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division (LEGPS), which focuses on the organization's structure, mandate, and legal status. This Legal Officer role sits within LEGPS, assisting in providing legal advice and services.

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of this Legal Officer role is to support the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division (LEGPS) within the Office of Legal Affairs (LEG). The incumbent will assist in delivering timely and accurate legal advice and services across institutional law and programme support areas. This involves contributing to the sound legal basis for IOM's operations, ensuring compliance with its Constitution, governing body decisions, and international law. The role is crucial for maintaining the integrity of IOM's legal framework, supporting its relationships with states and other international organizations, and advising on legal aspects of organizational policies and data protection. By providing expert legal assistance, the Legal Officer contributes directly to IOM's mandate of promoting humane and orderly migration.

Responsibilities

The Legal Officer will undertake comprehensive legal research and analysis, preparing background notes, preliminary drafts of legal opinions, and studies on public international law issues, including IOM's mandate, status, governance, privileges, immunities, intellectual property, human rights, and humanitarian law, particularly concerning data transfer and disclosure. Key duties involve drafting initial legal advice on IOM's legal status and privileges, preparing related correspondence, and assisting in reviewing and drafting host country agreements and framework agreements with UN entities. The role also requires contributing to the review, drafting, and interpretation of organizational regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines. Furthermore, the incumbent will contribute to LEG's annual workplan outputs, attend relevant internal and external meetings, and perform other assigned duties to ensure the effective functioning of the Institutional Law and Programme Support Division.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of professional experience (or four years for Bachelor’s degree holders) in Public International Law is required, specifically in the Law of International Organizations, Human Rights Law, or International Humanitarian Law. Experience working within an international organization, particularly in the United Nations system, is considered an advantage.

Skills

Thorough knowledge of public international law. Knowledge of privileges and immunities, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law (advantageous). Excellent writing skills. Strong research and analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail. Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

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