Consultant (e-commerce)

Organizational Context

The United Nations Secretariat, specifically the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and the International Trade Law Division (ITLD), seeks a consultant to support UNCITRAL's work on e-commerce and end-to-end trade digitalization. This role is based in Vienna and is for an expected duration of five months.

Job Purpose

The consultant will apply specialized expertise in UNCITRAL's e-commerce texts to support legislative and non-legislative initiatives. This involves contributing to preparatory work on end-to-end trade digitalization and paperless trade, drafting reports for the Commission, and consolidating UNCITRAL e-commerce texts into a single legislative document with guidance. The role aims to enhance the uptake, understanding, and uniform interpretation of these texts by policymakers, legal practitioners, and other stakeholders globally. The consultant will provide technical assistance, legal advice, and support capacity-building activities to promote consistent implementation and practical application of UNCITRAL's e-commerce framework.

Responsibilities

The consultant will support UNCITRAL's preparatory work on end-to-end trade digitalization and paperless trade, building on existing texts and considering relevant documents and outcomes from discussions. Key duties include drafting a report for the Commission's fifty-ninth session, consolidating UNCITRAL e-commerce texts into a single legislative text with guidance material, and addressing identified gaps and challenges to facilitate paperless trade. The role involves coordinating with UNCITRAL secretariat staff. Additionally, the consultant will enhance the understanding and application of UNCITRAL texts by providing technical assistance and legal advice to States and stakeholders, supporting law reform processes, and offering advisory support to international organizations. This includes collecting, analyzing, and disseminating case law through the CLOUT system, contributing to capacity-building and awareness-raising activities like webinars and training sessions, and monitoring emerging legal and regulatory developments.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of experience in commercial law, including one year at the international level, is required. Experience with various legal systems and commercial law areas is desirable. Experience in preparing legal memorandums, training materials, organizing large events, and implementing technical assistance or capacity-building activities in international commercial law is also desirable.

Skills

Specialized knowledge of UNCITRAL texts on electronic commerce. Good legal writing and analysis skills. Research experience in international commercial law. Experience with various legal systems and commercial law areas. Experience preparing legal memorandums and training materials. Experience organizing large events. Experience with technical assistance and capacity-building activities. Experience with presentations, legal content visualization, and data analytics.

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