Assistant Legal Officer
Organizational Context
This position is situated within the Programme Support and Management Services (PSMS) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, Switzerland. The Assistant Legal Officer reports to a P-4 Legal Officer, contributing to the OHCHR's mandate and operational support.
Job Purpose
The Assistant Legal Officer's primary purpose is to provide crucial legal research and support within the OHCHR. This involves conducting in-depth research on various legal issues, analyzing information, and preparing summaries and draft findings. The role assists senior Legal Officers in reviewing legal documents, identifying key issues, and drafting background papers, reports, and legal analyses. A significant aspect of the role includes supporting legal advice on human resources matters, reviewing administrative decisions, and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and regulations. The position also contributes to data collection, analysis, and reporting to support planning and decision-making processes within the office.
Responsibilities
The Assistant Legal Officer will conduct comprehensive legal research using diverse sources, compiling and analyzing information to prepare summaries and draft findings. They will assist in reviewing legal documents, identifying pertinent issues, similarities, and inconsistencies for senior Legal Officers. Responsibilities include drafting background papers, studies, and reports, as well as preparing legal analyses and memoranda on matters related to Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances, and UN internal justice system jurisprudence. The role involves organizing factual and legal information for cases, supporting evidentiary material examination, and preparing administrative correspondence and procedural documentation. Additionally, the Assistant Legal Officer will provide legal advice and support on human resources matters, review administrative decisions for compliance, and contribute to data collection, analysis, and reporting using visualization methods.
Work Experience
Candidates with an advanced university degree in a relevant field are not required to have professional work experience. Those with a first-level university degree need two years of qualifying work experience. Experience in administrative and/or employment and labour law within an international organization, particularly the UN, is desirable, as is experience with conduct and discipline matters, HR advice, and UN staff regulations and rules.
Skills
• Professionalism: Legal principles, research, analysis, drafting, judgment, working under pressure. • Planning & Organizing: Goal setting, prioritization, time management, risk assessment. • Accountability: Ownership, commitment, compliance, oversight.