Legal Assistant
Organizational Context
This position is within the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) at the UN Secretariat. The Legal Assistant reports to a Director, Principal Legal Officer, or Senior Legal Officer, supporting key legal and administrative functions within the division.
Job Purpose
The Legal Assistant provides crucial support to the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters. This role involves conducting research, maintaining legal reference files, processing legal instruments, and preparing logistical and informational materials for conference participants. The position also entails drafting, editing, and verifying specialized documentation, handling inquiries, servicing committees, and providing general office support to ensure the smooth operation of the conference and related legal activities.
Responsibilities
Key duties include conducting basic legal research using various sources and verifying facts for Legal Officers. The role involves maintaining and enhancing legal reference files and records management systems for efficient retrieval. Responsibilities extend to reviewing, verifying, and processing legal instruments, updating databases, and monitoring follow-up actions. The Legal Assistant prepares conference materials, manages logistical tasks such as travel processing and participant registration, and liaises with conference officers and legal personnel. Additionally, the role requires drafting, editing, and proofreading specialized documentation and correspondence, handling complex inquiries, servicing committees, and providing technical assistance for meeting arrangements, including operating voting machines. The position also involves coordinating ceremonies, maintaining internal databases for tracking and reporting, and providing general office support and guidance to junior staff.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in program administration, paralegal work, conference servicing, or a related field is required. This requirement is reduced to five years for candidates holding a first-level university degree or higher. Experience with UN or similar international organization conference policies and procedures is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, Legal research, Information management, Records management, Document processing, Drafting, Editing, Proofreading, Communication, Interpersonal skills, Meeting servicing, Technical assistance.