Legal Assistant
Organizational Context
This Legal Assistant position is within the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) at the UN Secretariat. The role reports to the Director, Principal Legal Officer, or Senior Legal Officer, supporting key legal and administrative functions within the office.
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 involves conducting basic legal research, maintaining legal reference files, processing legal instruments, and managing documentation. The role also entails preparing conference materials, handling logistical tasks such as participant travel and registration, and drafting/editing specialized documentation. Furthermore, the Legal Assistant will manage inquiries, service committees and meetings, coordinate ceremonies, maintain databases, and provide general office support, including training less experienced staff. This comprehensive support ensures the smooth operation of the conference and related legal activities.
Responsibilities
Conduct basic legal research using various sources and verify facts for Legal Officers. Maintain and manage paper and electronic legal reference files for efficient information retrieval, including coordinating with Archives. Review, verify, and process legal instruments, ensuring compliance with guidelines, and update databases. Prepare conference materials, manage logistical tasks like participant travel and registration, and liaise with conference officers and interpreters. Draft, edit, and proofread specialized legal documentation and correspondence. Handle complex inquiries from internal and external parties regarding legal processes and procedures. Service committees and meetings by preparing documents, managing logs, and tracking follow-up actions. Provide technical assistance for meeting arrangements, including operating voting machines. Coordinate ceremonies and ensure timely receipt of legal documentation. Maintain internal databases for case tracking and trend analysis, generating reports and posting documents online. Provide general office support, including managing correspondence, files, appointments, and deadlines. Offer guidance and training to junior staff.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in programme/project administration, paralegal work, or conference servicing is required. This requirement is reduced to five years for candidates with a university degree. Experience with UN or similar international organization conference procedures is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, Legal research, Information management, Records management, Document processing, Database management, Communication, Interpersonal skills, Attention to detail.