LEGAL OFFICER

Under the overall authority of the Director of the Office of Legal Standards and International Affairs (LA) and direct supervision of the Chief of the General Legal Section (LA/GL), the incumbent will perform the following duties and responsibilities\:

• Draft appropriate legal opinions relating to the institutional matters (UNESCO's mandate and Constitution, logo and emblem, membership and privileges and immunities) and contractual and commercial law.
• Draft all types of UNESCO contracts for procurement of goods and/or services, memorandum of understanding with partners and funding agreements. Review the legal aspects of draft agreements, correspondence and other texts, which are relevant to the functions of the Office or have been passed to the Office for comments or clearance.
• Draft appropriate legal opinions on issues relating to the functions, structure and activities of UNESCO. Such issues may relate to the general field or specialized aspects of constitutional, international, public and private law. 
• Draft briefs in the framework of proceedings before courts of law and other quasi-judicial bodies.   

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in Law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• A minimum 4 years of relevant experience dealing with legal matters such as contractual and commercial law, funding agreements, litigation, etc., of which preferably 2 years acquired at the international level.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Good analytical and organizational skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with proven ability to draft clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work in a team and to maintain effective and positive working relationships in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and very good/good knowledge of the other language.

EDUCATION

• Specialized training or diploma in International or Administrative Law.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Experience in the preparation of legal opinions on issues related to International or Administrative Law.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of the UN system.
• Knowledge of the UN common system’s regulatory framework.