Legal Officer

 

The Legal and Ethics Office (LEG) ensures that the Organization's activities are carried out in accordance with its Constitution and the other Basic Texts of the Organization, in a manner consistent with its status as an inter-governmental organization of the United Nations system, and that its relationships with governments, organizations and individuals are managed on a sound legal basis.
 
The Development Law Branch (LEGN) of LEG provides legal advisory services to governments on sustainable food and agriculture and utilisation of natural resources (including land, water, fisheries and aquaculture, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, environment and biodiversity), as well as general agricultural issues (institutions, trade, economic reform).

The position is located at the Organization’s headquarters in Rome, Italy.

 

 

The Legal Officer reports to the Senior Legal Officer (Branch Head, LEGN) and is under the overall guidance of the Legal Counsel.

 

 

Development Law, including legal and institutional aspects of food and agriculture and natural resource management, in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives.

 

 

Legal support in the planning and delivery of multi-disciplinary legal activities, services and products pertaining to the Organization’s mandate in support of the FAO Strategic Objectives, Regional Initiatives, and related Delivery Mechanisms, and in alignment with the Organization’s Policy on Gender Equality.

Key Functions

 

• Performs legal research and analysis, assists in the review and  preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of multidisciplinary and complex legal matters involving issues of international, public, private, and development law;
• Supports the drafting of recommended texts of laws, regulations and other legal instruments, legal opinions, briefs, reports, correspondence, as well as studies, publications and other legal documents;
• Contributes to LEGN’s support of the work of relevant Strategic Programme Teams, Technical Units at FAO Headquarters and FAO Decentralised Offices in order to ensure best synergies between legal, policy and governance related work in support of Member Countries;
• Assists in servicing meetings of various committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials and meeting reports, etc.;
• Assists in the preparation of teaching materials and  seminars, symposia, webinars and lectures;
• Assists with the management of publications and other communication materials, including web pages.

Specific Functions

• Assists and contributes to advice provided to Member Governments, to FAO Technical Units and to FAO Decentralised Offices on development law issues, in particular on the legal and institutional aspects of food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and the management of natural resources, in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives, Regional Initiatives, programmes and priorities;
• Assists in the preparation of field missions and, where appropriate, participates in legal assistance missions to understudy or provide advice under close supervision of senior Legal Officers;
• Assists in the review and preparation of drafts of background materials, studies, reports, legislative texts and other legal documents, and commentaries on those texts;
• Performs other duties as required.

 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

 

• Advanced university degree in Law.

• Three years of relevant legal experience in the field of food and agriculture, natural resources or development law.

• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Russian, Arabic or Chinese.

 

Competencies

 

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

• Extent and relevance of  experience in legal and institutional aspects of sustainable food and agriculture and utilisation of natural resources (including land, water, fisheries and aquaculture, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, environment and biodiversity), and related cross-sectoral issues such as climate change and gender equality, is an advantage;

• Knowledge of and extent and relevance of experience in one or more areas of development law (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food systems, etc.) and in public international law;

• Ability to carry out legal research and analysis, and to identify important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies;

• Ability to write clear and concise reports and experience in drafting legal texts (legislative and regulatory instruments);

• Extent and relevance of experience in implementing technical assistance projects related to national and regional implementation of international normative and voluntary instruments and best practice including through policy and legislation;

• Work experience with international organizations, government, academia or non-governmental organizations is considered a strong asset;

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.