Legal Officer (P-3)

Organizational Context:

The Presidency is entrusted with three main functions: external relations, administrative and judicial/legal. The latter, which is performed by the Presidency and Legal and Enforcement Unit, is twofold. First, the Presidency provides support to enable the chambers to conduct fair, effective and expeditious public proceedings such as, constituting and assigning situations to Chambers, organising the plenary sessions and liaising with the Registry. Second, the Presidency has specific legal and judicial functions, including the review of certain decisions of the Registrar; the conclusion of the Court wide cooperation agreements (e.g. bilateral arrangements with States on the enforcement of sentences); and the provision of general legal advice.

Duties & Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of the Head of the Legal and Enforcement Unit of the Presidency, the incumbent will be responsible for the duties described below:

1. Presidency’s appellate functions:

• Conducting in-depth legal research in administrative, human rights and public international law and other relevant areas of law, on both procedural and substantive issues
• Preparing the Presidency’s draft decisions,  on applications for judicial review and any other applications that come before the Presidency.

2. International cooperation and enforcement functions:

• Assisting in drafting, negotiating, reviewing and amending agreements on the enforcement of sentences and international cooperation.

3. General legal issues:

• Drafting legal opinions on the interpretation of the Court’s legal texts, ASP resolutions, international treaties, etc.
• Reviewing the Court’s legal texts from the point of view of the Presidency and drafting amendment proposals.

4. Presidency support to Chambers and oversight of Registry:

• Assisting in the administration of the Chambers
• Assisting in the preparation and servicing internal meetings and committees (such as plenary sessions of the judges, the Working Group on Lessons Learnt, the Advisory Committee on Legal Texts)
• Liaising with the Registry as required (e.g. Division of Judicial Services, Counsel Support Section, Registry Legal Office)
• Preparing, or assisting in the preparation of speeches, letters, background papers and reports for the President, the Presidency, the Working Group on Lessons Learnt, the Advisory Committee on the Legal Texts.

5. Providing guidance to the junior staff.

6. Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in law, with emphasis on public international law, international human rights law, administrative law or other relevant focus, is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Familiarity with both Romano-Germanic law and common legal systems.

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years (seven (7) with a first level university degree) of progressively responsible professional legal experience, preferably at the international level, is required.

Skills and abilities:

• In-depth knowledge of international law and ability to understand complex legal concepts, to apply the law to the facts;
• Demonstrated experience in preparing or conducting complex legal cases;
• Excellent research and drafting skills;
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify problems;
• Fully proficient computer skills and ability to use relevant software applications, in particular information  databases, internet/intranet services, library sources, etc.
• Team player with ability to establish and maintain good relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity.
• Ability to communicate effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment;

Knowledge of Languages:

Proficiency in one of the working languages of the Court, English or French is required. Working knowledge of the other is a strong asset. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) would be considered an asset.

ICC Core Competencies

Dedication to the mission and values
- Acts consistently in accordance with the mission and values of the Organisation;
- Maintains confidentiality, acts with integrity and shows respect for diversity;
- Shows commitment to the organisation;
- Presents a positive image of the organisation during external discussions.

Professionalism
- Applies professional and technical expertise;
- Keeps abreast of organisational issues;
- Produces workable solutions to a range of problems.

Teamwork
- Listens, consults and communicates proactively;
- Handles disagreements with tact and diplomacy;
- Recognises and rewards the contribution of others.

Learning and developing
- Identifies development strategies needed to achieve work and career goals and makes use of developmental or training opportunities;
- Learns from successes and failures;
- Seeks feedback and gives feedback to others to increase organisational effectiveness;
- Seeks opportunities for improvement of work;
- Has an open mind and contributes to innovation.

Handling uncertain situations
- Adapts to changing circumstances;
- Deals with ambiguity, making positive use of the opportunities it presents;
- Plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances;
- Manages time effectively.

Interaction
- Expresses opinions, information and key points of an argument clearly;
- Handles contacts with diplomacy and tact;
- Communicates in a transparent and open way with internal and external contacts while complying with confidentiality requirements.

Realising objectives
- Accepts and tackles demanding goals with enthusiasm;
- Keeps to agreements with others;
- Focuses on client needs;
- Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people;
- Monitors and maintains quality and productivity.

General Information

- In accordance with the Rome Statute, the ICC is committed to achieving geographical representation and gender equality within its staff as well as representation of the principal legal systems of the world (legal positions). Nationals from the list of non-represented and under-represented States are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, applications from women are strongly encouraged for senior positions at the Professional (P) and Director (D) levels. Posts shall be filled preferably by a national of a State Party to the ICC Statute, or of a State which has signed and is engaged in the ratification process or which is engaged in the accession process, but nationals from non-state parties may also be considered, as appropriate.

- The selected candidate will be subject to a Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) process in accordance with ICC policy. The PSC process will include but will not be limited to, verification of the information provided in the personal history form and a criminal record check.
- Applicants may check the status of vacancies on ICC E-Recruitment web-site.
- The Court reserves the right not to make any appointment to the vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.