Legal Adviser (P-4)

22698 | Judiciary 

A roster of suitable candidates may be established for this post as a result of this selection process for fixed-term appointments against both established posts and positions funded by general temporary assistance (GTA).

Special Notice:
An appointment of the successful candidate to a GTA-funded position is will be issued for a year (or less) at atime. In line with the Court’s relevant administrative instruction, any extension of such appointment shall be subject to operational requirements and/or availability of funds.

Organizational Context:

Under articles 34(b) and 36(1) of the Rome Statute, the Chambers are composed of 18 judges, distributed between three divisions: Pre­Trial, Trial and Appeals. The Presidency decides on the assignment of judges to judicial divisions following consultation with them, assigns situations and cases to the Pre­Trial and Trial Divisions, and manages the overall budgetary and staffing requirements of the Judiciary as a whole.

Pre­Trial Division

The Pre­Trial Division handles all requests regarding either the initiation of an investigation or the preservation of evidence during the investigation and the entire first phase of judicial proceedings, up to the confirmation of the charges on which the case against the person(s) charged proceeds to trial.

The Pre-Trial Division is composed of not less than six judges. The Judges of the Division elect from amongst their members a President of the Division, who oversees its administration. The judicial functions in the Pre-Trial Division are carried out by Pre-Trial Chambers composed of three judges or by a single judge. In each Pre-Trial Chamber, the judges decide on a presiding judge.

Legal and administrative staff is assigned to the Pre-Trial Division and its judges to support their work. The legal staff provides assistance to each Chamber and is led by the Legal Adviser.

Trial Division

The Trial Division is composed of the Trial Chambers, whose mandate is to conduct trials, following confirmation of charges by the Pre­Trial Chambers. The mandate continues until the conclusion of the reparation phase. In conducting the trials, the Chambers are required to ensure, in accordance with article 64 of the Rome Statute, that a trial is fair and expeditious and is conducted with full respect for the rights of the accused and due regard for the protection of victims and witnesses.

Appeals Division

The principal statutory function of the Appeals Chamber is to hear final appeals against decisions on acquittal or conviction and sentence, and potentially reparations at the end of a trial, as well as interlocutory appeals against certain decisions of the Pre­Trial and Trial Chambers made in the course of proceedings.

The subject position is located in the Pre-Trial Division of Chambers, Judiciary.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under the general authority of the President of the Division and the direct supervision of the Head of Chambers’ Staff, the Legal Adviser shall provide support and advice to the Pre-Trial Division and all Pre-Trial Chambers, in particular by performing the following tasks:

• provide support and advice (both orally and in writing) on questions of procedural and substantive law as well as on factual issues in relation to pre-trial proceedings, paying particular attention to the need for accuracy and consistency in the jurisprudence of the Chambers;
• lead and coordinate the work of the legal teams and ensuring that time lines and quality standards are met;
• directly supervise the legal staff of the Pre-Trial Division;
• review drafts produced by the legal staff, as required;
• support the Pre-Trial Chambers in the practical management of proceedings;
• liaise between the Pre-Trial Division/the Pre-Trial Chambers and the other judicial Divisions, the Presidency, the Office of the Prosecutor, the Registry, and the representatives for the defence, victims and States, if so instructed by the President of the Division, a Presiding Judge and/or the Head of Chambers’ Staff;
• assist the Pre-Trial Chambers in the preparation of status conferences and other hearings;
• assist the Pre-Trial Chambers in the handling of evidence and of court records;
• serve on various committees and working groups in the Court on behalf of the Pre-Trial Division, if so requested by the President of the Division and/or the Head of Chambers’ Staff;
• ensure the continued development of the quality and efficiency of legal research and the efficient use of electronic research tools;
• assist the President of the Division in the administration of the Pre-Trial Division;
• carry out other tasks as required by the President of the Division, the Presiding Judges and/or the Head of Chambers’ Staff.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in law, preferably with a specialisation in international criminal law, international humanitarian law or human rights law, is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of progressively relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

Experience:

At least seven years (nine years with a first level university degree) of relevant and progressively responsible professional experience in the legal field, in particular in international criminal law, international humanitarian law, human rights law, other relevant branches of international law, or criminal law and procedure, is required.

Prior managerial and leadership experience is required.

Skills and abilities:

• good knowledge of the Common Law and the Romano-Germanic systems of law;
• proven research skills and experience in working with search engines and databases;
• extensive experience in analysing complex and novel legal issues and in developing innovative and creative solutions;
• excellent drafting skills and ability to prepare independently legal opinions and memoranda for direct submission to the Pre-Trial Chambers;
• excellent interpersonal skills and written, spoken and presentational communication skills;
• demonstrated intellectual leadership and managerial skills;
• ability to make quality decisions under extreme time constraints;
• ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with colleagues of different national and cultural backgrounds with appreciation of diversity;
• capability to work collaboratively and proactively with colleagues in order to achieve organisational goals and the timeliness of work;
• excellent computer skills and ability to use relevant software applications, in particular information databases and internet/intranet services.

Knowledge of languages

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