Legal Consultant

Work Location

Montreal

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

THE ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING

The Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau (LEB) provides advice and assistance on legal and external relations matters generally and in support of ICAO’s Strategic Objectives, to the ICAO Member States, Governing Bodies, President of the Council and the Secretary General, other ICAO Bureaus and Regional Offices. With regard to legal matters, the Bureau is responsible for: the provision of legal advice to the Governing Bodies and the Secretariat on any issue of law, and in particular on international law, and air law; the general development of air law; the review of all agreements and contracts; and the performance of the treaty depositary functions of the Organization. With regard to external relations matters, the Bureau is responsible for: maintaining close and harmonious working relations with Member States; serving as focal point for the Organization’s relations with the Host Government; carrying out liaison and protocol functions; and monitoring and providing policy guidance and advice on current political events which might affect ICAO.

Since its inception in 1947, the ICAO Legal Committee has prepared draft texts which led to the adoption of twenty-four international air law treaties many of which have received universal acceptance. In addition to being a core component of the treaty-making process for international civil aviation, the Legal Committee advises the Assembly and the Council on the interpretation of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) and undertakes studies on matters of international air law. The Legal Committee is composed of legal experts and open to participation by all Contracting States.

The incumbent reports directly to the Director and/or designated Senior Officer, Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau, who will provide supervision including guidance on procedural matters, delegation and distribution of tasks, and decisions on priorities.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Function 1 (incl. Expected results)
ICAO Legal Committee:
Support to items on the Work Programme of the Legal Committee, with duties to include:
• Provide Secretariat support to the Study Group on Legal Issues related to Pilotless Aircraft; Prepare material for discussions in subgroups; and
• Assist in the study of legal issues related to cyber threats against civil aviation.

Function 2 (incl. Expected results)
Interactions with External Parties:
Advise Bureaus and Offices on drafting agreements and arrangements with external parties and on the implementation of the Policy on Interactions with External Parties and support negotiations with external parties. Duties to include:
• Review agreements, memoranda of understanding, arrangements and other instruments to which this Organization is a party;
• Support the review and overhaul of the regulations, rules, procedures, administrative instructions and policies of this Organization.

Function 3 (incl. Expected results)
Project for the Replacement of Deltanew:
• Act as the LEB interface with IT on the replacement of Deltanew, an old-fashioned and very basic database containing details on accreditations of members of Delegations and their families.
• Work with IT colleagues to develop a more secure, modern, user-friendly and efficient database or platform to provide readily accessible record keeping for authorized users, so improving this LEB External Relations function.
• Improvement to WAGMAR’s functionalities, Administration of WAGMAR and Registration:
¿ Work with ANB and IT on the improvements to the Website of Aeronautical Agreements and Arrangements (WAGMAR) requested by States, perform registration and respond to any queries from States and nominated focal points on the system and its use;
¿ Lead the developments relating to the broadening of user choices in the transfer of oversight responsibilities for Article 83 bis agreements, the automatic generating of certified true copies of agreement summaries and any other items necessary for the operation of the Website; and
¿ To be responsible for all questions and requests from States regarding their registration obligations under the Chicago Convention.

Function 4 (incl. Expected results)
Performs other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications/special skills

Educational background:
An advanced level university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Law, including international law, air law, or in a related field, is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with a professional legal qualification may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A first-level university degree in law in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Professional experience and knowledge:
• Minimum of three years’ experience or more in the practice of aviation law and international law, of which at least two years should have been in the service of a national government, international organization, civil aviation regulatory body, major international airline, and/or major industry service provider (such as an airport or aircraft manufacturer) is required.
• Experience in the analysis and drafting of legal opinions and instruments is required.
• Experience in conducting legal research using diverse research sources (including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases) is required.
• Experience in reviewing and synthesizing legal information and presenting findings and recommendations in a required format is required.
• Practical experience in assisting with negotiations at the international level is required.

Languages

Essential
• Fluent reading, writing and speaking abilities in English.

Desirable
• A working knowledge of a second language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)

Additional Information

Legal consultants are held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct upon acceptance of the assignment.

The selected consultant is expected to be employed on a full-time basis over a 12-month period, amounting to a maximum of 250 days’ work in that period.

Please note that the daily rate for Band B is 248$ to 392$.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.