LEGAL OFFICER

Job Description

Within the general mandate of the Office of Legal Standards and International Affairs to provide legal advice to the Secretariat and the governing bodies of the Organization, under the overall authority of the Legal Adviser and Director of the Office, the Legal Officer will be required to carry out the following duties and responsibilities:

• Drafting legal opinions and undertaking research and studies and examining legal precedents for issues relating to the functions, structure and activities of the Organization. Such issues may bear upon the general field or upon specialized aspects of constitutional, public international, private and administrative law. Studies undertaken generally pertain to intricate and/or sensitive areas. Drafting interpretations of legal instruments, such as constitutions, statutes, treaties, agreements, regulations and rules, resolutions and decisions, or other legal materials relevant to the Organization.
• Drafting appropriate opinions and other relevant correspondence on a wide variety of legal problems which can arise prior or during the execution of the Organization’s programme, e.g. concerning the conclusion or amendments of agreements and contracts, difficulties encountered in ensuring their satisfactory execution, possible remedies to be envisaged, etc.
• Drafting and revising documents to be submitted to the Organization’s governing bodies (namely the General Conference and the Executive Board). Studying and evaluating all files and documents submitted for decision, evaluation and signature, in addition to preparing complete files on issues under consideration.
• Assisting the Director of the Office in all questions pertaining to the administration of the Office (e.g. working methods, personnel, finance etc.).

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international law.

Work Experience

• Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience providing advice in public international law within an intergovernmental organization (or in such organization, combined with equivalent legal experience in a government, law firm, non-profit organization or academia).

Skills & Competencies

• Good analytical skills.
• Proven ability to draft clearly and concisely.
• Capacity to work independently.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Good interpersonal skills.

Languages

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

Note: Please consult our career website (https://careers.unesco.org/) for other job opportunities.

About the Organization

“Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed.” (UNESCO Constitution)

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

Our vision

Political and economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity.

In this spirit, UNESCO develops educational tools to help people live as global citizens free of hate and intolerance. UNESCO works so that each child and citizen has access to quality education. By promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures, UNESCO strengthens bonds among nations. UNESCO fosters scientific programmes and policies as platforms for development and cooperation. UNESCO stands up for freedom of expression, as a fundamental right and a key condition for democracy and development. Serving as a laboratory of ideas, UNESCO helps countries adopt international standards and manages programmes that foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.

UNESCO's founding vision was born in response to a world war that was marked by racist and anti-Semitic violence. Seventy years on and many liberation struggles later, UNESCO’s mandate is as relevant as ever. Cultural diversity is under attack and new forms of intolerance, rejection of scientific facts and threats to freedom of expression challenge peace and human rights. In response, UNESCO's duty remains to reaffirm the humanist missions of education, science and culture.