Legal Assistant

Job Title

Legal Assistant, G6

Department/ Office

Department of Management

Duty Station

NEW YORK

Posting Period

16 August 2013-15 September 2013

Job Opening number

13-LEG-DM-27133-R-NEW YORK (T)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Disciplinary Unit of the Administrative Law Section (ALS) in the Human Resources Policy Service, Office of Human Resources Management, Department of Management. The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Disciplinary Unit, ALS.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Disciplinary Unit, the incumbent will undertake and manage all of the administrative details relating to the Section's caseload of disciplinary and appeals matters, as well as cases before the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT), including conducting basic research on assigned legal and other issues; assisting in developing and maintaining the database for cases; compiling all recommendations to senior management and submissions to the UNDT, including organizing evidence, witness statements and related documents from internal/external sources; liaising with offices at headquarters, away from headquarters, and missions, as well as Legal Officers and Human Resources Officials within the Section and OHRM, about case management matters.

The incumbent handles independently a variety of relatively complex verbal and written inquiries from internal or external parties, including providing detailed information on processes and procedures related to a range of legal activities, instruments and issues related to the work of the Section; drafting responses to routine correspondence, notes, requests for comments and other routine communications, as required; editing and conducting final checks for accuracy of a variety of specialized legal documentation.

The incumbent also assists in compiling the draft annual report to the General Assembly on the Section's work; maintaining and updating files and databases, producing regular reports of relevant statistics for internal and external purposes; assisting in the preparation of documents for electronic storage, access, circulation and archiving; responding to requests for statistics for a variety of purposes; scheduling appointments/meetings.

The incumbent reviews, records (logs), distributes and processes all mail and other documents received by the Section and sets up and maintains case, reference and work unit files (both paper and electronic).

The incumbent also provides day to day assistance to Legal Officers, including organizing and managing their files and diaries, and following-up on impending actions and deadlines; performing a variety of other administrative duties, including assisting in the organization and coordination of selection processes for the staff of the Unit/Section; assisting staff of the Section with official travel arrangements; providing guidance and training to less experienced staff; performing other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Ability to apply UN staff rules and regulations; knowledge of legal office administrative support and/or paralegal skills;
• shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• remains calm in stressful situations; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments;
• adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
• foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
• monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
• uses time efficiently.

Technological Awareness:

• Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office;
• actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
• shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent. Must have passed the United Nations Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) at Headquarters or an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away.

Work Experience

• Seven years of experience in administrative and/or human resources support work, preferably including paralegal/legal work or related area.
• Experience working in the UN legal field is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
• For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language, preferably French, is desirable.

Assessment Method

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

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

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