LEGAL OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Legal Team of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC). The Legal Officer will be based in Bogota, and will report to the Senior Legal Officer.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision and overall coordination of the Senior Legal Officer and within the limits of delegated authority, the Legal Officer will be responsible for the following duties: - Provides and assists in the provision of legal advice on a wide range of legal matters involving issues of international, public, private, and administrative law, including the interpretation and application of constitutive, legislative and other instruments governing United Nations activities and operations. - Prepares and assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions, which may include those related to administration and management, institutions support and other operational activities and separately administered programmes and funds. - Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepares or assists in the preparation of legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence. - Undertakes review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies, etc. - Handles and assists in the provision of legal advice on a wide range of issues relating to special political missions and other operations in the field, including contribution agreements, XBs and other collaborative arrangements with Member States, other international organizations, members of the United Nations system and external actors, administrative and management issues, including personnel administration and entitlements, conduct and discipline and United Nations compensation schemes, commercial issues, including commercial contracts, disputes and insurance arrangements, United Nations investigations, Boards of Inquiry and third party claims. - Reviews, advises on and drafts complex contracts, agreements, institutional and operational modalities and other legal documents and advises on and participates in negotiations and settlement of claims and disputes; - Provides legal advice on the interpretation and application of financial and staff regulations and rules, including the review of administrative decisions and the drafting of administrative issuances. - Assists senior colleagues in servicing diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and, meeting reports. - Serves on various standing boards, committees, ad hoc working groups and task forces, as required. - Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures, and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. ...