Overview

Legal Officer responsible for conducting legal research and analysis related to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the BBNJ Agreement, and providing legal advice and support.

Tasks Summary

• Conducts extensive legal research and analysis and prepare studies, comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence dealing with legal and other aspects of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its implementation and the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
• Undertakes basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, or other material.
• Prepares drafts of background papers, studies, reports, legislative texts and commentaries on those texts, teaching materials concerning the BBNJ Agreement.
• Prepares legal opinions/advice on a wide range of public international law issues.
• Prepares agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs and other public and private entities.
• Supports senior colleagues in servicing diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces, expert groups and other bodies.
• Assists in representing the Organization at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.
• Assists in administering the programme of technical assistance on the BBNJ Agreement.
• Prepares or assists with the preparation of capacity-building seminars and workshops on the BBNJ Agreement, lecture on various legal issues at such events.
• Provides guidance to more junior staff.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Experience Requirements

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in international law, including legal analysis, research and writing of which a minimum of three years working experience in the law of the sea is required. Experience servicing intergovernmental meetings is required. Experience dealing with issues relating to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction is required. Experience in teaching or lecturing on subjects of international law, in particular law of the sea, and in organizing courses or seminars is desirable.

Qualification Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international law with emphasis on public international law is required. Specialization in the law of the sea is desirable. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.