Career Opportunities: Associate Legal Officer (P-2) (24243)

Organizational Context

The International Criminal Court, the Trust Fund for Victims and the Registry’s Legal Office.

The International Criminal Court (the Court or ICC) is the permanent international court based in The Hague, The Netherlands, established by the Rome Statute in 1998 to investigate and prosecute individuals accused of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. The ICC has jurisdiction over the most serious crimes committed after 1 July2002, in the territories of States that have acceded or ratified the Rome Statute or by their nationals.

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) is provided for by the Rome Statute that established the ICC. Its mandate is to mobilize resources and implement Court-ordered reparations, and other programmes for the benefit of victims of the crimes under the jurisdiction of the ICC. The TFV is governed by a Board of Directors, appointed by the Assembly of States Parties, and supported by a Secretariat, administratively attached to the Registry of the ICC. The TFV has currently programmes in seven situations under the jurisdiction of the Court, and is implementing also programmes responding to four reparation orders issued by ICC judges.

The Registry's Legal Office (RLO) supports the Registrar in the legal aspects of the functions he performs under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Rules of Procedure and Evidence, Regulations of the Court, Regulations of the Registry, Financial Regulations and Rules, Staff Regulations and Rules and other legal instruments governing the ICC.

The RLO provides a broad range of legal services including drafting, negotiating, advising and litigating. It combines a commitment to legal excellence with result-oriented and policy-friendly approach in delivering legal services. Because of the diversity of matters on which it advises, it operates as a dynamic and multifaceted international law practice in anticipation of and in response to client requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Subject to TFV-RLO agreed reporting lines, the incumbent will assist the RLO in the performance of the following duties in the RLO’s practice areas, as assigned, in particular those relevant to the TFV as a client of the RLO:

• Conducts extensive legal research and analysis;
• Contributes to the preparation and drafting of (complex) legal documents, including, correspondence and memoranda, opinions and briefs;
• Contributes to providing advice to client sections, in particular the TFV, and assists in providing advice to the Registrar and other senior officials of the Court;
• Assists in negotiating agreements, contracts, administrative issuances and other legal instruments with a variety of parties within the Court;
• Performs other or additional duties as assigned.

The duties of the incumbent may involve the following matters:

• External relations: assisting in advising on public international law matters, including privileges and immunities under the host State agreement, and judicial cooperation in connection with proceedings before the Court; assisting in the drafting, reviewing and interpretation of treaties, MoUs and notes verbales; and assisting in advising on matters of international institutional law, incl. in regard to the Assembly of States Parties;

• Administrative issues: assisting in advising and preparing drafts in relation to compliance, regulatory and other administrative matters, including administrative issuances and procurement processes; assisting in advising on and drafting commercial contracts and agreements; and assisting in advising on matters of international administrative law; and

• Litigation: assisting in the internal and external dispute settlement proceedings of various nature, including disputes before the ILO Administrative Tribunal, and arbitration and conciliation proceedings; assisting in advising on, drafting and reviewing submissions, legal opinions, and correspondence and settlement agreements; assisting in advising on matters of liability and international administrative law.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in law with specialization in international law. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Bar admission or equivalent (e.g. solicitor), with post-qualification experience, would be considered an asset.

Experience:

A minimum of two years (four years with a first level university degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in a legal environment relevant to the work of the Court and the TFV, and to the aforementioned duties and responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of the law governing the Court: public international law, international institutional law, international administrative law and international criminal law.
• Strongly developed legal skills, including excellent drafting (concise, well-reasoned, persuasive, and legally and factually accurate) and research skills.
• Good organization skills to ensure consistent and timely legal advice.
• Strong analytical skills, and effective communication, negotiation and advocacy skills, combined with interpersonal skills and political sensitivity.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of the legal, political, administrative, financial and procedural framework of the Court in both operational and policy matters.
• Knowledge of relevant (electronic) documents and information management systems.
• Possesses sound judgment; ability to contribute to innovation and eliminate barriers to effective and efficient work practices.
• Proven track record of good customer service within an international organization and a complex multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent decision-making skills.

Knowledge of Languages:

Proficiency in English is essential. Working knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) would be considered an asset.