YPP Exam: Legal Affairs (for external applicants), P2 (Deadline: 31 Dec 2022)

Department/Office: Department of Operational Support
Duty Station: NEW YORK; ADDIS ABABA; BANGKOK; BEIRUT; GENEVA; NAIROBI; SANTIAGO; VIENNA; OTHER;
Deadline: 31 December 2022
Job Opening Number: 22-Legal Affairs-DOS-189050-E- (G)
Staffing Exercise N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located primarily in the Office of Legal Affairs, the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, the Office of Administration of Justice, and the Office on Drugs and Crime, but may also be found in other offices throughout the United Nations Secretariat. Incumbents typically report to a senior Legal Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Associate Legal Officer may be responsible for the following duties:

– Conducts legal research on a diverse range of assigned issues in international law and other area(s) of specialization in public and private law, using multiple research sources; selects relevant material, analyzes information and presents findings for internal review.

– Assists Legal Officers in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities and inconsistencies, etc.

– Assists in the preparation of drafts of background papers, studies, reports, etc.

– Assists in the preparation of legislative and other legal standards, legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public and private law issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly resolutions and decisions involving, inter alia, issues relating to privileges and immunities, peace and security, institutional questions, treaty law and practice, comparative and international commercial law, procedural issues arising during meetings of United Nations organs, constitutional and administrative law of the Organization.

– Assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs and other public and private entities, as well as claims and disputes.

– Assists in representing the Organization before arbitral and other tribunals or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases.

– Assists in providing legal advice on human resources matters and assists in reviewing administrative decisions.

– Assists in administering programmes of legal technical assistance.

– Assists Legal Officers in servicing diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, etc.

– Performs other duties as assigned.

The duties above are generic and may not be performed by all Associate Legal Officers.

Competencies

Professionalism:

– 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
– Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work

Teamwork:

– Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
– Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others
– Places team agenda before personal agenda
– Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position
– Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

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

Education

At least a first-level university degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree of at least three years) in the main course of study “Law”.

Important: when preparing your application in Inspira, if you do not see your exact degree listed, please choose the field of study that is closest to your degree, from the “Field of Study” and “Main Course of Study” dropdown menus; then type the exact title in original language as well as its translation in English or French in the additional comment boxes. Do NOT select “other” for main course of study or field of study (or you will be automatically disqualified).

Work Experience

No work experience is required. Relevant work experience may be taken into consideration as an additional screening criteria when more than 60 candidates from the same country apply to the same exam area.

Languages

Fluency in at least one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

The assessment process is divided into 3 stages:
1) Screening of applications
2) Written examination taken online
3) Oral examination / Interviews

Knowledge of UN languages may be tested at any of these stages.

• Applications will be screened on the basis of the eligibility criteria in this Job Opening.
• The written examination will be conducted via an online testing platform. Candidates convoked for the written examination will be responsible for identifying and securing a location suitable for them to complete the examination (i.e., a computer with a reliable internet connection). Further information regarding the online testing platform and exam preparation guidance will be provided to those convoked for the examination.
o The written examination is planned to be offered in two parts, with the following tentative timeframe (exact dates to be announced):
o Part I (in early 2023) consists of 1) the General Paper, which assesses competencies and abilities critical to success in working in an international affairs context, and 2) first part of the Specialized Paper, multiple choice questions which assess knowledge and attributes relevant to the exam area.
o Part II (1-2 months after stage 1) consists of the second part of the Specialized Paper, constructed response items (i.e., open-ended questions) which assess knowledge and attributes relevant to the exam area. Only examinees successful in part one of the online exam will be invited to participate in the second part.
• Only examinees who are successful in the overall written examination will be invited to the oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted via online video conference. The oral examination will assess the key competencies for the job family, as described in the Job Opening. Part of the final assessment stage, either before, during or after the oral examination may include an element to verify the candidate’s answers given in the Specialized Paper as well as the information in the Personal History Profile submitted. The anticipated timeframe for the oral examinations is sometime in the second half of 2023.

Special Notice

The purpose of the present Job Opening is to invite applications from external candidates who wish to take the Young Professionals Programme (YPP) examination in Legal Affairs. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the YPP Careers Page to learn more: careers.un.org/ypp. UN Secretariat General Service (or equivalent) staff members who are eligible to apply through the “G to P” or “G to N” track must not apply through this Job Opening. All others should apply via this external opening (including UNV, JPO, National Officers, interns).

• Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Have at least a first level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or at least a three-year equivalent) in the fields of study listed in the Education Section of this Job Opening;
2. Be 32 years old or younger by the end of this year (born on or after 1 January 1990);
3. Be fluent in either English or French; and
4. Have the nationality of a participating Member State.

The participating Member States for this YPP are:

Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Viet Nam.

If more than 60 applicants from the same country apply for the same exam area, those applicants will be further screened and ranked according to points given for the following additional qualifications: highest level of education completed, knowledge of official UN languages, and relevant work experience. The “top 60” applicants per country per exam area will be convoked to the first stage of the online exam. A maximum of 40 applicants per country per exam area will move forward from the first stage of the online exam to the second stage, based on exam performance.

• APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT SCANNED COPIES OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS, AS ATTACHMENTS IN THEIR APPLICATIONS, TO BE CONSIDERED.
o Passport or a valid identification document issued by a state authority, showing your name, birth date and nationality, with a photograph;
o Documentation of University degree(s) (e.g., diploma, transcript or similar official document), reflecting the main course of study selected.

• Candidates must apply to only one YPP exam area in a given year (e.g., cannot apply to both the Legal Affairs and the Library exam).

• Those who are successful in the YPP examination process will be placed on a roster used to fill appropriate entry-level (P1/P2) vacancies. Candidates may be selected from the roster as relevant vacancies become available across the UN Secretariat, at various offices globally. The roster is valid and used to fill positions, for a period of three years. It is important to understand that placement on the roster does not guarantee an offer of employment.

• To learn more about YPP, including the examination process, roster management and recruitment, visit the YPP page on the UN Careers Portal: https://careers.un.org/ypp.
Click “apply” to activate the Virtual Assistant or Chatbot, Alba, in Inspira. Alba will answer questions about the YPP.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

No Fee

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

 

APPLY FOR THIS JOB>>>

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button