Legal Contractor

Result of Service

• a) Provision of efficient, timely and high-quality substantive technical and administrative support for the adjudication of cases by UNDT judges.
• b) undertaking assignments as mandated by OAJ.

Work Location

In-person or Remote or Hybrid

Expected duration

Duties and Responsibilities

The Registry is part of the independent Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ) and supports the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) at the UNDT seat in Geneva. The incumbent will report to the Registrar in Geneva as the First Reporting Officer and the Principal Registrar as the Second Reporting Officer. The UNDT is the first instance tribunal of the internal justice system and hears and decides cases filed by or on behalf of current and former staff members appealing administrative decisions. The UNDT conducts hearings, issues orders, and renders binding judgments. Within delegated authority and in the framework of the Registries, the Legal Officer, through the performance of the following duties, will be responsible for a) providing substantive, technical and administrative support for the adjudication of cases by UNDT Judges and b) undertaking work/assignments as mandated by OAJ:

• Review submissions to the UNDT;
• Draft, review and advise on legal documents and correspondence;
• Support Judges by preparing background materials and summaries of issues, as required;
• Attend meetings, and give advice on emerging issues and questions, as required;
• Identify issues, draft legal texts and handle a wide range of complex legal matters involving interpretation and application of administrative/employment law;
• Conduct extensive legal research and provide detailed analysis of cases and jurisprudence;
• Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions;
• Assist in the preparation of referrals to the Mediation Division of the Office of the Ombudsman;
• Support the Judges in producing accurate, comprehensive judgments, including review of draft judgments for any inconsistencies or inaccuracies, and ensuring editorial uniformity prior to dissemination. Respond to correspondence/queries from the parties;
• Assist in maintaining the registers of the UNDT (electronic and paper), the publication and dissemination of the decisions, rulings and judgments rendered by the UNDT, in the required official languages, through the agreed media;
• Assist in maintaining the case law digest and jurisprudence databank of OAJ;
• Perform other duties as required.