Legal Assistant – Registry of the UN Dispute Tribunal

About the role

The Legal Assistant works in the Registry of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) in Geneva, within the Office of Administration of Justice. The UNDT hears and decides appeals by staff members against administrative decisions, conducts hearings, issues orders and renders binding judgments. The incumbent reports directly to the Registrar of UNDT.

Key responsibilities

• Provide general office support and service meetings, and handle complex verbal and written inquiries from internal and external parties on legal processes and procedures
• Draft routine correspondence and edit and check specialized documentation and legal publications for accuracy
• Create and maintain files and databases, including case files and docket sheets, and follow up on correspondence
• Handle or refer inquiries to the Registrar and/or Legal Officers, and schedule appointments, meetings and court sessions
• Conduct basic research using files and online databases, and maintain case databases and statistical reports
• Review, record, distribute and process mail and documents such as orders and judgments, and follow up on deadlines
• Maintain reference files, help archive documents, and assist with data analysis, presentations, web pages and brochures
• Perform administrative duties such as travel requests and claims, and guide and train less experienced staff

Required profile

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least seven years of experience in paralegal work, conference servicing, general office support or a related area; five years deducted for a first-level university degree or higher
• Experience as a law clerk or court assistant in an international organization, judicial administration or a large law firm is desirable; at least one year in data analytics is desirable
• English at UN Level II (reading, writing, listening, speaking); French at UN Level I is desirable

Required skills

• Knowledge of the organizational legal framework, legal processes and terminology
• Ability to research using electronic sources and to synthesize information
• Knowledge of information management, classification and retrieval systems
• Tact and discretion with confidential matters
• Data analysis, modeling and interpretation