Legal Officer (Temporary Assignment)

About the role

The Registry, part of the independent Office of Administration of Justice (OAJ), supports the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT) at its seat in Geneva. The Legal Officer reports to the Registrar as First Reporting Officer and to the Principal Registrar as Second Reporting Officer. The UNDT is the first-instance tribunal of the UN's internal justice system, hearing appeals by or on behalf of current and former staff against administrative decisions. The position is a temporary assignment open until 31 December 2026.

Key responsibilities

• Provide substantive, technical and administrative support to UNDT judges in Geneva on case adjudication, handling complex multi-disciplinary legal matters in international, public, private and administrative law.
• Give legal advice on complex substantive and procedural questions, including administration, administrative law, procurement and contracts, peacekeeping and operational matters.
• Carry out legal research and analysis, prepare opinions, studies, briefs, reports, indictments and correspondence, and draft legal submissions and motions.
• Support diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees and expert groups with background material, summaries and meeting reports.
• Draft complex contracts, agreements and legal documents, and advise on and take part in negotiations and settlements of claims and disputes.
• Advise on staff regulations and rules, including reviewing administrative decisions and drafting amendments and administrative issuances.
• Support complex cases before arbitral tribunals and administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals.
• Serve on boards, committees and working groups, coordinate other legal officers and mentor junior officers.
• Analyze data to identify trends and patterns, and contribute to the design of new legal instruments and policies.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in law (Master's or equivalent); a first-level degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible legal experience, preferably administrative or employment law.
• At least three years in administrative or employment/labour law, preferably in an international organization or tribunal.
• Desirable: experience supporting a judge as legal clerk or legal officer, and litigation experience in an international or domestic court.
• English at UN Level III (reading, writing, listening, speaking); French at UN Level II is desirable.