Legal Officer, Phnom-Penh Verified

Posting Title: Legal Officer, P3

Job Code Title: LEGAL OFFICER

Department/Office: United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials

Duty Station: PHNOM-PENH

Posting Period: 15 May 2020 – 13 June 2020

Job Opening Number: 20-Legal Affairs-UNAKRT-135846-R-Phnom-Penh (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for DiversityOrganisational Setting and Reporting

Under the applicable law, and in accordance with the terms of the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has jurisdiction to try senior leaders and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and custom, and international conventions recognized by Cambodia, during the period of the Khmer Rouge regime from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979.

While the ECCC is established as a national court, the Royal Government of Cambodia sought the technical assistance of the United Nations in operating the court. In Resolution A/57/228 and A/57/228B, the General Assembly approved the involvement of the United Nations and endorsed the agreement outlining the arrangements between the two parties. The United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT) was established in 2005 to provide on-going technical, operational and logistical support to the Royal Government of Cambodia in all aspect of the Court’s operations.

To learn more about UNAKRT, please visit our website: http://www.unakrt-online.org.

This position is located in the Supreme Court Chamber. The incumbent reports to the International Judges of the Supreme Court Chamber and a Senior Legal Officer.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the International Judges of the Supreme Court Chamber and a Senior Legal Officer, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions:

• Provide the necessary legal support to the Supreme Court Chamber, as required;
• Conduct research on a diverse range of legal issues in criminal law and procedure, international law, international humanitarian law and other areas of specialization using multiple research sources;
• Draft legal opinions for the Judges of the Supreme Court Chamber and present findings for internal review in either written or oral form;
• Attend hearings and deliberations and draft summaries of submissions and written records of proceedings;
• Assist in the drafting of decisions;
• Assist in the elaboration of procedures impacting on the court as a whole;
• Assist the Judges of the Supreme Court Chamber in their work in terms of both administrative and procedural functions;
• Perform any other assignments, as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of criminal law, international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. Knowledge of, and ability to apply, legal principles, concepts, procedures and terminology for review, examination, and processing of a range of legal documents. Ability to come up with solution in view of resolving problems arising in criminal litigation. Knowledge of various legal research sources, including electronic, and ability to conduct research and analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Knowledge of the civil law and common law legal systems and principles. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments, develop and present results, recommendations, and opinions clearly and concisely. Ability to draft legal papers and briefs, and work under pressure. Ability to apply good legal judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence; 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.

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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, preferably with a focus on international criminal law or humanitarian law. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required.

Relevant experience working in the appellate chambers of an international or internationalized criminal tribunal or of a national criminal court is desirable.Languages

The official working languages of the ECCC are English, French and Khmer. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of Khmer is an asset.Assessment

Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.Special Notice

Appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT). Issuance of appointment is contingent upon availability of funds and extension of mandate. The initial appointment will be for a period of one year; an extension is subject to the extension of the mandate of UNAKRT, the availability of funding and/or individual performance.

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.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.

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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.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.

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