Legal Intern - Administrative Law Team

Background

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.

The Office of Legal Services in the Bureau for Management Services (BMS/OLS) serves as in-house counsel in UNDP. The Office provide advice and assistance on a range of legal matters relating to the UNDP’s operations. OLS consists of three operational Teams: Corporate and Institutional Team (C&I), Programmes and Projects Team (P&P) and Administrative Law Team (AL). 

A Legal Intern is sought for the Administrative Law Team (AL). AL is responsible for advising senior management in Headquarters, Country Offices and of affiliated funds and programmes on legal issues related to the administration of staff members and UN volunteers. AL’s functions include reviewing and advising on the formulation of policies and procedures; acting in the review of investigations and recommending action in cases of allegations of misconduct, as well as appeals against administrative decisions. In addition, AL is responsible for handling litigation in cases within the internal UN court system. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Senior Legal Advisor, the Legal Intern will provide support and assistance to the lawyers in the AL Team by carrying out the following tasks:

• Provide in-depth research on various legal topics, including based on the Staff Regulations and Rules; and jurisprudence of United Nations Administrative Tribunals;
• Analyze investigation reports, identifying factual or legal issues in a disciplinary process;
• Provide legal analysis concerning cases, disputes and inquiries; 
• Draft various legal documents, including formal correspondence, administrative decisions and tribunal submissions;
• Assist with the analysis of privileges and immunities;
• Contribute to the process of review of legal issues arising in policies and procedures;
• Provide other support to the office that may be required. 

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

• Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively:

• Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.

Learn Continuously:

• Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility:

• Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty; is flexible.

Act with Determination

• Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.

Engage and Partner

• Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

 Cross-Functional and Technical Competencies

Business Development – Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Business Management – Communication

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.

Legal – Knowledge of applicable legal framework

• Understanding of the legal norms as applied to the United Nations in general, and to UNDP in particular. This includes an understanding of the structure, functioning and operations of UNDP within the broader UN system and the application of international treaties, including the UN Charter, UN General Assembly resolutions, as well as an understanding of the internal legal framework (financial regulations and rules, policies, and procedures) of UNDP.

Legal – Legal Writing Skills

• The ability to analyze fact patterns