Legal Assistance/Paralegal

Legal Assistant
The Legal Assistant position at the Office of Legal Affairs involves supporting the United Nations Diplomatic Conference on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters. Responsibilities include conducting legal research, maintaining legal reference files, processing legal instruments, and preparing materials for conferences. The role also requires drafting and editing documentation, handling inquiries, and providing logistical support for meetings. The candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues and provide guidance to less experienced staff.
Candidate Requirements:

High school diploma or equivalent
Minimum seven years of experience in program administration, paralegal work, or conference servicing
Experience with UN policies and procedures is desirable
Proficiency in English; French is desirable
Ability to conduct legal research and manage documentation systems
Strong organizational and teamwork skills
This position is located in the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). The Legal Assistant reports to the Director, the Principal Legal Officer or, at times, the Senior Legal Officer.
The Legal Assistant assists the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters. The Legal Assistant will perform the following functions:

Conducts basic research on assigned issues, using existing legal files and alternative sources (e.g. computer-assisted searches using the internet, intranet or other databases); verifies facts, identifies issues to be addressed, etc., for review by Legal Officers.
Assists in the maintenance of a body of legal reference files, both paper and electronic, to ensure rapid retrieval of critical information; conducts reference searches upon request; reviews material and determines appropriate file classification category; identifies material for inclusion in files; coordinates with Archives on retirement, storage and retrieval of files; participates in initiatives to enhance existing systems for records management and retrieval, including development of proposals for consideration.
Reviews, verifies and processes legal instruments, ensuring conformity to relevant guidelines and requirements; extracts key data and update database; monitors requisite follow-up actions, approvals, etc.
Prepares materials to be transported to the Conference location and undertakes logistical tasks, including processing of travel for beneficiaries of the trust fund supporting attendance to the Conference; registration of participants, including delegations, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, as appropriate.
Prepares informational documents and other practical guidance for participants; processing of documents; liaises with conference officers and interpreters regarding documentation; and liaises with legal officers regarding in situ administrative assistance to the various bodies of the Conference.
Drafts, edits and conducts final check for accuracy of a variety of specialized documentation, and related correspondence.
Independently handles a variety of relatively complex verbal and written inquiries from internal and external parties, including providing detailed information on processes and procedures related to a range of legal activities, instruments, issues, etc.
Services various committees of the Conference and other meetings, including assisting in the preparation of pre-, in- and post-session documents, preparation of draft of Journal and summaries, notes for the Chair; establishes log and assigns document identification symbols; coordinates with relevant units; prepares and updates programme of work, delegation and documents lists; tracks status of meetings and monitors follow-up actions, etc.
Provides technical assistance for meetings arrangements and servicing, including operation of the voting machine.
Coordinates ceremonies and related meetings, ensuring timely receipt of legal instruments and other requisite documentation.
Maintains internal databases and documentation systems on cases for tracking and trend analysis; generates a variety of standard and non-standard statistical and other reports from various databases, and posting of documents on the website.
Provides general office support services; processes, drafts, edits, proofreads and finalizes for signature/approval a variety of correspondence and other communications, specialized legal documentation; sets up and maintains files/records (electronic and paper); schedules appointments/meetings, monitors deadlines, etc.
Provides guidance and training to less experienced staff.
Performs other ad hoc duties as assigned.
Professionalism: Knowledge of organizational legal framework, relevant legal processes, procedures and terminology for review, examination, preparation and processing of legal documents. Ability to conduct research using diverse legal research sources (including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other data bases). Ability to review and synthesizes information and present findings and recommendations in a required format. Knowledge of information management, classification and retrieval systems. Ability to show tact and discretion in dealing with high-ranking officials and with confidential matters and materials. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; 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.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Planning and 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.
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
A minimum of seven years of experience in programme or project administration, paralegal work, conference servicing, or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Experience in dealing with policies, procedures and practices for conferences at the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
This position is temporarily available through 31 December 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. The renewal thereafter for an additional period of 2 months is subject to budgetary approval and availability of funds. While the assigned duty station is New York, incumbent is expected to attend the Conference in Bangkok, from mid-January to mid-February 2027.
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 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.