ABOUT THE COMPANY:

Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the establishment of a new government there, some 1.2 million Rwandese Hutus — including elements who had taken part in the genocide — fled to the neighbouring Kivu regions of eastern DRC, formerly Zaïre, an area inhabited by ethnic Tutsis and others. A rebellion began there in 1996, pitting the forces led by Laurent Désiré Kabila against the army of President Mobutu Sese Seko.

Kabila’s forces, aided by Rwanda and Uganda, took the capital city of Kinshasa in 1997 and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Associate Legal Officer may be responsible for the following duties: •Conducts legal research on a diverse range of assigned issues in international, administrative and contract law, criminal law and procedures, and other area(s) of specialization using multiple research sources ; selects relevant material, analyzes information, and presents findings for internal review. •Assists Legal Officers in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material; identifies important issues, similarities and inconsistencies, etc. •Assists in the preparation of drafts of formal correspondence with States – such as notes verbal’s, letters, etc. •Assists in the preparation of legal opinions/advice on a wide range of international public issues, including the United Nations Charter, General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and decisions, public International, private, and administrative law matters, as well issues of constitutional and other national law as they affect the MONUSCO’s mandate. •Assesses the relevance or admissibility of evidence gathered by investigators and other staff of MONUSCO and participates in investigations as required. •Assists in the preparation of agreements and contracts with governments, NGOs and other public and private entities, as well as in the resolution of claims and disputes. •Assists Legal Officers in servicing diplomatic conferences, commissions, committees, task forces and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues, etc., •Performs other duties as assigned.

Education
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research, and writing, is required. Experience working in the Great Lakes region is required. Experience working for an international organization, such as the United Nations or comparable international organization, on legal matters is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and French is required.