Legal Officer / Appeals Counsel (for rostering purposes), Leidschendam, The Netherlands 288 views

Legal Officer / Appeals Counsel (for rostering purposes)

Vacancy Ref: NL-OTP-LAAS-P4-967

Deadline for Applications: 27 December 2019

Issuance Date: 26 November 2019

Location: Leidschendam

Organ / Section: OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR

/ Legal Advisory and Appeals Section

Post Level: P-4

The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) wishes to establish a roster of suitable candidates for a P-4 Legal Officer/Appeals Counsel post as a result of this selection process for any vacancy that may arise for both fixed-term established and general temporary assistance posts.

Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package will be offered.

The successful applicant may be offered a fixed-term or a temporary appointment. Regular contracts at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (‘Tribunal’) normally run to 31 December 2020. Any subsequent extension(s) are subject to the terms of the Tribunal’s mandate and/or the availability of funds.

The Tribunal is an international inter-governmental organization with its own independent legal identity and not a United Nations (UN) organization. However, the Tribunal follows the UN common system of salaries, allowances and benefits. UN staff members may also serve on loan or secondment from their parent department/office, if selected.

The recruitment process may include a pre-selection procedure, written tests and interviews to assess levels of competency.

It is not necessary at this stage to send copies of qualifications, previous employment contracts, entire publications, etc.

Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Only applicants who are under serious consideration will be contacted. The Tribunal is not in a position to respond to queries regarding information on the status of vacancies or unsolicited open applications.

The Registrar reserves the right not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description. All applications will be handled with strictest confidentiality.

Eligibility will include consideration of potential conflicts of interest.

• The English version of this vacancy announcement is authentic. The French and Arabic version, if available, is not an official translation and is provided for information purposes only.

Responsibilities

The Legal Officer / Appeals Counsel will work in the Legal Advisory and Appeals Section (LAAS) in the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP). Reporting to, and under the supervision of Senior Appeals Counsel, Head of the section, the incumbent will be responsible for performing the following duties:

Conducts legal research and/or supervises legal research of junior Legal Officers, and provides legal and strategic advice on all aspects of the work of the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) on issues of international criminal law, public international law, international human rights law, comparative law, Lebanese law and other domestic laws, as they affect the work of the OTP;

Conducts and manages simultaneous legal research projects regarding various substantive and procedural legal issues, within both international and domestic law; Reviews and analyses trial records, and/or database searches, in relation to the preparation of appeal briefs and the handling of pre-appeal motions;

Analyzes legal issues and prepares legal opinions, memoranda, briefs, reports and correspondence;

Drafts motions, responses, replies and other legal submissions filed by the OTP before the Pre-Trial Judge, Trial Chamber and Appeals Chamber of the Tribunal; coordinates, where designated, the preparation of such legal submissions;

Participates in the drafting of submissions to the Appeals Chamber, prepares for oral arguments, appears in court before the Appeals Chamber under the supervision of senior Prosecution Counsel, and supports other members of the OTP in the preparation of court appearances;

Contributes to the review and design of legal instruments, policies, guidelines, as necessary; Drafts proposed amendments to official documents of the Tribunal, such as the Rules of Procedure and Evidence and the Practice Directions;

Reviews and/or prepares drafts of international cooperation arrangements, operational modalities, and other legal documents;

Assists in the arrangement of legal training for OTP staff;

Liaises on behalf of the OTP with various services of the Tribunal and possible representation of the OTP in various inter-organ committees; and

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge and Skills

Professionalism – In-depth knowledge of criminal law and procedure, preferably in the area of international criminal law and procedure; Excellent research, analytical and writing skills combined with good judgment; Strong oral advocacy skills; Demonstrated ability to effectively review and edit the work of others; Broad-based experience in applying legal expertise to complex and novel legal issues and problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions; Knowledge of the use of computer applications and electronic research tools; Shows pride in work and in achievements.

Leadership – Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives; Ability to provide managerial leadership in overseeing work of more junior staff; Takes responsibility for ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Planning and Organizing – Demonstrated planning and organisational skills; Ability to establish priorities and to plan and organise own work and monitor the work of more junior staff in a complex, dynamic environment, and to work under tight deadlines; Resourcefulness, sound judgment and decision-making skills; Strong coordination skills.

Communication – Excellent oral and written communication skills; Ability to persuade people with varying points of view; Ability to convey difficult issues and positions to senior officials; Ability to prepare written reports and orally convey information in a clear, concise, accurate and meaningful manner; Strong skills in legal writing and expression; Ability to independently prepare legal papers.

Teamwork – Excellent inter-personal skills with an ability to work effectively with others in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; Integrity; Ability to operate across organizational boundaries; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; Is willing to learn from others.

Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first-level university degree in law in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A specialization in criminal law, international criminal law, international law, or Lebanese law is an asset. Legal training in the civil law system would be an asset. Admission to practice in a national jurisdiction is required.

Work Experience: A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible legal experience (or nine years if in possession of a first-level university degree) is required, including experience in the practice of domestic or international criminal law (prosecution, defence or judiciary), preferably including participation in appeal proceedings; Courtroom advocacy experience, at trial or on appeal, is required; Experience in the civil law system is an asset; Experience in complex cases such as multi-defendant cases, terrorism, murder and organised crime cases is an asset; Experience in United Nations investigations, or at international criminal tribunals, is an asset. Experience in the practice of Lebanese criminal law and procedure is an asset. Possession of an advanced university degree in a relevant field may be considered in substitution of years of experience.

Language: Arabic, English and French are the official languages of the Tribunal. For this post fluency in oral and written English is required. Proficiency in French is desirable. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Special Tribunal for Lebanon