The United Nations (UN) has announced an important Temporary Job Opening (TJO) for the prestigious position of Senior Legal Officer (P5) in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA). The role is based in New York and positioned within the General Legal Division (GLD) under the Administration of Justice and Management Cluster (AOJ Cluster) . This opportunity is particularly suitable for highly experienced legal professionals specializing in international administrative law, litigation, governance, personnel law, regulatory interpretation, and high-level legal advisory services.
The selected candidate will directly report to the Principal Legal Officer and the Director of GLD, making this a high-visibility and deeply responsible legal leadership role within one of the world’s most influential international organizations .
About the Role and Organizational Setting
This Senior Legal Officer position is embedded in one of the UN’s most critical legal departments responsible for supporting the organization’s internal justice system, human resources legal framework, regulatory compliance, dispute management, and advisory mandates across the Secretariat. The General Legal Division provides legal guidance on administrative law, employment frameworks, staff rules, organizational restructuring, and disciplinary procedures, making this role central to upholding fairness, equity, and accountability across the UN workforce .
Key Responsibilities of the Senior Legal Officer (P5)
The Senior Legal Officer is expected to serve as a recognized expert in international administrative law and the UN administration of justice system. The responsibilities are broad, complex, and sensitive, requiring deep legal judgment and senior-level experience. Major duties include:
Providing Authoritative Legal Advice
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The officer will independently advise senior UN officials on complex and sensitive legal issues related to staff regulations, governance resolutions, and administrative frameworks. This includes interpreting Staff Rules, UN resolutions, and policy frameworks across UN Funds, Programmes, and related bodies .
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
A key function of this role is handling litigation arising from staff grievances. The officer may:
- Represent the Organization before internal administrative tribunals
- Supervise litigation teams
- Provide legal guidance throughout all stages of disputes
- Review recommendations for disciplinary actions including dismissals
Leadership and Team Supervision
The selected candidate will guide junior legal officers, manage major legal projects, coordinate workload, and ensure delivery of complex legal outputs. They may also support the Director and Principal Legal Officer in unit administration and strategic management .
Drafting, Negotiation, and Legal Research
Responsibilities include:
- Overseeing legal research and preparing opinions, briefs, and reports
- Drafting agreements, settlement documents, and regulatory revisions
- Negotiating major legal settlements and claims
- Creating innovative legal modalities for evolving organizational needs
Policy Interpretation and Legal Compliance
The officer will ensure consistency in UN policies, review amendments to staff regulations, analyze tribunal judgments, and assess administrative and legal implications for the workforce structure and management framework .
Representation and Advocacy
The candidate may represent OLA in committees, working groups, conferences, and consultations, promoting UN legal principles and supporting institutional integrity and governance commitments .
This role also contributes to legal publication work and supports continuous improvement of administrative justice systems across the UN .
Required Competencies
The United Nations outlines a comprehensive competency framework for this position, ensuring that only the most capable and ethically grounded professionals are selected.
Professionalism
Candidates must show mastery in international administrative law, legal drafting, negotiation, analytical interpretation, and advisory work. They should be capable of handling sensitive legal challenges under pressure while demonstrating impartiality, integrity, and commitment to gender equality in staffing and justice processes .
Communication
Applicants must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, clarity in interpretation, and strong interpersonal engagement abilities required for dealing with high-level stakeholders .
Teamwork
The Senior Legal Officer must work collaboratively, respect diverse inputs, and support organizational decisions while maintaining strong professional relationships with peers and subordinates .
Managing Performance & Decision-Making
Strong leadership, accountability, mentoring ability, strategic thinking, and sound judgment in complex legal situations are essential for this role .
Education Requirements
Applicants must hold:
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Law – mandatory requirement
- However, candidates with a first-level law degree may be considered if they also possess two additional years of qualifying legal experience .
Additionally, admission to legal practice in a United Nations Member State or eligibility to practice law is required .
Work Experience Requirements
To qualify, candidates must have:
- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible legal experience
- Experience gained within government legal offices, international organizations, or reputable law firms
- Demonstrated expertise in:
- Administrative law
- Litigation practice
- Legal research and drafting
- Advising senior officials independently and swiftly
- Supervisory or leadership experience is also required
- Experience within the UN or another major international organization is considered desirable
Language Requirements
- English is required (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking at UN Level II)
- French is desirable, aligning with the bilingual nature of the UN Secretariat
Assessment Process
Qualified candidates may undergo:
- An assessment exercise
- Followed by a competency-based interview, if shortlisted
Contract Type and Special Conditions
This is a Temporary Job Opening available until 31 December 2026. It may serve as developmental exposure but does not guarantee future permanent placement .
Additional conditions include:
- Possible restriction to internal or duty-station-based candidates depending on funding
- Not available for candidates nearing retirement age during the contract period
- Retirees may apply only under strict conditions
- Strict compliance with UN ethics, integrity standards, and conduct policies is mandatory
The United Nations also enforces strong protection standards against:
- Human rights violations
- Sexual exploitation and abuse
- Sexual harassment
- Serious criminal convictions
Only candidates with unquestionable integrity and clean ethical records will be considered .
Why This Role Matters
The Senior Legal Officer position is not just another corporate legal role. It is an opportunity to:
- Influence global governance structures
- Shape international employment law standards
- Support fairness, equality, accountability, and justice across one of the world’s largest international workforces
- Play a leading role in protecting institutional trust and organizational ethics at the highest level
Professionals appointed to such roles often contribute to landmark decisions, complex institutional reforms, and stability frameworks that impact thousands of staff and operations worldwide.
Final Note
This is a prestigious and highly demanding legal leadership opportunity suited for professionals with deep experience, legal intelligence, ethical integrity, and leadership strength. If your background aligns with high-level administrative law, international legal governance, and organizational justice, this UN Senior Legal Officer (P5) role in New York represents an exceptional professional milestone
