UNDP Jobs - 66999- Legal Intern

Legal Intern

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Sep-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 months with a possible extension up to 6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

About UNDP
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground and in 177 countries and territories, we offer global prospective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

About UNDP's Legal Office
The Legal Office (LO) serves as in-house counsel in UNDP. The Office consists of two Practices, which provide advice and assistance on a range of legal matters relating to the UNDP’s operations, programming and administration. The Administrative Law Practice (AL) is responsible for advising senior management in Headquarters, Country Offices and of affiliated funds and programmes on legal issues of the status and conduct, the formulation of policies and procedures and the resolution of claims, with respect to staff members and UN volunteers and representing the Organization in cases and settlements within the internal justice system.

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Mission: A focus on legal advice, policy support and training
Vision: Fostering risk management and accountability thereby advancing UNDP development
Value: Integrity, services, responsibility

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor and supporting the lawyers in the Administrative Law Practice Group of the Legal Office, the intern will provide assistance with the following tasks:

Provide in-depth research based on Staff Regulations, Rules and jurisprudence in matters concerning the handling of formal cases under the UN system of the administration of justice;
Support the handling of cases, disputes and inquiries by lawyers with analysis of the background of specific legal issues;
Assist the lawyers by setting out and drafting initial text and background for formal correspondence;
Contribute to the process of LO review of legal issues arising in policies and procedures;
Provide other support to the office that may be required.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong organizational and research skills;
Excellent analytical, communication (oral and written) and writing skills;
Excellent interpersonal skills;
Respect for diversity;
Understanding of the United Nations system, operations and structures;
Work under minimum supervision and tight deadlines;
Computer proficiency: MS Office applications

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP values and ethical standards;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

In order to qualify for the program, the student must be enrolled in a graduate-level degree program leading to a Juris Doctor degree, Master of Laws (LLM) or one that is comparable if outside the United States. If the applicant has graduated, the internship must commence within one year of graduation.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

Conditions of Internship:

Candidates must, at the time of application, (a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) or (c) have graduated within the last year from any of the aforementioned.
Duration of internships is a minimum of six weeks to a maximum of six months;
Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. All costs connected with an intern’s participation in the program must be borne by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodations, etc.
UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to any position in UNDP during the period of the internship;
Intern must provide a copy of proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan;
Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;

Subsequent Employment:

The purpose of the Internship Program is not to lead to further employment with UNDP. There should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

Application Procedure:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website;
The application must contain a) Cover letter and b) Curriculum Vitae. Please compile all the documents into one pdf. file to be uploaded with your application. Only those candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted. Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview must submit prior to the interview the following documents:
Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme, specifying the expected graduation date, or diploma if the applicant has graduated within the last year;
Letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student's performance;
Copy of current school transcript;
A brief statement specifying the reasons why the candidate is seeking an internship with UNDP including perceived benefit to the intern in the course of his or her studies.

Before the start of the internship, the selected candidate must provide the following additional documents:

A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether he/she is fit to travel and has had the required inoculations for the country or countries to which the intern is to travel;
Proof of medical insurance valid for the duration of the internship.