Legal Officer

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Secretary, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and in cooperation with the WMO Legal Counsel, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

(a) Handle complex legal and procedural matters related to the IPCC and its activities;

(b) Provide legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, including the interpretation and application of IPCC Rules and Procedures, and other constitutive and legislative instruments governing IPCC activities and operations;

(c) Conduct legal research and analysis and prepare comparative studies, briefs, reports and correspondence in support of IPCC work and the application of procedures; undertake review of legal documents, instruments, or other material, and identify important issues, similarities, and inconsistencies; provide advice to follow-up actions;

(d) Clear permission/copyright requests to reproduce IPCC material;

(e) Perform functions related to the implementation of the IPCC Conflict of Interest Policy;

(f) Assist in reviewing and managing the IPCC policy and process for admitting observer organizations, including the application requests by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for observer status, and maintain the list of accredited observers to the IPCC updated;

(g) Develop, maintain, and support partnerships with governments, United Nations bodies and initiatives, and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; and set up and maintain a network of continuous working contacts and facilitate regular exchange of information with IPCC partners;

(h) Provide legal advice, support, and review regarding the drafting of Memoranda of Understanding and other legal contracts between the IPCC and governments, non-governmental organizations and other public and private partners;

(i) Contribute to the preparation of relevant outreach activities such as United Nations conferences, seminars and lectures;

(j) Coordinate with the WMO Legal Counsel on legal positions of an institutional, precedential or cross-cutting nature, and on any matter engaging the legal responsibility, liability, privileges and immunities or reputation of WMO, so as to ensure the consistency of legal advice across WMO and the IPCC; and

(k) Carry out other relevant duties as required.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

Master's degree or equivalent in international law or related field.

Experience:

• At least seven years of combined national and international progressively responsible experience in legal work, of which three to four years at the international level and preferably acquired in the United Nations system.