Legal Officer

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

FAO is the specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to high-quality food.

As part of the Office of the Director-General, the Legal Office (LEG) provides authoritative legal advice and assistance on a wide range of issues to the Director-General, units in headquarters and in the field, the Governing and Statutory Bodies and Members of the Organization.

The position is located in the General Legal Affairs Service (LEGA) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

LEGA provides legal advice to all units of the Organization and its Governing and Statutory Bodies on constitutional questions, the interpretation of its Basic Texts, international treaties, internal legal rules and policies, as well as on legal aspects of relations with the Host and other Governments, other international organizations, private sector and other entities, and specific legal aspects of personnel matters. It represents FAO in judicial proceedings and in settlements of disputes.

Reporting Lines:

• The Legal Officer reports to the Deputy Legal Counsel.

Technical Focus:

• International law and law of international organizations, including international administrative law.

Key Results

• The provision of legal advice on questions pertaining to the Organization’s mandate.

Specific Functions:

• Provides legal advice on matters linked to FAO Governing and Statutory Bodies, prepares relevant documentation and consults with counterparts in other United Nations Specialized Agencies and other relevant entities as appropriate.
• Provides legal advice on matters related to FAO’s operations and status, including on questions related to privileges and immunities of the Organization and that of its personnel, as well as on the conclusion of host country agreements and operational arrangements.
• Provides legal advice on a variety of issues arising from complex contractual arrangements, including for the receipt of voluntary contributions, as well as modalities for collaboration with a variety of partners including the private sector, and the development of innovative modalities to promote FAO’s operations and meet unique needs/circumstances supporting delivery of FAO’s mandate as appropriate.
• Advises on the legal aspects of human resources related matters, including on appeals filed within the internal justice system and the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization, disciplinary processes, policy review and clearance, and other requests as required.
• Supervises and guides junior staff and consultants and reviews their work in this context.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in law. A first level university degree in law combined with an additional two years of relevant work experience and with completion of professional qualification to practice law in a national/state jurisdiction may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Seven years of relevant legal experience in public international law, law of international organizations, international administrative law and contract law.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500217