Intern - Legal (Trial Division), The Hague

Posting Title:

INTERN – Legal (Trial Division), I

Job Code Title:

INTERN - LEGAL AFFAIRS

Department/ Office

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

Duty Station

THE HAGUE

Posting Period

8 May 2014-8 August 2014

Job Opening number

14-LEG-ICTY-35053-R-THE HAGUE

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

A complete online application including ALL of the documents listed below is required. Please note that documents may only be in English or French, and that incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Applicants must attach ALL of the following documents to each UN Careers portal application submitted via https://careers.un.org:

1. Completed ICTY Intern Acceptance and Undertaking

2. Completed Internship preference and availability form

3. Two (2) letters of recommendation

4. Copies of university/law studies transcripts (including courses taken and grades received)

5. A photocopy of valid medical insurance OR a signed statement confirming intent to obtain medical insurance while you are in the Netherlands

6. A sample of the applicant's written work preferably in a field relevant to the work of the Tribunal and not longer than ten pages.

Interns must keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained during the course of the internship and not publish any reports or papers based on such information except with the explicit written authorization of the Chief of Human Resources of the Tribunal. Interns are bound by the same duties and obligations as staff members, and the information to which an intern has access in the course of the internship must not be divulged to external parties. Each prospective intern must sign the Acceptance and Undertaking Form to indicate their understanding and acceptance of this stipulation. This form must be included in every application.

In accordance with the applicable regulations for internships within the UN system, candidates are requested to present a nomination by an authority (university, government institution, sponsoring organisation or private enterprise). This ensures that the organisation can verify that the candidate is known to the institution and is, generally speaking, 'at good standing'.

On completion of their internship, interns are required to complete a substantive report on their assignments. This will be included in their file and will be forwarded, upon request, to the sponsoring institution, government body or private organization.

There should be no expectation of employment by the United Nations or the ICTY upon completion of the internship.

ICTY interns are responsible for all internship-related expenses that they incur. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship. Therefore, upon award of an internship, interns are responsible for securing adequate insurance coverage and are required to sign and return a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of these conditions of service.

Candidates of certain nationalities must obtain a visa authorizing their stay in The Netherlands before they depart for The Hague to begin their internship. While this is the overall responsibility of the selected candidate, the Registry will provide information and supporting documents in this regard.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) and under the supervision and direction of a legal officer in a dedicated trial team. Selections will be made on a rolling basis.

The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a body of the United Nations established to prosecute serious crimes committed during the wars in the former Yugoslavia, and to try their perpetrators. The tribunal is an ad hoc UN court which is located in The Hague, The Netherlands.

An ICTY internship is UNPAID and full-time. Core working hours for interns are Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Overtime may be required to meet deadlines for specific projects. Interns work under the supervision of a staff member in the office to which they are assigned. The duration of an ICTY internship can range from a minimum of three months to a maximum of six months, according to the needs of the intern's assigned office.

Responsibilities

In the Trial Section, duties of legal interns include, but are not limited to, assisting trial attorneys with preparing examinations in chief and cross examinations, proofing witnesses, researching and drafting of parts of motions and final briefs, and classifying and preparing evidence for trial. Interns may also perform research on comparative and international criminal law issues, prepare agenda or draft discussion papers for legal meetings and draft the corresponding minutes, draft legal correspondence, and perform other litigation-related tasks. Interns may also perform routine tasks such as cite checking and compiling and collating materials.

Competencies

Professionalism Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Candidates for legal internships in the OTP are required to be, at a minimum, in their final year of university legal studies. If the candidate has already completed a four-year undergraduate university degree before commencing graduate legal studies, he or she must have completed at least one year of graduate legal studies by the time the internship commences. It is particularly useful for interns to have legal training or experience in international criminal or humanitarian law. Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.

Work Experience

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Previous legal experience is an asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Tribunal. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other languages, particularly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, is an asset.

Assessment Method

Short-listed candidates may be contacted by the hiring team directly if further information is needed during the review of their application. Due to the high volume of applications received, candidates who have not been short-listed will not be contacted.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.