LEGAL ADVISOR

Duty Station:                     Sarajevo

Contract Type:                  International 

Grade:                                9

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF POSITION:

The Office of the High Representative is entering its final phase of operations. The Department for Legal Affairs of the OHR functions as a legal service for all other departments of the OHR and is the main source of legal advice to the High Representative on legal issues. 
 
The Legal Advisor works with other Legal Advisors in the OHR Department for Legal Affairs and the EUSR Legal Department. He/she will be responsible for formulating policies and/or co-ordinate activities related to legislative reform in various fields covered by the Office of the High Representative. He/she will prepare analysis and recommendations on issues related to legislative reform in, among others, the following fields:

– Constitutional matters including, among others, the distribution of constitutional competencies between the various levels of government in BiH and the constitutional protection of public liberties/human rights as well as questions related to Constitutional reform;
– Matters related to the General Framework Agreement for Peace including questions related to the powers of the High Representative or other international organisations under said Agreement and international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina under said agreement;
– Matters related to Public International Law;
– Matters related to the closure of a diplomatic organisation, and the matters arising as a result of this closure;
– Other matters as decided by the Head of Department for Legal Affairs.

The Legal Advisor will often be required to provide advice to other international agencies operating in BiH and to BiH’s government bodies. He/she can be called to represent the OHR and lead OHR’s involvement in drafting legislation within domestic and international Working Groups and Commissions established under domestic law or by decision of the High Representative.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

– Assist in and coordinate on behalf of the OHR Department for Legal Affairs all questions of constitutional law on behalf of the Department for Legal Affairs;

– Work together with the national authorities, and in particular officials within the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

– Lead and coordinate for the OHR working groups and commissions in legislative reform projects, initiated in and outside of OHR;

– Cooperate with and provide strategic legal advice to Government officials on State, Entity and Cantonal level on matters falling within the field of responsibility;

– Cooperate closely with relevant multilateral organizations and EU Agencies to determine consistent strategies concerning his/her field of responsibilities, and ensure the implementation of said strategies;

– Advise OHR’s Principals on legal and strategic matters linked to the field of responsibility of the unit and draft letters, prepare background papers and talking points to that effect;

– Review the agenda of various government and parliamentary bodies, to ensure that legislation which is put out is consistent with Dayton and the objectives behind developing the legislative framework for BiH;

– Prepare and coordinate OHR’s response to challenges in front of domestic and international jurisdiction, in particular before the European Court on Human Rights and the BiH Constitutional Court;

– In house co-ordination on issues within the field of responsibilities and in house legal advise;

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

– Law Degree;

– Have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience;

– Excellent drafting skills;

– Experience with or knowledge of European/other legal systems and norms;

– Sound knowledge of the BiH Constitutional and Legal system;

– Very good written and spoken English, including knowledge of legal terminology and ability to draft legal documents;

– Mature judgement and flexibility;

– Computer literacy;

– Ability to work on own initiative with minimal supervision, and to operate as a part of a team;

– Ability to lead and coordinate for the working groups and commissions in legislative reform projects;

Any person with the above qualifications should provide (in English) a CV with a one-page cover letter and references to the following:

Personnel Department

Office of the High Representative

Emerika Bluma 1, 71000 Sarajevo

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fax: +387 (0) 33 283 771            E-mail: application@ohr.int

Reference number: 2008/057
Closing date for applications: 24 August 2008

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted
No telephone inquiries please