Legal Adviser (Institutional Matters) and Deputy Legal Counsel

We have an excellent opportunity for and Legal Adviser (Institutional Matters) and Deputy Legal Counsel, to work within our Secretary-General’s Office.

The Office of the Legal Counsel is a small team within the wider Secretary-General’s Office, that advises the Secretariat as a whole, on legal questions arising in the conduct of the Secretariat’s business as an international organization. The team are responsible for the conduct of litigation, involving the Secretariat, and for policies on information management, data protection and intellectual property.  The team are closely involved in drafting and interpreting policies in other fields including internal and external governance, partnerships and procurement, and giving legal advice in relation to programmes as required.

The successful candidate will assist the Legal Counsel by assisting the with the overall strategic direction, operational design and management of Legal Counsel work and deputising for the Legal Counsel as required.  Discretion, attention to detail and good communication skills are essential.

To be considered for this opportunity, you will need to be qualified to practise law in a Commonwealth jurisdiction. You will need 10 years post-qualification experience in private legal practice, government, non-governmental organisations, international organisations or academia. You will also need demonstrable experience of providing legal advice, drafting/reviewing complex contractual arrangements, and delivering practical solutions to clients and/or stakeholders through clear and user-friendly written and oral engagement; demonstrable understanding of public international law including international administrative law; and litigation experience. Please refer to the job description for full details.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 member governments and provides guidance on policy making, technical assistance and advisory services to Commonwealth member countries. We support governments to help achieve sustainable, inclusive, and equitable development.

If you feel that you are suitable for the role, please apply by submitting a CV and cover letter. Covering letters should be structured to address the key criteria required in the person specification, giving clear examples.

To join us, you must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country.