Back Senior Legal Officer (Constitutional Court Chamber) (133-3)

Reporting Line:

The Senior Legal Officer (Constitutional Court Chamber) reports to the Chef de Cabinet/Senior Legal Officer.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

· To assist the Constitutional Court Judges in planning, organising and coordinating activities within the Constitutional Court Chamber;

· To provide specialised legal, judicial and administrative support, in particular on constitutional referrals/challenges and human rights law, including the case law relating to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR);

· To coordinate the work of the office of the Constitutional Court Chamber and provide guidance to its legal support staff and interns;

· To provide extensive legal research, particularly on comparative constitutional law including the constitutional law of Kosovo, public international law, international criminal law and human rights law;

· To prepare and/or coordinate draft memoranda and draft decisions/judgments;

· To provide legal analysis on constitutional challenges and referrals;

· To assess briefs and authorities submitted by the parties and to maintain files on the Specialist Chambers practice and development;

· To monitor relevant developments in comparative constitutional law as required, public international and criminal and human rights law;

· To undertake any other related tasks as requested by the Line Managers.

Additional Information:

· Temporary re-assignment to other units of the Specialist Chambers may be applicable due to operational demands/requirements.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

· Successful completion of University studies of at least four (4) years, attested by a diploma OR a qualification in the National Qualifications Framework which is equivalent to level 7 in the European Qualifications Framework OR a qualification of the second cycle under the framework of qualifications of the European Higher Education Area e.g. Master’s degree

AND

· A minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience, after having fulfilled the education requirements, out of which a minimum three (3) years of management experience.

Specification of Education and Experience:

· The above mentioned university degree must be in at least one of the following fields of expertise: Law or other related university studies;**

· A minimum of twelve (12) years of progressively responsible professional experience of which at least five (5) years, at the international level in the field of constitutional or human rights law;**

· Extensive knowledge and practical experience of international law and constitutional law;

· Intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge and experience with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;**

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written and presentational), including ability to defend difficult positions;**

· Excellent drafting and reporting skills in English;**

· Ability to work productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and produce accurate work under pressure and in difficult circumstances;

· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity;**

· Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity; ability to promote an inclusive working environment and integrate a gender perspective into tasks and responsibilities.

Desirable:

· Knowledge of other official languages of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office (Albanian or Serbian);

· International experience in crisis areas with multi-national and international organisations;**

· Knowledge of the functioning of the EU and in particular CSDP Missions;

· Good understanding of the political, cultural and security situation of the Balkans, in particular Kosovo.