Legal Advisor

at  ICRC

Brussels based Resident position
Application deadline
27-11-2024
Workload
38 hours/week
Place of work
Brussels, Belgium
Contract
Open-ended

PROFILE AND SKILLS

• Master’s degree in law, ideally in international law; solid knowledge of IHL and of human rights law
• Minimum between 3- and 5-years’ work experience in the legal or humanitarian field.
• Knowledge of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement an asset.
• Languages: English: very good oral and written skills, ideally with knowledge of legal terminology. French or Dutch - a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to integrate and work in a multicultural team.
• Ability to work under pression in a fast-paced working environment.
• Ability to work independently, to organize their work and manage independently their own files whilst meeting deadlines.
• Trustworthy and reliable
• Good IT knowledge (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint…).

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor, the Legal Advisor carries out IHL-relevant activities in relation to the delegation’s engagement with the EU institutions, NATO HQ and relevant bodies, as well as with Belgian authorities. They also contribute to legal research and analysis (international humanitarian law, human rights law, national law) and support external IHL training engagements.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor, the Legal Advisor:

• Analyses legal documents and policies from European institutions (Council, EEAS, Commission, European Parliament), NATO and Belgium of interest to the ICRC and covered by IHL and legal dimensions of humanitarian action.
• Advises the delegation on the institution’s legal positioning and provides legal advice on relevant internal (briefing files, reports) and external documents and files (reports, position papers,).
• Contributes to the development of strategies on issues relating to IHL and the legal dimensions of humanitarian action.
• Contributes to the organizations of briefings with EU bodies working on IHL-related files, and in particular with the Council’s working group in charge of public international law (COJUR)
• Contributes to the development of the delegation’s engagement strategy on IHL with the Belgian authorities.
• Monitors legal developments related to the Belgian context, in connection with IHL and the legal dimensions of humanitarian action.
• Maintains relations with academic circles, supports the teaching of IHL and develops and maintains relations with influential players and a network of partners and contacts linked to legal questions and policy, as well as IHL promotion and implementation.
• Supports the organization of the annual Bruges Colloquium on IHL themes.
• Supports all other activities of the legal team, including organizing events, and contributes to the definition and implementation of the team’s objectives.