Counsel Institutional Affairs (IAF)

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Publication Starting Date: May 15, 2025

Location: Lyon, France

Company: Interpol

Vacancy Notice 1189

 

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 Member Countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. 


INTERPOL strives to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. To achieve our Diversity goals, we encourage applications from women and nationals of under/unrepresented member countries who are passionate about our mission. INTERPOL’s recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

 

Job Title: Counsel Institutional Affairs (IAF)   
Reporting To: Senior Counsel IAF
Location: Lyon 
Type of contract: Fixed-term Contract 
Duration (in months): 12.00 
Grade: 4   
Number of post: 1
Level of Security screening:  Basic
Deadline for application: 5 June 2025

 

 

Conditions applying for all candidates

 

Only professional experience for which candidates can provide official proof of employment will be considered. Candidates could be requested to provide copies of such official documents prior to interviews/test.

 

* This position has a temporary nature and carries, in principle, no expectation of renewal. Any potential subsequent extension will be subject to the terms of the Organization’s Staff Manual, to satisfactory performance and to availability of funds.

 

Tests/interviews in connection to this selection procedure will take place approximately 1/3 weeks after the deadline for applications. Applicants are kindly requested to plan their availability during this period accordingly, in case they are short-listed.

 

​Selected candidates will be expected to report for duty approximately one to three months after receiving an offer of employment at the latest.

 

This selection exercise may be used to generate a reserve list of suitable candidates that may be used to address Organization's similar staffing needs in the future.

 

 

SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNED DUTIES, INCLUDING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POST

 

 

The Executive Director Legal Affairs (EDLA) assists the Organization in achieving its aims by ensuring that all its activities and programmes are conducted in accordance with INTERPOL's legal framework. The core mission of EDLA consists in protecting the Organization's legal interests through the provision of substantive and impartial legal advice to the Secretary General, to the bodies of the Organization and to other Executive Directorates of the General Secretariat, in order to promote and develop the rule of law in all aspects of INTERPOL's activities. OLA defends INTERPOL against claims arising from its activities and programmes.

The incumbent will assist the Deputy General Counsel or his/her designee primarily in the provision of legal services related to employment law within the Organization, including ensuring the defense of the Organization in staff litigation procedures. He/She will supervise the work of the Paralegal serving on employment law issues.

The incumbent will also assist the various departments of the General Secretariat, INTERPOL's governing bodies and Member Countries in a wide range of institutional, policy and administrative matters related to the Organization's activities and functioning.

 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES

DUTY 1: Defense of the Organization in any employment litigation or pre-litigation disputes

Be the subject matter expert in staff litigation cases, including dispute resolution procedures and settlement negotiation;

  • Ensure updates and appropriate distribution of information is maintained on all legal and relevant developments of litigation files, and keep hierarchy informed of developments and their implications on cases and;
  • Conduct legal and factual research to assess and advise on legal risks; strategies; and recommended course of action;
  • Advise the Human Resources Directorate on claims, grievances and request for reviews
  • Manage litigation and provide strategic advice and assessment on cases;
  • Draft memoranda assessing legal risks and litigation strategy recommendations for the Deputy General Counsel and senior leadership;
  • Draft case-related memoranda
  • Prepare submissions in internal appeals before the Joint Appeals Committees and in disputes brought before the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT);
  • Negotiate separation agreements;
  • Work with and oversee outside counsel as necessary or appropriate.

 

DUTY 2: Development of mitigation strategies

  • Develop, implement and continuously improve internal processes and procedures for addressing employment litigation and pre-litigation disputes, including tools to assess and manage matters effectively and consistently;
  • Work with cross-functional teams on institutional matters, human resources, policing capabilities, external litigation and other legal issues ;

DUTY 3: Legal Advice and services on employment law and international public administrative law related matters

Serve an organization-wide advisory role on employment law and international public administrative law related issues and provide legal services in a wide range of complex or novel substantive and procedural questions of international civil service law, including:

  • Handle requests related to the application, interpretation and revision of the Staff Manual
  • Prepare notes and research legal issues relevant to the Organization, particularly with regard to international civil service law and relevant case law;
  • Draft or review new legal documents (legal memoranda, policy, SOP, Staff instruction, guidelines, agreements or correspondence) at the request of his/her hierarchy and based on instructions received;
  • Advise on disciplinary cases;
  • Advise the Human Resources Directorate on individual cases;
  • Represent EDLA before the Staff Committees, in coordination with the Human Resources Directorate as appropriate;
  • Provide legal support in the development of internal legislation and procedures, and associated directives, policies and processes, and reviewing legal issues arising in connection with their implementation;
  • Provide guidance to less experienced attorneys and support staff as needed.

Handle, in an autonomous way, legal files assigned to him/her based on general guidance received from his/her hierarchy. Ensures follow up and reporting.

 

DUTY 4: Supervision of Paralegal work

Direct and supervise the work of the Paralegal assigned to staff litigation and control the quality and accuracy of the work performed to ensure employment litigation and pre-litigation disputes are well managed and internal processes and procedures are in place and followed. Ensure coordination with other Litigation Counsels and Legal Officers working with the Paralegal.

Checks the quality and accuracy of the documents he/she produces as well as the quality of the final products delivered by the Principal Administrative Attache.

 

DUTY 5: Advice and Legal research on public international law

Provide legal services in a wide range of complex or novel substantive and procedural questions of public international law, including:

  • Preparing legal opinions and studies as requested by the Deputy General Counsel and departments of the General Secretariat on the interpretation of INTERPOL's Constitution, Regulations and rules, relevant decisions of the governing bodies and agreements with Host Countries;
  • Advising on legal issues arising in the context of the governing bodies, including supporting the drafting and review of draft decisions, reports and other relevant documents;
  • Providing legal support in the development of internal legislation and procedures, and associated directives, policies and processes, and reviewing legal issues arising in connection with their implementation.

Performs any other duties as may be required.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIRED:

  • Advanced university degree in law (Master's degree or equivalent degree) with emphasis in the area of public international law;
  • A specialization and/or a complementary Master's degree in the law of international organizations and/or international civil service law would be a strong asset.

 

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

  • At least five years of working experience as a lawyer in the field of international civil service law and/or public international law and/or law of international organizations.

 

LANGUAGES:

  • Fluency in English or French is essential and a good working knowledge of the other is highly desirable;
  • Knowledge of a third working language of the Organization (Arabic or Spanish) would be an asset.

 

SPECIFIC SKILLS:

  • High analytical skills with the capacity to identify high-level risks and potential liabilities and to precisely articulate the critical issues in a case
  • Excellent litigation skills;
  • Highest standards of ethics and professional integrity;
  • Excellent drafting skills;
  • Excellent organizational skills;
  • Maturity, with effective oral and written communication skills, particularly in an international/ multicultural and multidisciplinary environment;
  • Good computer skills. As a minimum proficiency in standard office word-processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation software.

 

ABILITIES REQUIRED:

  • Self-motivated with the ability to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment;
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team or individually.
  • Ability to synthesize, analyse, and summarize complex legal and factual issues;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as demonstrated proficiency in working closely with and advising senior executives of an organization;
  • Ability to work under pressure and produce results on short timelines.