Senior Legal Counsel, Office of the General Counsel

FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Senior Legal Counsel is required to assist the General Counsel in the management of the operations of the Office of the General Counsel. The role involves providing legal advice to the Organs, Bodies and Institutions of the Community relating to their functions; supporting the Secretariat in executing legal activities related to its effective operation; and advising Member States, through appropriate communication channels to facilitate the monitoring of progress, follow-up action, and assist with the implementation of decisions and recommendations of the Organs, Bodies and Institutions of the Community. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The position requires: 

• A LLM or Post Graduate Degree in International Trade/Commercial Law or Government, and Admission to the Bar of a Member State plus a minimum of eight (8) years relevant post qualification experience as an Attorney-at-Law. 

OR 

• A LLB Degree and Admission to the Bar of a Member State plus a minimum of ten (10) years relevant post qualification experience as an Attorney-at-Law. In addition, the incumbent must possess the following: 
  • Knowledge of provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and International and Bilateral Trade Agreements entered into by Member States of CARICOM. Work experience with these Instruments will be an asset. 
  • Practical knowledge and experience in drafting documents and legal texts. 
  • Experience in coordinating with professional and support staff, and working in teams. 
  • Proficiency in the use of computer applications. 
  • Ability to conduct high-quality research and analysis in a timely manner.

In addition to the aforementioned requirements, consideration will be given to candidates who demonstrate substantial overall experience and relevant exposure, in addition to meeting the requirements outlined above. 

• Ideally, the incumbent should have gained his/her experience, at an equivalent level, from one or more of the following types of entities: 
  • International Organisation. 
  • Legal Department of the Foreign Service or other Ministry of a Member State. ? Legal Firm/Organisation. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• DRAFTS International Agreements and rules of procedure for the Organs, Bodies and Institutions of the Community and subsidiary bodies, and ENGAGES in research, and FORMULATES policy proposals and Reports; 
• APPLIES legal knowledge and experience to develop and coordinate new institutional arrangements, HARMONISES laws within the Community, and PROVIDES a variety of legal services as may be required by the Organs, Bodies, Institutions and Associate Institutions of the Community and to External Agencies: - 
• PROVIDES advice and support on issues relating to Human and Social Development; Foreign Relations; and other aspects of community and law; 
• ASSISTS with the dissemination of legal information; 
• PROVIDES Legal Opinions in relation to the Guidelines and Procedures Manual of the CARICOM Secretariat; and 
• ASSISTS with the servicing of the meetings of the Legal Affairs Committee of CARICOM. 
• Also be responsible for activities within the Work Programme in the following subject areas: 
  • The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy; 
  • Trade and Economic Matters and all issues relating thereto; 
  • Intellectual Property and matters pertaining to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO); 
  • Law of the Sea and Maritime Law; 
  • Aviation Law and all aspects relating thereto; 
  • Legal issues relating to security arrangements of the Community; and
  • Trade Investment Treaties of all kinds and other regional and international groupings. 

The incumbent must be able to apply legal knowledge and experience to develop and coordinate new institutional arrangements, harmonise laws within the Community and provide a variety of legal services as may be required by the Organs, Bodies, Institutions and Associate Institutions of the Community and to External Agencies. 
In addition to the Results and Activities outlined above, the incumbent is expected to perform any other relevant duties and responsibilities in keeping with job functions. 

EDUCATION GRANT

The officer shall be eligible for the payment of an education grant in respect of children (including stepchildren and legally adopted children) who require reasonable education facilities that are not available at the assigned duty station or whose education the officer would not want to disrupt in relocating to take up this appointment. 

The grant shall apply to children under the age of twenty-three (23) years and shall not exceed seventy-five per cent (75%) of the cost of tuition (including textbooks), room and board up to a maximum total of EC$16,200.00 per year per child for a maximum of two (2) children at any one time. The grant is payable for a maximum of five (5) years. 

SETTLEMENT GRANT

On assumption of duty in Guyana, the officer shall be paid a settlement grant in respect of the staff member, his or her spouse and each eligible child or other approved dependant. The number of dependants eligible for the Settlement Grant shall not exceed six (6) persons. 

RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT

Appointment may be on contract, in which case the officer will be required to contribute to the Secretariat’s Pension Scheme or on secondment from a Public Service or a statutory body of a Member State or approved regional organisation. It will be subject to such staff rules and policies, rules, regulations, orders and instructions as exist and as may be introduced from time to time with respect to service with the Caribbean Community Secretariat. 
An officer recruited from outside the assigned duty station, on first appointment, will be provided economy class air passages by the most direct route for the officer, spouse and children (provided they are below the age of eighteen (18) years, unmarried and dependent on the officer) and for such other dependants not exceeding two (2) as may be approved by the Secretary-General, provided that the number of children and other dependants does not exceed six (6) in all.

In addition to passages, the Officer will be granted the following transportation allowances: 

• ocean freight charges, including insurance, for shipping personal and household effects to Guyana, not exceeding 45.3 cubic meters, plus a motor car (if the officer already owns one); 
• the cost of transporting baggage, personal and household effects from the home of the officer to the place of embarkation and from the port of disembarkation to the place of residence in Guyana; and 
• the cost of packing and crating personal and household effects. 

LEAVE

The officer will be eligible for twenty (20) working days' vacation leave a year and a leave grant after every twelve (12) months of service in respect of the officer, spouse and up to two (2) other approved dependants. 

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

The officer will be granted the privileges and immunities extended to officials of the Caribbean Community in accordance with Article 8 of the Community’s Headquarters Agreement with the Government of Guyana. 

GROUP HEALTH AND LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Subject to your acceptance by the Secretariat’s insurance carriers, the officer will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s group health, life and accident insurance schemes. With respect to the health insurance, the officer will contribute fifty per cent (50%) of the premium. The life and accident insurance scheme is non-contributory. 

SUPERANNUATION

An officer appointed to this post will be required to participate in the Secretariat’s Defined Contribution Pension Plan and contribute 7 per cent of basic salary per month, while the Secretariat will contribute 13 per cent of the officer’s basic salary to the pension plan. Where the appointment is on secondment, the Secretariat will pay to the officer’s substantive employer, over the period of secondment, a contribution not exceeding twenty-five per cent (25%) of the pensionable salary normally payable to the officer by that employer so as to maintain the pensionable status of the officer in the substantive employment.

APPLICATIONS

Applications in English Language with full curriculum vitae details, including the email addresses of three (3) referees (at least two of whom must be familiar with the applicant’s work)