Octavius Finance is exclusively partnering with a Permanent Mission to the United Nations to appoint a Senior Legal Adviser to provide strategic legal counsel on matters of international law, UN frameworks, and multilateral diplomacy.
The successful candidate will serve as a senior legal adviser to the Permanent Representative, Deputy Permanent Representative and wider diplomatic teams, providing expert guidance across complex legal, institutional and policy matters arising within the United Nations system.
This is a highly influential role operating at the intersection of international law, diplomacy and global policy. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the Mission’s legal positions, advising on negotiations, reviewing diplomatic documentation, and ensuring legal accuracy and consistency across engagement with UN bodies including the General Assembly and Security Council.
The role is best suited to senior international lawyers with significant experience advising governments, diplomatic missions, international organisations or multilateral institutions on complex public international law matters.
Key Responsibilities
• Serve as the Mission’s principal adviser on international law and UN legal and institutional matters.
• Provide strategic legal advice to senior diplomats, including the Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative.
• Advise on matters relating to the UN Charter, public international law, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, customary international law and treaty frameworks.
• Review and provide legal guidance on draft UN resolutions, statements, diplomatic correspondence, legal positions and explanations of vote.
• Lead the Mission’s work on complex legal questions arising across the General Assembly, Security Council and wider UN system.
• Provide advice on Security Council mandates, sanctions regimes, subsidiary bodies and rules of procedure.
• Support negotiations relating to privileges and immunities, credentials, host-country matters and the legal status of UN entities.
• Assess legal, diplomatic and reputational risks arising from UN reports, panels of experts, commissions of inquiry and investigative mechanisms.
• Coordinate closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Legal Affairs Department and relevant authorities.
• Produce high-quality legal analysis and strategic advice to support diplomatic decision-making and international engagement.
• Significant experience in public international law, diplomatic law, international organisations or government legal advisory roles.
• Proven experience advising senior government officials, diplomats, ambassadors or policy leaders on complex legal matters.
• Strong understanding of the United Nations system, including General Assembly and Security Council processes.
• Expertise across areas including international humanitarian law, human rights law, sanctions, regimes and treaty matters.
• Experience drafting legal opinions, diplomatic positions, resolutions, statements or negotiation documents.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret complex legal and political issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear advice in high-pressure environments.
• Ability to operate effectively within a confidential, international and politically sensitive environment.
Backgrounds of interest may include:
• Senior Legal Adviser – Permanent Mission to the UN
• Legal Adviser / Counsellor – Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• International Lawyer – Government or Diplomatic Service
• Legal Officer – United Nations or International Organisation
• Public International Law Specialist
• International Humanitarian Law Adviser
• Human Rights Legal Adviser
• Treaty / Sanctions Specialist
• Diplomatic Legal Counsel
• Government Legal Adviser
To apply, please send a copy of your Word CV.
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