Assistant Legal Advisor

The Assistant Legal Advisor provides expert legal advice and technical guidance to the International Military Staff (IMS) at NATO Headquarters. The role supports legal aspects of IMS activities, including operational, international, administrative, and host nation law, ensuring compliance with treaties, agreements, and NATO policies.

Responsibilities

• Support all legal aspects of IMS work in support of the Military Committee, DGIMS, CMC, DCMC and IMS Divisions and Offices.
• Conduct research on legal issues relevant to IMS LEGAD including customary international law, law of armed conflict, operational and institutional law issues.
• Support review of operational plans, Rules of Engagement, and Use of Force in NATO Missions.
• Support drafting of NATO policies with legal implications related to NATO’s Strategic Concept and NATO 2030 Agenda.
• Prepare legal briefs and background papers on international, operational and administrative/institutional law issues.
• Interpret and analyse international agreements, directives and regulations.
• Represent IMS LEGAD in Military Committee Working Groups when required.
• Assist in preparation and execution of legal support to NATO exercises.
• Provide surge administrative support as needed.
• Contribute to legal coordination across NATO by conferring with other NATO legal offices.
• Advise DGIMS on legal aspects of his authorities and administrative responsibilities.
• Provide legal advice on IMS presence in Host Nation including contracts, purchasing, disciplinary issues and personnel complaints.
• Support LEGAD and Deputy LEGAD in representing IMS before NATO Administrative Tribunal.
• Undertake TDY assignments within and outside NATO boundaries.
• Perform duties in NATO HQ Crisis Management Organisation and work irregular hours and overtime as required.

Requirements

• A minimum of four years’ working experience as an assistant legal advisor for an international organization or an international law firm.
• Possess an in-depth understanding of international law and the Law of the Armed Conflict.
• Proven knowledge of research techniques, including familiarity with computerized databases (e.g. Lexis).
• Proven ability to draft legal memoranda to summarize issues and suggest recommendations from both a military and civilian perspective and to brief in written and verbal format.
• Possess an excellent knowledge of the field of security and defense as it relates to NATO.
• Master level University Degree in Law, with a specialization in Public International Law or related discipline.
• Candidates must have an advanced level of spoken and written English and pass a computer-based English test as well as written test and interview.
• Use of MS-Office applications including Word, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint and web applications; familiarity with current ICT systems for document processing and information sharing.
• Security Clearance – NATO SECRET (or eligibility for clearance).
• Desirable: Previous work experience in a military environment.
• Desirable: In-depth understanding of current geopolitical dynamics.
• Desirable: In-depth understanding of Law of Armed Conflict and Rules of Engagement.
• Desirable: Knowledge of Belgian (Host Nation) law.
• Desirable: Qualification to practice as a lawyer.
• Desirable: Elementary level of French.

Skills

• International Law
• Law of Armed Conflict
• Legal Research
• Legal Memos Drafting
• Military Law
• Security and Defense Law
• Public International Law
• Legal Briefing
• MS Word
• Microsoft Outlook
• MS Excel
• SharePoint Development
• Computerized Legal Databases
• English Language Proficiency
• Document Processing
• Information Sharing Systems
• NATO Security Clearance

Languages

English, French