Principal Assistant (Legal)

The Principal Assistant (Legal) provides administrative and legal support to the Office of the Legal Advisor at NATO's International Military Staff. The role involves legal research, drafting memoranda, supporting NATO 2030 Agenda initiatives, and ensuring business continuity and administrative coordination within the office.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance to the preparation and execution of legal support to the development of various NATO policies linked to NATO 2030’s Agenda, focusing on human security, fight against terrorism, and DDA Implementation.
• Carry out legal research on issues including customary international law, law of armed conflict, operational and institutional law, and host nation presence.
• Assist LEGAD Office members in handling legal matters and provide paralegal support to IMS Divisions.
• Track development of work-strands relevant to NATO 2030, DDA implementation, LEGAD’s mandate and other legal equities.
• Facilitate LEGAD contribution to legal courses at NATO School Oberammergau.
• Provide day-to-day coordination and administrative support to LEGAD, Deputy LEGAD and LEGAD Office, including software subscriptions and secure file processing.
• Coordinate and prepare TDYs for LEGAD and Deputy LEGAD with DGIMS Front Office.
• Act as IMS LEGAD Entry Point for new Members, Interns and Visitors.
• Provide full-range administrative support for meetings and conferences.
• Maintain library of IMS produced documents to ensure business continuity.
• Review all outgoing correspondence for quality control and compliance with IMS SOPs and Directives.
• Provide initial review of documents responsive to disclosure requests from outside entities.
• Undertake TDY assignments within and outside NATO boundaries as required.
• Perform duties in the NATO HQ Crisis Management Organisation and work irregular hours and overtime as needed.

Requirements

• A minimum of four years post related experience as a legal administrative assistant for an international organization.
• Proven knowledge of research techniques, including familiarity with computerized databases, such as Lexis and all standard programmes.
• Proven ability to conduct legal research and draft legal memoranda to summarize issues.
• Possess excellent proofreading skills and attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree in Law, with a specialization in Public International Law or Higher Secondary education coupled with ten years of job-related relevant experience.
• Candidates must have an advanced level of spoken and written English.
• Use of MS-Office applications is crucial; advanced knowledge and user experience of Word, Outlook/Email client, Excel, SharePoint and web applications.
• Familiarity with current ICT systems and their application to document processing, record keeping, and information sharing.
• Previous experience working in support of a legal office within a military environment or an International Organisation is desirable.
• In-depth understanding of Law of the Armed Conflict and Rules of Engagement is desirable.
• Possess excellent communication and team-working skills.
• An elementary level of French is desirable.

Skills

• Legal Research
• Legal Memos Drafting
• Proofreading
• Public International Law
• MS Word
• Microsoft Outlook
• MS Excel
• SharePoint Development
• Legal Database Research
• Lexis
• Document Processing
• Records Keeping
• Information Sharing
• Law of the Armed Conflict
• Rules of Engagement

Languages

English, French