Legal Research Assistant

Job Title: Legal Research Assistant

Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Host entity: UNDP Brasil

Assignment country: Brazil

Expected start date: 01/10/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

Type: Onsite

Duration: 6 months

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Brasilia

Details

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in approximately 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality and exclusion. The program helps countries to developing policies, leadership skills, partnership skills, institutional capacities, and to building resilience to sustainable development results. UNDP implements several projects in different areas, offering its partners technical, operational and management assistance through access to methodologies, specialized knowledge, specialized advice and a wide international network of technical cooperation. To contribute to human development, poverty reduction and the country's growth in priority areas, UNDP Brazil has a constant mission to align its services with the needs of a dynamic, multifaceted and diverse country. The projects are carried out in partnership with the Brazilian government, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society.

Context

In November 2021, the National School for the Training and Improvement of Magistrates (ENFAM) and the UNDP signed the international technical cooperation project BRA/21/010 - Strengthening management and innovation capacities in the actions promoted by ENFAM for jurisdictional promotion effective. The project aims to develop subsidies (new methodologies, educational actions, studies, research and tools) for structuring, innovation and continuous improvement of the Judiciary, helping in the training and improvement of excellence of State and Federal magistrates and, when possible, of Justice servants, so that they can promote Justice in line with society's expectations. To achieve its goals, BRA/21/010 has the following lines of action: 1. Strategy to strengthen and innovate in training and improvement actions for judges, developed and implemented on a pilot basis. 2. Methodologies for strengthening the production and management of knowledge applied to priorities of Brazilian justice. 3. ENFAM's technical and management capacity strengthening plan. 4. Efficient management and knowledge management of the project carried out. In view of the advancement of the Stricto Sensu Graduate Program and the work developed by the study groups and research by Enfam, there is a demand for a Legal Researcher Assistant to support Enfam’s research groups and research lines in its organization, structure and expansion regarding national and international standards in the Law domain. The activities to be carried out by the selected volunteer will be executed onsite at the ENFAM office in Brasília. The expected workload is approximately 6 to 7 hours a day.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP Project Manager, UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Prepare diagnostic assessments on research and research groups in subjects related to the Judiciary, in accordance with National Council of Justice (CNJ) Resolution No. 464/2022; • Conduct discussions within the Enfam team for the improvement and transfer of knowledge; • Develop activities related to the structure, the organization, and the management of Enfam’s research lines and research groups, in accordance with CNJ Resolution No. 464/2022 for the Judicial Research Network (RPJ) and Judicial Research Groups (GPJs); • Design processes, guidelines, and strategic actions to consolidate the activities of Enfam’s research groups; • Contribute to the construction of a strategy to enhance and strengthen research relationships between the Enfam postgraduate program and the CNJ, as well as other national research institutions and networks in the field of the judiciary; • Suggest research projects to Enfam’s research groups aligned with its research and CNJ Resolution No. 464/2022; • Prepare, together with the professors and students, activities aimed at guaranteeing the fulfilment of the research groups actions and expected results; • Develop activities related to the researchers' training program; • Analyze the degree of alignment of Enfam's Master's dissertations with respect to the research lines of the School's Postgraduate Program; • Diagnose judiciary topics determined by the CNJ to prospect training courses; • Map and classify legal topics (areas and subareas) to feed Enfam's observatory, focused on the School's courses and the National Trainers' Database. • Perform other activities related to the post as required by the supervisor.

Eligibility criteria

Age

27 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in empirical research and data research in Law; • Experience in planning and structuring research groups activities; • Experience in research projects; • Experience in designing, managing and planning organizational structures; • Experience working in higher education/postgraduate programs; • Working knowledge in English and/or Spanish will be an asset; • Have an affinity with or interest in Peace and Justice, volunteerism as a mechanism for sustainable development, development cooperation and the United Nations System will be an asset.

Area(s) of expertise

Legal affairs

Driving license

-

Languages

Portuguese, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable Spanish, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Law or related areas (Social Sciences, Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, Political Science, International Relations, History or Economics). Candidate must also have completed a Bachelor's degree in Law.

Competencies and values

Accountability; Adaptability and Flexibility; Client Orientation; Commitment and Motivation; Commitment to Continuous Learning; Communication; Creativity; Ethics and Values; Integrity; Knowledge Sharing; Planning and Organizing; Professionalism; Respect for Diversity; Self-Management; Technological Awareness; Working in Teams.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

The activities to be carried out by the selected volunteer will be executed onsite at the ENFAM office in Brasília. Brasilia is a family duty station and classified A (hardship). The living conditions in Brasilia are good as well as the access to health services. The accommodation facilities are in general good, and the choice is wide. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance. Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), and Deployment /Repatriation lump sums, among others, are available at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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