Post of legal assistant for a joint Council of Europe and European Union programme to improve the independence of the judiciary in Ukraine Starting date: 1 January 2007 Duration of contract: until 31 December 2007 Job Mission The legal assistant will assist in the implementation of the Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Union on the improvement of the independence of the judiciary in Ukraine. The overall objective of the programme is to establish an independent, impartial and professional judiciary in Ukraine. The programme has three main purposes: to improve the process of selecting and appointing judicial candidates, to ensure a transparent disciplinary liability procedure and to improve initial and continuous training of judges, to strengthen the efficiency of the judicial system by applying principles of efficient and good governance to case management, and to provide technical assistance to the establishment and improvement of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods. Key Activities Assisting the international resident expert in the implementation of the project in co-operation with the relevant government authorities and other partners by supporting the resident expert in reviewing the national legislation and determining required amendments, and in arranging the necessary legal expertise, helping the resident expert in terms of information collection, processing, analysis and exchange as well as procuring the required hard- and software Assisting the resident expert in strengthening his/her co-operation with the justice authorities Providing logistical and secretarial assistance to the resident expert, the project manager, Council of Europe consultants and government authorities in organising project activities Providing the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice, the High Council of Justice and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine any support they may require to elaborate and adopt legislation in compliance with European standards Collecting necessary mass media and other information related to judiciary reform in Ukraine Assisting the resident expert in reporting to the Council of Europe on project progress Qualifications University degree in law Expertise in the fields of training of judges, case management and alternative dispute resolution methods Relevant experience in a judicial profession and/or in the management of judicial reform processes of at least 5 years Knowledge of the rules and procedures of the Council of Europe Very good knowledge of English, including ability to draft clearly and accurately in English; knowledge of French is an advantage Competencies High level of general knowledge and ability to deal with a wide range of subjects Ability to establish and maintain contacts at political and diplomatic level Very good computer skills of standard tools in office applications Flair for human relations and cultural diversity Initiative; sense of responsibility, quality and efficiency; discretion Benefits: Salary will be according to international standards. During his/her employment, the Legal Assistant recruited by the Council of Europe as a temporary staff member will be covered by a medical insurance scheme covering sickness and accident as well as death or permanent disablement as the result of an accident. S/he will also benefit from a pension scheme. Applications: Interested applicants are requested to submit a full curriculum vitae, listing inter alia both their academic qualifications and professional experience accompanied by a brief statement setting out the reason(s) for applying. Applications in English language shall be submitted by fax or e-mail until 24 November 2006 to: Agnes Gilka-Bötzow, Directorate of Legal Co-operation, Directorate General of Legal Affairs, Council of Europe, Tel.: +33-(0)388-41-4143, Fax: +33-(0)388-41-3743, E-mail: Agnes.Gilka-Boetzow@coe.int [mailto:Agnes.Gilka-Boetzow@coe.int] Shortlisted applicants will be called for interview in Kyiv at short notice thereafter.