Counsel Institutional Affairs

Vacancy Notice 1867

INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 196 Member Countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities, and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.

INTERPOL actively encourages applications from women and nationals of member countries that are currently unrepresented among our staff (please click on this link to access the list of countries). Candidates from these countries are particularly encouraged to apply.

INTERPOL’s recruitment process is merit-based hence all hiring decisions are made considering the applicant’s qualifications and the needs of the Organization.

Job Title: Counsel Institutional Affairs
Reporting To: Deputy General Counsel
Location: Lyon
Type of contract: Short-term Contract
Duration (in months): 6.00*
Grade: 4
Number of post: 1
Level of Security screening: Enhanced
Deadline for application: 28 June 2026

Conditions applying for all candidates

Only professional experience for which candidates can provide official proof of employment will be considered. Candidates could be requested to provide copies of such official documents prior to interviews/test.

* This position has a temporary nature and carries, in principle, no expectation of renewal. Any potential subsequent extension will be subject to the terms of the Organization’s Staff Manual, to satisfactory performance and to availability of funds.

Tests/interviews in connection to this selection procedure will take place within 1 week after the deadline for applications. Applicants are kindly requested to plan their availability during this period accordingly, in case they are short-listed.

​Selected candidates will be expected to report for duty approximately one to two months after receiving an offer of employment at the latest.

This selection exercise may be used to generate a reserve list of suitable candidates that may be used to address Organization's similar staffing needs in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE ASSIGNED DUTIES, INCLUDING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POST

The incumbent will assist the Deputy General Counsel or his/her designee in the provision of legal services to the various departments of the General Secretariat, INTERPOL's governing bodies and Member Countries in a wide range of institutional, policy and administrative matters related to the Organization's activities and functioning.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES

DUTY 1: Advice and Legal research

Provides legal services in a wide range of complex or novel substantive and procedural questions of public international law, including:

• Advising on legal issues arising in the context of the governing bodies, including supporting the drafting and review of draft decisions, reports and other relevant documents as well as providing advice on the application and interpretation of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly and Executive Committee;
• Preparing legal opinions and studies as requested by the Deputy General Counsel and departments of the General Secretariat on the interpretation of INTERPOL's Constitution, Regulations and rules, relevant decisions of the governing bodies and agreements with Host Countries;
• Providing legal support in the review, negotiation and drafting of agreements on privileges and immunities;
• Advising on intellectual property rights issues, and preparing terms of use, disclaimers and other notices for web platforms and publications;
• Providing legal support in the development of internal legislation and procedures, and associated directives, policies and processes, and reviewing legal issues arising in connection with their implementation;

Performs extensive legal research and analysis and prepares legal opinions, notes, studies, briefs, reports.

DUTY 2: Handling legal files

Handles, in an autonomous way, legal files assigned to him/her based on general guidance received from his/her hierarchy:

• Ensures follow up and reporting;
• Drafts or reviews new legal documents (legal memoranda, guidelines, agreements or correspondence) at the request of his/her hierarchy and based on instructions received;
• Maintains contact with representatives of INTERPOL's Members and with external partners based on instructions received.

DUTY 3: Meetings

• Assists in the preparation for INTERPOL meetings such as working groups, conferences and workshops;
• Prepares the legal documentation required for meetings and drafts the minutes;
• Services task forces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and meeting reports;
• Attends conferences, meetings and working groups in accordance with specific instructions received from the hierarchy.

DUTY 4: Quality control

Checks the quality and accuracy of the documents he/she produces that are further finalized by the secretariat of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Performs any other duties as may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATION REQUIRED:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law with emphasis in the area of public international law.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• At least five years of working experience as a lawyer in the field of international law with specialization in the law of international organizations (interpretation of constituent instruments and secondary legislation, privileges and immunities, international civil service law).

LANGUAGES:

• Fluency in English is essential and a good working knowledge of one of the other working languages (Arabic, French and Spanish) is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of a third working language of the Organization would be an asset.

SPECIFIC SKILLS:

• Maturity, with effective oral and written communication skills, particularly in an international/ multicultural and multidisciplinary environment;
• Excellent drafting skills;
• Good computer skills. As a minimum proficiency in standard office word-processing; spreadsheet; database and presentation software.

ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to work persistently and under pressure with tight deadlines;
• Ability to be self-motivated and methodological, to take initiative and work collaboratively in a team or individually;
• Ability to develop and maintain professional networks;
• Ability to synthesize.

As part of our commitment to transparency throughout our recruitment process, INTERPOL's Staff Manual Regulation 11.4: Age-limit, which states that:

'Officials of the Organization shall not normally be retained in service beyond the age of 65 years. The Secretary General may, in exceptional cases and in the interests of the Organization, extend this age limit, in which case he shall inform the official concerned sufficiently in advance.'

Given this Regulation and in case candidates reach the age of 65 during the potential duration of the appointment, should they be selected for the position and the process proceed to appointment, the employment period may be affected by this regulatory limit and may therefore not extend for the full standard contract duration as published in the vacancy notice.

We are sharing this information to ensure transparency at this stage of the process.