Legal Secretary

Applications are currently being accepted for the position of full-time Legal Secretary at the International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). A successful candidate would join the PCA secretarial staff providing administrative and secretarial support to in-house legal counsel and to the organization as a whole.

The PCA is an international organization specialized in the resolution of legal disputes founded in
1899 and based in The Hague. PCA staff work in the Peace Palace, which was constructed to house the PCA in 1913. The staff of the PCA is comprised of approximately 25 legal, editorial, and administrative staff members of various nationalities, dedicated to facilitating the resolution of disputes involving states, state entities, and international organizations.

Duties

The duties of the Legal Secretary will include:

• Word processing and drafting routine correspondence;
• Checking correspondence and documents for completeness and accuracy;
• Taking minutes and notes of meetings;
• File management and maintenance of records;
• Making arrangements for meetings and travel;
• Assisting with scheduling and planning;
• Receiving and assisting official visitors;
• Faxing and photocopying; and
• Performing other assignments as required.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate for this position would have at the minimum:

• one year of progressively responsible experience providing secretarial and administrative
  support to legal professionals;
• advanced word processing skills (MS Office programs; Corel Word Perfect; experience with
  Lotus Notes an advantage);
• the working languages of the PCA are English and French; excellent written and spoken skills
  are required in at least one, but preferably both of these languages;
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• the ability to work in an international environment;
• effective organizational skills and ability to conduct multiple assignments in an efficient and
  timely manner; and
• a willingness occasionally to work overtime and/or weekends.

This position does not require legal qualifications: qualified lawyers should not apply.

Interested applicants should send a covering letter and CV by e-mail to:

Legal Secretary Recruitment
Permanent Court of Arbitration
Carnegieplein 2
Peace Palace
2517 KJ The Hague
The Netherlands

E-mail: bureau@pca-cpa.org 

Recruitment Policy

The PCA is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to serving the international community in the field of dispute resolution. It recruits and employs staff based on the highest standards of competence, integrity, and efficiency.

Vacant positions are filled by nationals of member states based on the needs and available resources of the organization, particularly in relation to the nature and size of the PCA's caseload, which can vary from year to year. Due regard is given to maintaining an appropriate mix of men and women, and the need to seek geographical diversity in order to maintain the international character of the institution.