<p>what kind of jobs are available to lawyers (legal officers) in the united nations, concerning anything from international trade to human rights? how is the pay? how is it different from working in private firms? any other information? thanks for the help!!!</p>
<p>Dear Everyone Who Wants to be a U.N. Human Rights Lawyer,</p>
<p>You are very unlikely to achieve this position. Full-stop. I apologize for being condescending, but there are several posts about this each week, and I cannot hold back the eye-rolling.</p>
<p>why would it be so hard?</p>
<p>supply and demand</p>
<p>I live in NYC. I know a fair # of people who work for the UN. Almost all the Americans tell me that being an American is a huge disadvantage for those who work on the permanent staff. One of my female neighbors who works for one of the UN agencies has told me point blank that she discourages any Americans applying to work for her agency. (She has two college-aged sons.) The UN is a VERY political organization. Being from a "neutral" nation is a big advantage, not only in terms of getting hired, but being promoted. </p>
<p>If despite this you are convinced that you are the exception...learn to speak one of the other "official" languages at the UN. To be hired, you must speak at least two of the U.N.'s official languages fluently. </p>
<p>I'd also suggest voting Democratic. During Democratic administrations, the US tends to pay a higher percentage of its UN dues. During Republican administrations, it doesn't pay its dues. There are certain UN agencies the US will not fund. Americans who work for these agencies....tell me that they will never, ever be promoted. Can I swear this is the case? Nope...I'm going on what my American neighbors who are UN employees tell me. </p>
<p>If anyone figures out who I am, please don't "out" me because expressing these opinions in public won't make me too popular with my UN-employee neighbors. But forget all the dreams you have about working for an international organization that strives to protect the rights of individuals. The UN is an organization of nation- states. The sovereignty of the nation-state is its highest principle. If it's escaped your attention, let me remind you that not all governments even try to serve the interests of the majority of their populace. Lots of the governments in the world are corrupt. Many nations are poor. If there's a choice between hiring a US citizen who could probably find another job elsewhere and hiring a young person from a Third World nation with a good education who hasn't the proverbial snowball's chance in that very hot place of getting a job in his home nation, guess which one is hired? </p>
<p>Please understand that a lot of the UN employees I know are wonderful people. I mean that sincerely. But when they trust you, they tell you "off the record" that they don't recommend that an American work for the UN.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for that viewpoint, Jonri. It should be helpful to a lot of people.</p>
<p>i'm not american. i'm one quarter swiss/one quarter belgian/ and half argentinian. that's two neutral countries right there! :D</p>