Counsel

Counsel Job #: req33723 Organization: World Bank Sector: Legal Grade: GF Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, French, Spanish Closing Date: 7/23/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.  For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.
With a mission of creating a world free of poverty on a livable planet, the WBG works in more than 100 developing economies to improve living standards and to fight poverty. For each of its clients, the WBG works with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to formulate assistance strategies. A network of offices worldwide delivers the programs in countries, liaises with governments and civil society, and works to increase understanding of development issues. The World Bank is owned by 189 member countries whose views and interests are represented by a Board of Governors and a Washington, DC-based Board of Directors. With more than 150 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.
The World Bank Group is one of the world's largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It uses financial resources and extensive experience to help our client countries to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve quality of life. To ensure that countries can access the best global expertise and help generate cutting-edge knowledge, the World Bank Group is constantly seeking to improve the way it works. Key priorities include delivering measurable results, promoting openness and transparency in development, and improving access to development information and data.Legal Vice Presidency. In the context of the World Bank's broad development agenda, the Legal Vice Presidency (LEG), under the Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel (SVP-GC), is responsible for providing legal advice and support to internal and external Bank clients on operational, advisory, financial, administration, and institutional matters.
LEGIA. Lawyers in the Institutional Affairs Practice Group (LEGIA) provide legal advice and services throughout the World Bank Group, including for the Regional Vice Presidencies, the Human Resources Vice Presidency, the Information and Technology Solution Vice Presidency, the Internal Justice System Vice Presidency, the Global Corporate Solutions Department Vice Presidency, the External and Corporate Relations Vice Presidency, the Ethics and Internal Justice Vice Presidency; the Strategy, Performance, and Administration Vice Presidency, as well as to International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) regarding the institutional affairs of these institutions within the responsibility of the World Bank Group Counsel.
LEGIA invites qualified candidates to apply for a Counsel position based at HQ in Washington, D.C.  The Selected candidate will work under the general supervision of the Deputy General Counsel. The Counsel will be lawyers who can operate independently to handle legal and policy issues related to the Bank’s work while working collaboratively with other lawyers within LEGIA and LEG as a whole.
Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
The Counsel positions require demonstrated ability of rigorous analytical skills, to work harmoniously in a team, and to exercise good judgment. The level and quality of these skills will be a determining factor in the selection for the position, and references will be given consideration in this determination. 
The Counsel will be expected to handle the following areas of responsibility:
•   Draft, review, negotiate and finalize legal agreements under the Counsel’s portfolio. •   Draft and revise pleadings and submissions to the Bank’s Administrative Tribunal.•   Provide general advice on a range of human resource matters.•   Advising on internal and external investigations related to fraud, corruption, or misconduct.•   Review and support negotiations of corporate procurement contracts.•   Manage national court litigation and commercial arbitration including overseeing external counsel, reviewing and commenting on briefing material, and liaising with national authorities.•   Advise on issues related to data privacy, intellectual property, and data integrity.•   Cover a broad portfolio of countries, providing risk-based advice to clients on legal and policy issues in operations.•   Participate in or lead on initiatives or teams, through coordination of portfolios or programs, management of client relationships, participating in dialogue on corporate priorities and other areas relevant to the assigned functional scope. •   Provide legal advice to ongoing projects and programs, including reviewing project and program documents, for adherence to World Bank Group policies, procedures and business objectives.•   Conduct comparative legal analyses on a range of issues in operations, identify legal and policy issues, research for relevant precedents, and propose appropriate solutions to colleagues and clients.•   Engage in policy discussions and negotiations with officials internally and externally, developing relationships with members of the legal profession and lawyers working in development partner agencies.•   Protect the World Bank's interests and promote its goals and values.•   Write and review policy papers, undertake legal research on topics in an area of concentration and contribute to dissemination of policy and best practices in a given field.•   Prepare legal briefs on diverse topics, as required.•   Work to advance the LEG VPU’s knowledge management agenda and use of technology; and•   Perform ad hoc assignments as requested by the Deputy General Counsel or designated Lead/Senior Counsel.

Selection Criteria

•   An LLM degree, J.D. or equivalent, with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction is required.
Competencies:
•   Adversarial Proceedings: Possesses demonstrated ability to engage in adversarial proceedings, including drafting of written advocacy before courts or other adjudicatory bodies, and cross examination; review of commercial contract provisions.  Some litigation experience is highly desirable.  Experience managing external litigation also a plus.
•   Independence: Carries out complex work with due care with limited supervision, preparing accurate documents and reports, ensuring that pertinent facts and arguments are fairly presented. Interprets information in an objective manner, exercising professional skepticism when required. Respects confidentiality of information and work.   
•   Professional Maturity: Understands the institutional context of assignments, and respects others and the reasons for their behavior. Takes the time to clarify others' points of view so that progress can be made particularly in situations of stress or conflict. Respects different points of view, especially in a multicultural environment, is never condescending or arrogant.
•   Legal Reasoning: Demonstrated skill in legal reasoning, including breaking down problems into their component parts, and issue spotting. Articulates the implications of situations in a step by step way. Remains objective when reviewing problems or situations to understand the issues. Makes sure he/she collects and verifies facts before reaching a conclusion.  Can simplify complex fact patterns and explain well.
•   Legal Research, Drafting, and Communication: Independently drafts documents (e.g., legal agreements, contracts, policy documents, but also novel documents and instruments) as assigned with limited supervision. Conducts research as necessary. Is aware of the need for precision and focus on accuracy and quality. Demonstrates a writing style that is clear and precise.
•   Legal Negotiation: Is able to negotiate independently. Is aware of the need to be diplomatic when working with others particularly when the issues are complex; uses good judgment in interactions with clients. Makes sure s/he has all the necessary information and data available to enter meaningful negotiations. Works effectively with some supervision on straightforward negotiations. 
•   Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries: Appropriately involves others in decision making and communicates with key stakeholders. Approaches conflicts as common problems to be solved. Actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches displaying a sense of mutuality and respect. Integrates WBG perspective into work.
•   Effective Time Management: Manages competing demands effectively, prioritizes work demands, manages multiple competing demands on a consistent basis, without becoming frustrated or overwhelmed.
•   Delivery of Results for Clients: Adds value by constantly looking for a better way to achieve more impactful results; sets challenging stretch goals.   Maximizes client experiences and perspective by asking probing questions to understand unmet needs. Does not limit her/himself to identifying problems, but proposes constructive solutions to mitigate and manage foreseeable risks. Thinks outside the box.
•   Makes Smart Decisions: Leverages available data and makes timely decisions. Seeks and analyzes facts, data and lessons of past experience to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others’ work. Applies cost/benefit analysis to meet work program objectives. Contributes to decision making by providing relevant risk-analysis. Shows initiative when necessary and makes decisions in a timely manner within own area of responsibility.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.