E T Consultant - Senior Counsel

E T Consultant - Senior Counsel Job #: req35347 Organization: World Bank Sector: Legal Grade: EC3 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): French, Spanish or Portuguese Closing Date: 1/23/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. 

The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance and global expertise for developing countries. WBG consists of five institutions that specialize in different aspects of development: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), which together form the World Bank: the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For additional information, please visit http://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 two Senior Counsel positions based at HQ in Washington, D.C. 
Selected candidates will work under the general supervision of the Deputy General Counsel. The Counsels 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 Senior Counsel will work under the general supervision of the Deputy General Counsel, with day-to-day guidance provided by one or more Counsels working in the same practice specialties.

Duties and Accountabilities:
The Senior Counsel will be expected to perform the following tasks:

• Serve as a lawyer in the Institutional Administration Practice Group, which provides legal advice and services throughout the World Bank Group, including for the Regional Vice Presidencies, the HR Vice Presidency, the ITS Vice Presidency, the Integrity Vice Presidency, the General Services Department, the ECR Vice Presidency, the Office of Ethics and Business Conduct; the Corporate Procurement Unit as well as to IFC, MIGA and ICSID regarding institutional administration areas.

• Be able to independently draft and revise pleadings and submissions to the Bank’s Administrative Tribunal.

• Work independently and effectively with tact and diplomacy to forge consensus on establishment agreements, both among World Bank Group entities and with government counterparts.

• Independently handle one or more of the various practice areas of the unit, including management of national court litigation and commercial arbitration, and corporate procurement contract review, in light of international organization immunities and status.

• Maintain good client relations through a demonstrated ability to resolve differences across boundaries, find common ground, and understand the needs and concerns not only of the World Bank as an institution but also of the various units within the Bank, as well as of third parties.

• Handle independently and professionally a diverse variety of other projects, as necessary, relating to transactions, policy issues, and miscellaneous matters coming to the unit, as requested by the Deputy General Counsel.

•  Perform ad hoc assignments as requested by the Deputy General Counsel.

There are two positions available under this posting.

Selection Criteria

• An LLM degree, J.D. or equivalent, with a minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction is required.

• Expertise or familiarity in public international law. 

• Legal transactional or litigation experience.

• Ability to work collaboratively, to build trust among peers and colleagues, to respond quickly and consistently to key issues.  

• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives.  

• High degree of persuasiveness and diplomacy to generate consensus, especially on divisive legal issues.  

• Language skills. Fluency in English, both written and oral, is required, with additional fluency in French, Spanish, and/or Portuguese desirable.

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 without close 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.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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.