<i>‘Jan Wouters’ ambitious project has yielded the most comprehensive work to date that documents firsthand insights of legal advisers into this increasingly important domain of international law.’</i>
- Malcolm Jorgensen, Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht (ZaöRV),
<i>‘A must-have reference source for truly understanding the challenges and rewards of functioning as a lawyer in an intergovernmental international organization. Drawing on the experiences of lawyers functioning in diverse global and regional organizations, ranging from the UN/WHO/WB to the EU/OSCE and NATO, the reader gains a remarkable sense of how a lawyer’s skills can be used in the context of a particular organization. The stresses and strains of advocating for and achieving consistency, predictability, clarity and precision – a lawyer’s “bread and butter” – within the framework of varied international organizations present fascinating lessons for those interested in learning how the “rule of law” is pursued and maintained in these important organizations.’</i>
- Larry D. Johnson, former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs,
Analysing the effects of internal and external factors on the work of advisers, including organizational specificity, political influences, and institutional position, this book identifies and examines common legal practices across organizations. Chapters discuss case studies of legal advisers working at various global organizations, including the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, the World Health Organization and the World Bank Group, as well as regional and cross-regional organizations such as NATO and the European Space Agency. Contributors emphasise the importance of collegiality and networking between legal advisers and analyse the differences in the delivery of legal services within both governmental and private contexts.
Presenting a broad perspective on the work of legal advisers at international organizations, this book will be vital reading for students, scholars, and practitioners of global governance, international law and political science. It will also be beneficial to legal advisers working for international organizations, lawyers, politicians and sociologists.