Legal Counsel to the President

POSITION TITLE:

Legal Counsel to the President

LOCATION:

Office of the President, Republic of Palau

P.O. Box 6051

Koror, Republic of Palau 96940

ORGANIZATION:

The Office of the President is ultimately responsible for the functions of the Executive Branch of the National Government. Areas of responsibility include public policy, national security and foreign relations, law enforcement, environmental protection, food and energy security, healthcare, education, communications, budgeting and finance, economic development, infrastructure, and housing.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Office of the President of the Republic of Palau is seeking a qualified legal counsel to advise and assist the President with domestic and international legal issues. The President’s legal counsel is expected to work with a wide variety of stakeholders and organizations, and to perform all legal work necessary to accomplish the President's priorities, goals, and objectives. Travel to meetings and conferences outside of Palau may be required.

SALARY & BENEFITS:

The Legal Counsel’s salary is commensurate with experience and competitive with other national government attorney positions in Palau. It includes funding sufficient for centrally located housing. Palau offers Universal Healthcare and a Medical Savings Account Plan that can be used at the hospital, private clinics, and for specialty services like dental and eye care. Palau also offers generous annual and sick leave beyond that offered by most US-based legal employers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must possess a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and be admitted to, and in good standing with, the bar of a United States jurisdiction or the Bar of the Republic of Palau. Applicant should have 3 or more years of legal experience. Palauan applicants preferred.

This position requires:

• A strong work ethic and dedication to the mission and objectives of public service;
• Flexibility and the ability to adapt to rapidly-changing circumstances and unpredictable events;
• The ability to perform under pressure;
• Excellent research and writing skills;
• A desire to learn about and engage with a new culture and way of life;
• The ability to learn quickly; and
• The ability to adapt to life in a small and very isolated developing country.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

Prior experience as general or in-house counsel, prior experience managing a broad legal portfolio, or prior experience working or living in a developing country is strongly preferred.

ABOUT PALAU:

Set in the Micronesian region of the western Pacific Ocean, Palau is an independent country of approximately 20,000 people. Although the country’s land mass is spread out over several hundred islands, the vast majority of people live in Palau's main city, Koror, and on the neighboring island of Babeldaob. Palau’s most significant assets are its unspoiled natural environment and community-oriented people. In addition to the Rock Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, beautiful ocean water, and pristine beaches, Palau boasts some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving sites in the world.

Palau is a young, stable, and democratic country. Although it is sovereign, Palau has a special relationship with the United States through a Compact of Free Association. This compact guarantees the rights of United States citizens to freely enter Palau and obligates the United States to provide for Palau's national security. Palau’s close relationship with the United States is also reflected in the nation’s use of English as a national language and the U.S. dollar as its official currency. Presently, tourism is Palau’s primary economic industry. In 2019, Palau welcomed a little under 100,000 tourists; given its location, the make-up of Palau’s tourists is dominated by Asian countries, particularly Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China.