For the latest in our series profiling Irish and Northern Irish lawyers working in countries around the world, we spoke with Stephen Walsh about his past work in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and his current role at the world's largest regional security organization, the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Stephen Walsh, Head of the Office of Legal Affairs at the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
"At the risk of sounding clichéd, I hope that in my very small way, I can play a part in facilitating the promotion of peaceful resolution of disputes between states and the promotion of the international order."
Hi Stephen, thanks for agreeing to speak with us today. To start, could you please give your full name and title?
My name is Stephen Walsh, and I'm the Head of the Office of Legal Affairs at the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Can you tell us about who you are and what you do?
I am qualified as a solicitor but have worked internationally for almost 15 years. I am currently working as the Head of the Office of Legal Affairs at the Secretariat of the OSCE, based in Vienna. The OSCE is the world's largest regional security organisation, working for stability, peace, and democracy through political dialogue based on the principles and commitments in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and through practical project work in certain countries of operation. Ireland is one of its 57 participating States but I work directly for the Organization as an international civil servant.
Can you describe your training for us?
I was fortunate to receive my solicitor training at Mason Hayes & Curran, an excellent full-service firm where I got a firm grounding in providing legal advice in a client-centred manner. Although the type of work I have done since is rather different from the commercial sphere covered by Mason Hayes & Curran, a disciplined approach required at a commercial firm has stood me very well in all posts I have held since then. In fact, I encourage all budding international lawyers to consider getting a similar grounding in the commercial world before embarking on public international work.
My studies in Ireland were predominantly in the legal field as I attained the LL.B. in Law and European Studies at the University of Limerick and followed that with an LL.M. in European Law at University College Dublin.
Accompanying visit of the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE to Kyiv, October 2023
Why did you become interested in legal work?
I wish I could remember but whatever the reason was I am very glad that I pursued such work.
What do you hope to achieve from the work you are doing?
At the risk of sounding clichéd, I hope that in my very small way, I can play a part in facilitating the promotion of peaceful resolution of disputes between states and the promotion of the international order. With rising tensions between states, I still believe in the beneficial role of multilateral organisations to help lessen such tensions.
You worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina – what did you do there?
Yes, over 10 years ago I worked for the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a representative body of judges and prosecutors with a mandate to select people for the judiciary and to promote judicial independence. Many deep judicial reforms had been made in the period when Paddy Ashdown was the UN-appointed High Representative in B&H but as political pressure remained, the role was more in attempting to preserve the existing reforms from being rolled back than in instigating new ones.
As it happens, I was back in Bosnia last year, not in my OSCE capacity but as a member of an international team assessing the current level of independence and accountability of the High Judicial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on assessment against relevant international standards.
"With rising tensions between states, I still believe in the beneficial role of multilateral organisations to help lessen such tensions."
Attending the signing ceremony for the Host Country Agreement for the OSCE with Austria
You also spent time working in Kosovo. Can you tell us about your work and experiences there?
I first started working for the OSCE in Kosovo back in 2013. I was a lawyer for what was then the OSCE’s largest field mission. The OSCE had a special mandate derived from a UN Security Council resolution to assist in building up the capacity of the civic institutions there. The work was fascinating as Kosovo is one of the world’s most interesting legal jurisdictions with the question of its very status still a disputed topic.
My first international experience was actually in Kosovo, back in 2009 when I was an intern in the Legal Unit of the International Civilian Office, an international organisation that helped to implement the Ahtisaari Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement.
Could you tell us a little bit more about your current work in Vienna?
The OSCE has its headquarters in Vienna and I have been for some years now serving as the Head of its Office of Legal Affairs. In effect, I serve as general counsel for the Organization. I advise the Secretary-General, the participating State that is holding the annual Chair of the OSCE and heads of the OSCE institutions and field missions on all aspects of substantive and procedural matters affecting the implementation of their respective mandates.
The work is very diverse and includes interpretation of the Organization’s founding documents, advising on the Rules of Procedure for the Organization’s decision-making bodies, advising on privileges and immunities for the officials of the Organization in its many countries of operations, and complex contractual matters for the Organization’s field operations. The work, particularly in the current political climate of inter-state tension, is terribly demanding but always engaging.
The main focus of my work in recent times has of course been the war against Ukraine. I was involved in advising on the OSCE Secretary General’s use of the “early warning” mechanism to the participating States of rising tension in advance of Russia’s full-scale attack and on the evacuation of the OSCE’s Missions from Ukraine. I have been involved in advising on how the OSCE can maintain a practical presence in Ukraine during the war.
The OSCE has observer status at the Council of Europe’s Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI), where Ireland is represented by the Legal Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs Ireland, and I partake in the CAHDI’s interesting work.
Attending the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council at Skopje, North Macedonia, December 2023
Why did you decide to work abroad?
I have always had a keen interest in international affairs and it’s good to pursue one’s passion. Once abroad, I think it is fair to say that I got the bug and have been very happy working internationally ever since.
What sort of an impact would you like to make?
A lawyer plays but a supportive role in political organisations so one’s impact is modest. Moreover, unfortunately, the political environment in recent years has been such that it has been a period of drastic attempts to preserve respect for international law rather than making the progress one would like to see. I remain optimistic however that when matters settle down in Ukraine, as they eventually must, a rejuvenated period of engagement in making international law more effective at preserving peace will occur – I would very much wish to play some very small part in that.
Any advice to young people entering the legal profession?
Leave now, unless you are willing to work very hard! And if you are, it can be a very rewarding profession to be in as it allows you to help out many people through the provision of legal advice.
Anything else that you would like to add?
It is great to see the interest that the legal community in Ireland is taking with Irish Rule of Law International to promote legal standards – that can often be taken for granted in Ireland – in other parts of the world. Keep up the good work!
Please note: All responses are those of Stephen Walsh and do not necessarily reflect the positions of his previous or current employer.
Read more about the work of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).