O’Brien New U.N. Legal Counsel

Patricia O’Brien, newly appointed to the post of Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and U.N. Legal Counsel, is the first woman to hold that office. O’Brien, who is Irish, has served the Irish government in a number of capacities, including Senior Legal Adviser to the Attorney General and Legal Adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Ms. O’Brien obtained a B.A. and an M.A. from Trinity College, Dublin, and she holds an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa. Sadly, though the U.N. press release announces (link above) this last fact, the Irish Times omits it, saying simply “Ms O’Brien was educated at Trinity College Dublin and the King’s Inns.”

[hat tip: Bill Dimitroff]