Legal Affairs Officer

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This is an external vacancy notice open to external candidates and WTO staff. It is posted on the WTO internal as well as external career site. Eligible WTO staff on short-term, fixed-term or regular contracts and interns must apply through the Workday internal career site.

This is a Fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension, unless specified in the vacancy notice.

The WTO seeks to attract and retain staff members offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity and to build an organization that is representative of the Members and People it serves. As an equal opportunity and inclusive employer, the WTO gives full regard to competence and welcome applications from qualified candidates irrespective of age, disability status, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, social origin or any other characteristic. Applications from non-represented Members (link) are particularly encouraged for all positions.

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Legal Affairs Officer– G7P – IPD

The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Legal Affairs Officer within the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Intellectual Property Group of the Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division.  The incumbent plays a key role at the centre of the WTO's work on the law and policy of intellectual property (IP) and in particular the administration and implementation of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.

The WTO's Intellectual Property, Government Procurement and Competition Division (IPD) undertakes administrative, diplomatic, legal and policy functions relating to the TRIPS Agreement and related IP and public policy issues, including coordination on trade and public health more widely, the Government Procurement Agreement and related issues of public procurement policy, and the relationship of competition policy with the multilateral trading system. It supports the WTO's Council for TRIPS and its Committee on Government Procurement.

IPD delivers technical assistance and capacity building programs and supports dispute settlement procedures in its areas of expertise.  It conducts analysis and research, and provides advice to senior management, on diverse legal and policy issues.  IPD coordinates the Secretariat's work on trade and health within the Secretariat and with partners such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).  The Division also undertakes outreach and dialogue with international and regional organisations, civil society and the private sector on issues under its responsibility.

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Under the supervision of the Director and other senior professional staff, the incumbent will have primary responsibility of focusing on the law of intellectual property, on the law of the WTO Agreement on TRIPS and related international conventions, and on legal, economic and policy issues concerning IP within the international trade system; the incumbent may also assist in selected aspects of competition policy and government procurement. Key accountabilities will include:

1.         Undertaking legal, economic and policy analysis and research, contributing to and drafting briefings, technical assistance materials, outreach and public information materials, and legal analysis in the field of IP and related fields, and especially concerning the TRIPS Agreement, its implementation in domestic legal systems and its linkages with multilateral trade law.  In particular, the incumbent will

• contribute to legal and policy analysis of the TRIPS Agreement and its domestic implementation;

• track developments in the domestic implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, including through the flow of Members' notifications and reports;

• contribute to research and analysis on the interplay between the economic dimension of intellectual property, legal aspects of IP law, and the law and economics of international trade;

• contribute to the development of systematic institutional information resources on the law of TRIPS and the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement in WTO Members' laws and legal systems; and

• provide technical and analytical support, as required, on other trade policy issues addressed by the Division and their interaction with cross-cutting issues such as public health, development and the environment.

2.         Under the supervision of more senior professionals, providing, when and as required, specialist legal analysis and background research for dispute settlement panels dealing with the TRIPS Agreement.

3.         Contributing to the substantive, diplomatic and procedural aspects of the preparation, conduct and follow-up of official meetings, including those of the Regular and Special Sessions of the WTO Council for TRIPS.

4.         Contributing to the processing, collation, improved management, and analysis of notifications and reports under the TRIPS Agreement of IP legislation and related measures, and other monitoring and trade policy information in the area of IP, including trade policy reviews, and in upgrading and improving usability of related information bases, notification gateways for Members, and related information tools managed by the Division, in particular playing a central role in the management and development of the eTRIPS platform.

5.         Contributing to, and developing, tailored, empirically based studies and training materials for technical assistance and training missions in relation to the TRIPS Agreement and the field of IP law and policy, including the enhanced use of WTO notification and review materials and on-line resources; participating in seminars, symposia, workshops and intergovernmental meetings on related topics both inside and outside the Organization as required.

6.         Under the supervision of more senior professionals, providing advice and information on IP and TRIPS Agreement matters to WTO Member delegations, Secretariat colleagues, WTO senior management and other intergovernmental organizations; responding to requests from both within and outside the Secretariat for advice and assistance on the law, economics and policy of intellectual property matters.

7.         Assisting with responses to requests by members of the public for information, and assisting in the on-going maintenance and upgrading of the WTO website in the area of TRIPS.

8.         Deepening expertise in technical subject-matter relating to the work of the Division, with a strong concentration on the legal, economic and policy dimensions of intellectual property, based on a thorough understanding of the law.

9.         Providing support to the Division's outreach activities, through preparing presentations, briefings and various forms of written materials.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree (or basic university degree combined with professional qualifications equivalent to an advanced university degree) in law with a specialization in intellectual property law, including its international and domestic dimensions, with preference for a published record of research experience and knowledge of economics related to intellectual property. Familiarity with the law, policy and institutional context of international trade and familiarity with the multilateral system are also desirable.

Knowledge and skills:

Technical knowledge and skills:

Evidence of a wide-ranging interest in and knowledge of the legal, economic and policy dimension of intellectual property and its relationship with international trade and development; 

Demonstrated capacity to undertake analytical research of a high standard suitable for publication; and a proven ability to write well, accurately and clearly, including on technical subjects for a non-technical audience and in the preparation of speaking notes, reports, and internal and external communications.

Detailed knowledge of the legal principles of the intellectual property system and the multilateral trade law system, and in particular an expert understanding of the TRIPS Agreement and other international intellectual property instruments.

Practical experience servicing or otherwise directly participating in WTO negotiations or Committees, or similar international or diplomatic processes, would be an asset.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (including EXCEL) and facility in working with on-line publications and databases.

Behavioural skills:

Ability to persuade others to a point of view using facts; ability to present technical facts both to specialized and general audiences; capacity to face and cope with conflict situations with colleagues in a multicultural context; ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, respectful of and responsive relating to others, while working independently to achieve individual objectives; ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues; and capacity for tact and effective oral communication in a multicultural and international setting.

Excellent organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail; ability to manage time efficiently, to prioritize and manage multiple assignments subject to strict deadlines, while working under pressure.

Ability to exercise initiative and judgement within established guidelines.

Work experience:

A minimum of three years' relevant professional experience in the law, economics and/or policy of intellectual property, with a preference for experience in an international trade or related multilateral setting, and with a preference for at least some exposure to the practice of law in this field.

Languages:

Excellent command of English, both oral and written. Good working knowledge of one or both of the other WTO working languages (French and Spanish) would be highly desirable.

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Additional Information:

Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted. 

The recruitment process will be undertaken as per Administrative Memorandum No. 976 (OFFICE(16)/15) on Staff Promotions and external recruitment through Vacancy Notices.

The initial fixed-term contract for positions up to grade 10 shall normally be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy. For Director positions, the Policy on evaluation of directors apply as per Administrative Memorandum No. 978 (OFFICE(17)/29).

The WTO may use various communication technologies such as video or teleconference for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. The recruitment process may also involve the use of various forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference checks. 

Applicants may be required to sit a written examination. 

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview. 

Candidates not selected whose performance in the selection process nevertheless shows them to be suitable for a similar position may be kept on a roster for up to 24 months, and may subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the closing date – Geneva (Switzerland) time – stated in the vacancy announcement. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 

The WTO is a non-smoking environment.