Associate Legal Officer

Contract

This is a P-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 106,558 USD and 144,732 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

Coordinating with other vertical and horizontal WIPO sectors, the IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector (IES) is responsible for helping Member States develop their IP and innovation ecosystems to drive enterprise and economic growth. IES is also responsible for providing support for researchers and innovators, as well as enterprises, including SMEs, in IP commercialization and otherwise using IP for business growth; issues relating to the emergence of IP as an asset class; and the development of advisory expertise in these and related areas, for example, in national IP strategies.

Within IES, the position is located in the Information and External Relations Section of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, which is a resource center for the resolution of IP disputes between private parties through methods other than court litigation. The Center's areas of activity are covered by the IP Disputes and External Relations Division and the Internet Dispute Resolution Section. The IP Disputes and External Relations Division includes the IP Disputes Section, the Information and External Relations Section, and the Business Development Unit. The Information and External Relations Section is responsible for providing advice and resources on the Center’s alternative dispute resolution services, and supporting the Center’s outreach, policy development and implementation, reporting, infrastructure, and case administration.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent contributes to the planning and legal work of the Center, including contributing to the development of Center-supported dispute resolution policies tailored to local and regional needs and ensuring their implementation.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Information and External Relations Section, within the IP Disputes and External Relations Division, and is based in the Center's office in Geneva.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Promote the mediation, arbitration, and domain name services of the Center, including organizing and presenting online or in-person events.

b. Contribute to the administration of mediation, arbitration and expert determination cases filed with the Center.

c. Contribute to the development and promotion of new Center-supported alternative dispute resolution policies tailored to local and regional needs and implement such policies.

d. Facilitate preparation and update of the Center’s program and budget and annual workplans by: assessing programmatic and budgetary needs; preparing workplan and financial reports; monitoring implementation of workplan activities and cost- effective utilization of resources, including human resources; reviewing and analyzing open commitments; preparing expenditures forecasts; and proposing solutions to identified issues.

e. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in law.

Education (Desirable)

University degree including studies in international law.

Experience (Essential)

At least three years of relevant professional experience, including experience in intellectual property law or alternative dispute resolution in a law firm and/or department or agency.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

Language (Desirable)

Ability to work in other UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Broad understanding of intellectual property and alternative dispute resolution.

An understanding of the use of information technology in the context of dispute resolution processes.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Flexibility and team spirit. Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure. Ease and tact in personal contacts at all levels.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Competent user of databases, Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and the Internet, and ability to work with and adapt quickly to new technologies.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Good understanding of the procedures applicable to the work of the work unit.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

4. Valuing diversity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Information

Mobility: WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization. Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary****:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the August 2023 rate of 87.6 %

P2

Annual salary

$49,254

Post adjustment

$43,147

Total Salary

$92,401

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial period of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance. No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

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By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.