Legal Officer

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 137,951 USD and 180,636 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

1. Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Madrid Legal Division of the Madrid Registry, Brands and Designs Sector.

The Madrid Legal Division is responsible for fostering accessions to the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks and for providing legal advice in relation thereto, as well as providing legal information and advice to the Offices of Contracting Parties, to users and to the International Bureau. The Madrid Legal Division is also responsible for the development of the legal framework of the Madrid System to ensure that it better meets the requirements of Offices and users.

2. Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to (i) support prospective and current Contracting Parties in the correct implementation of the Madrid System by providing information and organizing and delivering technical assistance and capacity building activities; and, (ii) ensure the compliance of the Madrid Registry with the Madrid System legal framework by planning and coordinating the implementation of new or amended provisions, as well as by collaborating in the review or development of business solutions, policies, procedures and practices.

3. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Senior Legal Counsellor of the Madrid Legal Division.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Formulate legal advice and prepare information concerning accession to the Madrid Protocol and on its functioning and use for government officials in prospective Contracting Parties, in particular for those in the Latin America and Gulf regions.

b. Plan, organize and deliver capacity building and technical assistance activities on the implementation and functioning of the Madrid System in current and prospective Contracting Parties, in particular in the above mentioned regions, in coordination with the relevant areas of the Organization.

c. Plan and coordinate the implementation of new or amended provisions of the Madrid System legal framework to ensure compliance with the Madrid System legal framework, in cooperation with other areas of the Madrid Registry.

d. Collaborate in the review of existing or in the development of new policies, procedures, practices and business solutions of the Madrid Registry to ensure compliance with the Madrid System legal framework.

e. Draft and provide input to legal instruments, revisions to legal instruments and to other legal documents related to the Madrid System.

f. Draft and provide input to sensitive documents and documents for the Working Group, the Madrid Union Assembly and other Madrid System meetings.

g. Participate in the Madrid Working Group, the Madrid Union Assembly and other Madrid meetings as part of the Secretariat.

h. Reply to general correspondence and handle inquiries and customer complaints concerning complex or contentious issues requiring an in depth critical review of the Madrid System legal framework and of the established procedures.

i. Participate in internal and external capacity building and information meetings; prepare and deliver training and presentations.

j. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in law or a first-level university degree plus an advanced university degree in law.

Education (Desirable)

Advanced university degree in law, including studies in intellectual property law.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant professional work experience, including in the area of international trademark law.

Experience (Desirable)

Project management experience, including experience in planning and coordinating the implementation of legal provisions.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Spanish, including the ability to draft legal provisions and documents.

Language (Desirable)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken French.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Deep knowledge and understanding of the international trademark system and of its procedures.

Ability to design and conduct research and analyze defined aspects of legal issues, including the ability to examine legal provisions and determine the operational and practical implications of their implementation.

Excellent project, organizational and time management skills.

Excellent communication skills, in particular, ability to draft legal provisions and documents and to present complex legal concepts clearly and logically in written and oral form.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and the Internet, and ability to learn and adapt quickly to new software.

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 June 2022 rate of 71.4%

P3

Annual salary

$62,692

Post adjustment

$44,762

Total Salary

$107,454

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.