Legal Officer

Overview

Provide legal advice on international trademark issues

You have:

• First-level university degree in law.
• Advanced university degree with a specialization in IP or international public law.
• At least six years of relevant professional experience in the field of trademark law, including experience in the field of industrial design and geographical indication law, at the international level.
• Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English and French.
• Good written and spoken knowledge of Spanish.
• Good knowledge of legal and policy issues in trademark, industrial design and geographical indication law and the respective international treaties.
• Ability to draft complex legal texts.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research.
• Ability to communicate legal subject matter to a diverse audience and to formulate opinions on legal questions.
• Knowledge of project management methodology and best practices.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and 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 ability to adapt quickly to new software.

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 139,444 USD and 182,591 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 Policy and Legislative Advice Section of the Department for Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, Brands and Designs Sector. This Section is responsible for (1 ) facilitating international normative outcomes for trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications at all levels of the normative hierarchy, (2) advising Member States in the development of balanced legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks in the areas concerned, (3) providing support to Member States in creating an enabling environment for the development and practical use of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications in accordance with their socio-economic objectives, and (4) administering the procedures under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.

2. Purpose Statement

The incumbent will work in a team that facilitates normative outcomes for the international law of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications at all levels of the normative hierarchy, including new international treaties, the amendment and updating of existing international agreements and soft law instruments, and which advises Member States in the development of balanced legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks in that area. The main role of the incumbent will be to administer the procedures under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, provide legal advice to Member States on issues related to Article 6ter procedures, as well as on general issues related to trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications, and facilitate secretariat services to the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT).

3. Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Head of the Policy and Legislative Advice Section.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Provide advice to Member States and International Intergovernmental Organizations on Article 6ter procedures, based on established practice and guidelines.

b. Administer the activities related to the procedures under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property autonomously, including the business analysis for the development and maintenance of appropriate IT tools.

c. Draft legal advice to Member States and other stakeholders in the fields of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

d. Prepare working documents for WIPO's relevant committees and bodies in the fields of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

e. Carry out research and prepare background papers and reports dealing with matters falling within the competence of the Section.

f. Coordinate the development of projects in the fields of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications. Organize seminars, workshops and training courses, in liaison with other work units in the Organization, and deliver presentations in those activities.

g. Reply to general correspondence and inquiries and provide advice on general legal questions concerning the law of trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.

h. Represent the Organization at meetings convened by Member States and other stakeholders.

i. Perform other related duties as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in law.

Education (Desirable)

Advanced university degree with a specialization in IP or international public law.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant professional experience in the field of trademark law, including experience in the field of industrial design and geographical indication law, at the international level.

Language (Essential)

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English and French.

Language (Desirable)

Good written and spoken knowledge of Spanish.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Good knowledge of legal and policy issues in trademark, industrial design and geographical indication law and the respective international treaties.

Ability to draft complex legal texts.

Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research.

Ability to communicate legal subject matter to a diverse audience and to formulate opinions on legal questions.

Knowledge of project management methodology and best practices.

Excellent organizational skills.

Excellent communication and 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 ability to 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 July 2022 rate of 73.5%

P3

Annual salary

$62,692

Post adjustment

$46,079

Total Salary

$108,771

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.

Potential interview questions