Senior Legal Officer

Overview

Provide legal opinions and assistance on PCT matters and engage with users.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in law.
• At least seven years of relevant professional experience in the field of patents.
• Preferably at least five years of practical experience with the PCT.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Good knowledge of any other additional PCT publication language.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated client orientation and ability to engage with customers.

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 169,932 USD and 219,092 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

The post is in the PCT Legal and User Support Section, PCT Legal and User Relations Division, PCT Legal and International Affairs Department, Patents and Technology Sector. The PCT Legal and User Support Section provides legal advice on PCT matters to users of the PCT system (in particular applicants, their agents and the PCT Contracting States), implements changes to the PCT Regulations and other changes within the PCT system and reaches out to PCT users and potential PCT users through various training, capacity building and customer support and engagement activities.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent’s main role is to provide legal opinions and assistance to users of the PCT system, to interpret legal provisions of the PCT, to provide legal drafts in relation to implementing improvements of the PCT legal framework and to reach out, engage with current and potential users to maximize the use of the PCT patent system across the IP ecosystem.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Deputy Director and Head of the Section.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Provide information, legal and strategic advice and assistance to PCT applicants and agents, PCT Contracting States, industrial property Offices and PCT Authorities, on the legal functioning of the PCT.

b. Provide guidance to applicants and their representatives in resolving legal issues encountered with individual applications and pro-actively help applicants avoid making mistakes when using the PCT system.

c. Proactively reach out to current and potential users and engage with them for increased awareness of the use and benefits of the PCT system, and for the increased and sustained filing of PCT applications.

d. Design training materials, prepare and give training courses, seminars and information meetings for users and potential users of the PCT, and provide internal training for WIPO staff members.

e. Perform legal work connected with improvements of the PCT system, including, in particular, the preparation and implementation of amendments to the Regulations, the Administrative Instructions and the Guidelines under the PCT.

f. Propose legal policy and practice changes to further improve the functioning of the PCT system.

g. Prepare and update informative material on the PCT.

h. Prepare studies, documents and meetings concerning the PCT, representing WIPO at such meetings, and preparing their reports.

i. Advise national and regional patent offices on preparations for accession and implementation of the PCT into national law, working closely with the International Cooperation Division.

j. Develop and maintain close relations with stakeholders in target countries and identify opportunities to strengthen cooperation and add value.

k. Foster a culture of providing high-quality customer-focused services by identifying varying customer needs, recommending best practices which can improve customer engagement with the PCT system, and, proactively addressing potential issues before they impact the customer experience.

l. Provide information, legal and procedural advice and assistance to the PCT User Resources Section, PCT Business Development Division, PCT Operations Division and other parts of WIPO on PCT matters.

m. Perform other related duties, as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in law. A first-level university degree in law plus two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

Specialization in patent law.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of relevant professional experience in the field of patents, either in the private sector, a national or regional patent office or an international organization. Detailed knowledge of and significant practical experience, preferably at least five years, with the PCT.

Knowledge of and practical experience, preferably at least five years, with the PCT.

Experience (Desirable)

Track record of engagement with customers/users, including outreach and continued engagement.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of any other additional PCT publication language.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

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.

Excellent analytical and presentation skills.

Confident public speaker.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Ability to leverage technology to find efficiency gains to offer high-quality service of the work.

Demonstrated client orientation and ability to engage with customers.

Ability to work cross-sectorally to achieve expected outcomes.

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 March 2025 rate of 73****.6%

P4

Annual salary

$77,326

Post adjustment

$56,912

Total Salary

$134,238

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 your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here: http://www.whed.net/. Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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