Job: Dispute Settlement Lawyer

Location: Geneva 
Deadline: Tuesday, 15 October 2013 

Description

The recruitment policy of the WTO is to seek to attract and retain staff members offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the WTO gives full regard to merit and diversity.

Vacancy Notice No.: EXT/F/13-26

Title:Dispute Settlement Lawyer

Grade:9

Contract Type: Fixed-term

Starting Salary:CHF 134,940 net per annum (approximate)

Issued On: 17 September 2013

Application Deadline (CET):15 October 2013

Division:Legal Affairs

Duration: Two years with the possibility of extension

Other

Conditions:

In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and WTO Pension Plan Regulations.

The World Trade Organization offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, separation grant and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, installation grant, education grant, rental subsidy and home leave. Additional information on the compensation package is provided on the WTO website: The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Dispute Settlement Lawyer in the Legal Affairs Division. Serving staff members interested in the position are also invited to apply.

General Functions

1. Deliver substantive legal advice and assistance to adjudicators and other lawyers and serve as team leader in less complex disputes or co-lead in complex disputes.

2. Conduct or direct research on complex legal issues, prepare or guide the preparation of analyses of difficult legal issues in the context of disputes, and prepare or direct the preparation of legal opinions on complex and/or novel issues.

3. Deliver advice and assistance to chairpersons of WTO bodies and negotiating groups, other WTO Divisions, the Director-General and WTO Members as appropriate, on some occasions under the supervision of more senior lawyers.

4. Deliver technical assistance and training on the WTO agreements and dispute settlement practices and procedures and make presentations in academic conferences and other settings. Contribute to the development of training material.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Advanced university degree in law including studies in international trade law and public international law. Studies in economics is an advantage; licence or eligibility to be licensed to practice law in at least one municipal jurisdiction is an advantage.

Knowledge and skills:

• Thorough knowledge and appreciation of international, legal and economic principles and issues, adjudicative process and practice, including relating to WTO jurisprudence.
• Excellent legal, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• legal drafting skills of a very high standard and ability to provide constructive feedback on others' drafts;
• presentation of thoughts in a logical, succinct, articulate and persuasive manner, both orally and in written form.
• Ability to conduct advanced legal research as well as analyze and synthesize often highly technical and complex information of a legal, factual and/or economic nature while working under tight deadlines;
• to effectively supervise a dispute settlement team working under tight deadlines, manage aspects of the dispute settlement process including time management as well as prioritization of tasks of a team; and to revise drafts to reflect various views in a coherent manner.The following interpersonal capabilities are required:
• to act as a co-operative and effective member of a team that works under severe time pressure and resource constraints and that must produce a coherent group product; to effectively direct or co-direct the work of a team and guide team members in carrying out assignments by providing constructive feedback and advice;
• to develop and maintain relationships and forge consensus with colleagues, adjudicators and others both inside and outside the WTO, including representatives of Members;
• to persuade through sound argumentation and advice;
• to adhere to and ensure adherence by team members and adjudicators to set rules of conduct, ensuring confidentiality, impartiality and an absence of conflicts of interest; and to apply tact and discretion.

Work Experience:

At least eight years' relevant working experience as a lawyer, preferably with a mixture of private/public/academic sector work. Experience in supervising others in teams.

Languages:

Excellent command of written and spoken English and adequate skills in French or Spanish.

Additional Information:

The position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the required qualifications.Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted._____________OFFICE(13)/44

APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION

APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW.

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WTO to store your profile in a permanent database.

Please visit WTO's E-Recruitment website at: . The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the

closing date - Central European Time (CET) - 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

More info and Application