Dispute Settlement Lawyer

VN Category (INT / EXT / EOI):

Job Category:

This is an external vacancy notice open to external candidates and WTO staff. It is posted on the WTO internal as well as external career site. Eligible WTO staff on short-term, fixed-term or regular contracts and interns must apply through the Workday internal career site.

This is a Fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension, unless specified in the vacancy notice.

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.

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The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Dispute Settlement Lawyer in the Rules Division.

The Rules Division is responsible for all aspects of WTO work, legal and technical, in the areas of trade remedies (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures), subsidies, Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS), civil aircraft, and state trading enterprises. The Rules Division facilitates and actively assists in negotiations, consultations and monitoring tasks, provides legal and other assistance to dispute settlement panels considering disputes, and provides implementation assistance, counselling and expert advice to WTO Members, in each of these areas.

General Functions

1.         Under the supervision of senior lawyers, deliver substantive legal advice and assistance to dispute settlement adjudicators.

2.         Under the supervision of senior lawyers, conduct research on complex substantive legal and technical as well as procedural issues arising in the context of dispute settlement proceedings. Prepare written analyses of these and related issues as required.

3.         Under the supervision of senior staff, deliver legal advice and assistance to chairpersons of WTO bodies and negotiating groups, other WTO Divisions, the Director-General and WTO Members on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility.

4.         Under the supervision of senior staff, deliver technical assistance and training on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility. Contribute to the development of training materials, internal research materials, and WTO publications.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

An advanced university degree in law, including studies in international trade law and public international law. Studies in international economics would be an advantage, as would a licence or eligibility to be licensed to practice law in at least one municipal jurisdiction.

Knowledge and Skills:

Technical knowledge and skills:

Knowledge of international trade law and familiarity with international legal and economic principles and issues; familiarity with adjudicative processes and practice, particularly those of the WTO.

Knowledge of the WTO Agreements and some familiarity with WTO jurisprudence is desirable. Knowledge of the specific WTO Agreements within the Division's areas of responsibility would be an advantage, as would knowledge of national practices in trade remedies investigations.

Excellent research, drafting and analytical skills and the ability to pay close attention to detail. The ability to present thoughts in a logical, succinct, and coherent manner, both orally and in written form. The ability to familiarize oneself quickly and work with voluminous documentary records, and to extract therefrom and analyse information that is often of highly technical, complex, and/or economic nature; and the ability to produce legal research and contribute to a coherent team product under very high time pressure.

Behavioural knowledge and skills:

Highly developed tact and discretion and the ability to adhere rigorously to set rules of conduct ensuring confidentiality, impartiality and an absence of conflicts of interest.

Ability to work independently as well as cooperate with others in a diverse international setting as a member of a team that works under severe time pressure and resource constraints and must produce a coherent group product; to persuade others through sound argumentation and advice while remaining flexible and open to different points of view and evolving approaches; to meet strict deadlines within a dynamic work environment; to develop and maintain collegial, respectful and professional relationships with colleagues and adjudicators and, as appropriate, with others both inside and outside the WTO, including representatives of Members. 

Work Experience:

At least three years relevant practical work experience as a lawyer, preferably including government or private sector experience in national or international trade-related litigation and/or within international or national courts or adjudicative bodies or quasi-judicial agencies of Members.  Experience in trade remedy investigations would be an asset.

Languages:

Excellent English, including a demonstrated ability to write accurately, concisely, clearly and within tight deadlines. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.

English language is required at a level corresponding or equivalent to a minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)). Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on their language skills as part of the selection process and may be asked to provide proof of their language skills under a recognized framework (e.g. CEFR, IELTS, UN Language Proficiency Exam, etc.).

Additional Information:
 
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted. 

The recruitment process will be undertaken as per Administrative Memorandum No. 976 (OFFICE(16)/15) on Staff Promotions and external recruitment through Vacancy Notices.

For non-entry level positions, the position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the required qualifications. 

The initial fixed-term contract shall be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy.

The WTO may use various communication technologies such as video or teleconference for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. The recruitment process may also involve the use of various forms of testing, assessment centres, interviews and reference checks. 

Applicants may be required to sit a written examination. 

Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview. 

Candidates not selected whose performance in the selection process nevertheless shows them to be suitable for a similar position may be kept on a roster for up to 24 months, and may subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional resources.

All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the closing date – Geneva (Switzerland) time – stated in the vacancy announcement. 
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 
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