Senior Legal Officer

 

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.

 

 

a.      Organizational Setting

 

The post is located in the Patent Law Section of the Patent Law Division, Patents and Technology Sector.  This Division is responsible for the implementation of WIPO's strategic goals concerning the balanced evolution of the international normative framework for intellectual property in the area of patents, utility models, undisclosed information/trade secrets and layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits (hereafter referred as "patent law").  The Patent Law Section is responsible for the progressive development of international normative frameworks for patents and other related rights.  It includes, among others, the administration, promotion and implementation of three patent law-related treaties (the Paris Convention, the Budapest Treaty (BT) and the Patent Law Treaty (PLT)) and the organization of WIPO meetings dealing with the above patent-related areas.

 

b.      Purpose Statement

 

The main role of the incumbent is to conduct fundamental legal research and analyses on various legal issues related to patents, utility models, trade secrets and layout designs of integrated circuits, provide secretariat services to the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) and administers the network of International Depositary Authorities (IDAs) under the BT.

 

c.      Reporting Lines

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Patent Law Section.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.   Provide legal opinions and advice to Members States and users regarding international treaties administered by WIPO in the field of patent law, namely the Paris Convention and the Patent Law Treaty (PLT).

 

b.   Undertake fundamental research and prepare working documents for the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) and other bodies and review translations of such documents.

 

c.   Provide legal opinions and advice to Member States and other stakeholders on procedural and substantive legal questions concerning the Budapest Treaty.

 

d.   Provide and coordinate the Secretariat services to the IDAs and Member States.

 

e.   Draft and provide input to guides, legal opinions and other documents pertaining to the functions and activities of the work unit.

 

f.    Coordinate and undertake research on specific topics concerning the law of patents, utility models, undisclosed information/trade secrets and layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits; analyze and present results and prepare related studies and reports.

 

g.   Coordinate and participate in internal and external training and awareness-raising activities, seminars and workshops; this includes organizing those meetings and delivering training and presentations.

 

h.   Coordinate and participate in conferences and meetings organized by Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations; this includes provision of legal advice and assistance with respect to the law of patents, utility models, undisclosed information/trade secrets and layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits.

 

i.    Perform other related duties as required.

 

 

 

Education

Essential

Advanced university degree in intellectual property law.  A first-level university degree in law or related disciplines, plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the years of experience requested below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

 

Desirable

Specialization in intellectual property law.

 

Experience

Essential

At least seven years of relevant professional legal experience in the field of intellectual property in the public or private sector, with specific experience in the field of patents.

 

Experience with legal research projects in the field of patent law.

 

Desirable

Relevant professional experience at the international level.

 

Relevant professional experience in the fields of utility models, undisclosed information/trade secrets and layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits.

 

Language

Essential

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and good knowledge of one other official UN language.

 

Desirable

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

 

Job Related Competencies

Essential

 

Ability to analyze legal questions and draft legal texts.

Sound knowledge of applicable legal principles of industrial property law.

Ability to conduct research independently and present results in a clear and logical form.

Excellent time management and work organization 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 internet, and the ability to adapt quickly to new software.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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.  The post adjustment (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change without notice in accordance with the rates as set within the UN Common System for salaries and allowances.  The figures quoted below are based on the May 2019 rate of 67.0%

 

P4
Annual salary	$72,637
Post adjustment	$48,667
Total Salary	$121,304
Currency USD

 

 

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.