Paralegal

Job content

Grade

Grade 5

Contract Type

Fixed-term

Annual Salary

CHF71925

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.

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.

The Rules Division is looking for a Grade 5 staff member to work as Paralegal.

It is a fixed-term contract funded through the regular budget. The duration will be two years with the possibility of extension.

General Functions

The main role of the paralegal is to assist with dispute settlement activities. In particular, under the supervision of more senior staff, the incumbent will:

• Support dispute settlement panel proceedings, including by: organizing information from submissions and exhibits; drafting summaries of facts and data; preparing communications; compiling information in various formats, including spreadsheets, charts, and tables; preparing summary records of internal meetings with panelists, technical editing of documents prepared by more senior stafffor style, grammar and formatting, and verifying quotations, legal references and footnote citations; and attending various meetings and hearings and taking notes.
• Prepare routine dispute settlement documents following established precedents and guidelines; assist all dispute settlement professional and support staff in the Division in ensuring that dispute settlement documents conform to the Legal Affairs and Rules Divisions’ Editorial Guide and the WTO Formatting Guide. Provide technical assistance to the Division on drafting and data management softwares.
• Support more senior staff and the Director in the panel composition process, including: drafting communications to the parties, preparing speaking notes and minutes for meetings, updating different status lists and candidates lists, updating and improving the information of the panellists candidates’ database for both the Rules and the Legal Affairs Divisions, and preparing drafts for DG memos and panel composition documents.
• Collaborate closely with counterpart dispute settlement staff in the Legal Affairs Division, including the DS Registrar, paralegals and others, inter alia in respect of the maintenance and operation of the e-filing system and digital registry.
• Develop and maintain good knowledge of the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Rules of Conduct for the DSU, the relevant Working Procedures, Editorial and Formatting Guides, as well as other sources and tools used in WTO dispute settlement.
• Undertake other tasks as may be assigned in support of the Division’s dispute settlement activities.
  
  

Education

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Completion of secondary school or equivalent technical or commercial school; specialized training or proven expertise developed through relevant experience working as a paralegal, registrar, or functional equivalent, managing information and preferably legal information, is required. Further education or certification in paralegal or related studies will be an advantage.

Technical Knowledge And Skills

Knowledge and Skills:

General knowledge of the WTO; basic knowledge of WTO dispute settlement procedures.

Excellent knowledge of standard office software applications (including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat). Knowledge of database applications, editing software, case management software and/or electronic filing will be an asset.

Ability to summarise often complex and voluminous information and compile and present facts and data in usable formats; very good English drafting and editing skills; ability to draft routine documents in English following established precedents and guidelines.

Behavioural Skills

Excellent organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail; working under pressure, ability to manage time efficiently and prioritize and manage multiple assignments subject to strict deadlines; ability to exercise initiative and judgement within established guidelines.

Tact and discretion and the ability to adhere rigorously to requirements of confidentiality; ability to work independently according to established guidelines and instructions and as part of dispute settlement teams on multiple cases.

Ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues; communicate and understand clear factual information; persuade others to a point of view using facts; face and cope with conflict situations with colleagues; work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to achieve his/her objectives.

Work Experience

At least five years’ relevant experience, including experience working as a paralegal, registrar, or functional equivalent, managing information (and preferably legal information), working with and editing legal documents, involved in litigation activities in a law firm, government or corporate legal office, or national or international judicial institution or quasi-judicial agency.

Languages

Excellent English, including very good drafting skills. Knowledge of French or Spanish would be an asset.

Application deadline: 22 February 2022

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 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.

The WTO is a non-smoking environment.