Legal Counsellor

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 located in the WIPO Judicial Institute, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector (IES).  The WIPO Judicial Institute provides online and offline platforms for the exchange of IP information and practices of common concern among national and regional judiciaries;  supports Member States in strengthening the human and institutional capacities of the judiciary for IP adjudication;  conducts and coordinates research and studies on judicial systems and decisions on IP;  and develops and maintains the WIPO Lex database. 

Coordinating with other vertical and horizontal WIPO sectors, IES is responsible for helping Member States develop their IP and innovation ecosystems to drive enterprise and economic growth.  IES is also responsible for providing support for researchers and innovators, as well as enterprises, including SMEs, in IP commercialization and otherwise using IP for business growth;  issues relating to the emergence of IP as an asset class;  and the development of advisory expertise in these and related areas, for example, in national IP strategies.

b.    Purpose Statement

The incumbent is primarily responsible for the activities with judiciaries of the WIPO Judicial Institute, conceptualizing and driving strategic implementation of the judicial work program of the WIPO Judicial Institute.  S/he is responsible for the creation and organization of online and offline fora for judicial exchange of information and practices;  for conceiving, editing and drafting of in-depth judicial resources, and supervising and implementing tailored judicial capacity support activities.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the WIPO Judicial Institute.

2.      Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Develop, implement and coordinate the WIPO Judicial Institute’s overall strategic approach to its work with judiciaries;

b.   Lead the development of substantive programs of judicial fora for dialogue, including the annual WIPO Intellectual Property Judges Forum, WIPO Master Class on Intellectual Property Adjudication and WIPO Webinars for Judges;  facilitate judges’ participation;  draft relevant documentation;  and supervise the administrative preparations;

c.   Plan, develop and implement continuing judicial education programs offered by the WIPO Judicial Institute, formulating them in accordance with national IP strategies and applying modern, multidisciplinary and participatory training approach;

d.   Develop and manage networks with courts and judicial institutes, as well as other relevant organizations, with a view to the establishment of strategic partnerships between the WIPO Judicial Institute and Member State judiciaries;

e.   Coordinate judicial capacity building provided by different WIPO programs, with a view to strengthening complementarity, building synergies and achieving a coherent, Organization-wide approach to judicial capacity building;

f.    Supervise and conduct legal research related to judicial administration of intellectual property and coordinate the preparation of resource tools and publications for judges;

g.   Represent WIPO at international, regional and national meetings, and deliver presentations on topical issues in the area of the judicial administration of IP;

h.   Manage and supervise staff and external consultants to achieve the above;

i.    Serve as the deputy to the Director and provide substantive input to the WIPO Judicial Institute’s programmatic and financial planning and reports, and monitor the implementation of its budget and workplan;

j.    Perform other related duties as required.

3.      Requirements

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in law or in another field with the eligibility to practice as an attorney, preferably with a specialization in intellectual property law.  A first-level university degree in law plus an additional two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the essential experience mentioned below may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of relevant professional work experience in the area of law, preferably in intellectual property law.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in the design and delivery of judicial education programs.

Training and experience in a common law system.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of other UN official languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Strong knowledge of the legal issues of intellectual property law, preferably in relation to judicial systems and jurisprudence.

Excellent analytical and legal drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex legal and related subject matter clearly in written and oral form.

Strong organizational skills with the ability to work quickly and accurately with a high degree of independence and initiative, under pressure and to respect deadlines.

Sound political judgment and good diplomatic skills.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and ability to adapt quickly to new technologies.

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.

4.      Organizational Competencies

1.    Communicating effectively.

2.    Showing team spirit.