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.

1.     Organizational Context

a.    Organizational Setting

The position is located in the Building Respect for IP (BRIP) Division, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector.  The BRIP Division is responsible for fostering international cooperation among Member States and other stakeholders to build respect for intellectual property (IP) and to enforce IP rights in the interest of social-economic development and consumer protection.  With this aim, the Division, inter alia, facilitates international policy dialogue on building respect for IP and IP enforcement, including in cooperation with other relevant international organizations, and provides assistance to Member States in the areas of coordination, legislation, training and awareness-raising.

b.    Purpose Statement

The incumbent will provide legal and technical assistance in the field of IP enforcement and building respect for IP, mainly in the areas of legislative assistance, capacity-building and legal research.  He or she will also contribute to the preparation and administration of the sessions of the WIPO's Advisory Committee on Enforcement (ACE) and to international cooperation efforts with international, regional and national partners.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Senior Legal Counsellor, Building Respect for IP Division.

2.      Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.   Provide legislative assistance in the area of IP enforcement, including the review and preparation of draft provisions for national or, where applicable, regional legislation, and the formulation of effective related enforcement strategies;

b.   Plan, organize and deliver WIPO training programs, workshops and conferences on IP enforcement and building respect for IP, including through preparation of curricula and presentations, and representing the Division in these events as appropriate;

c.   Conduct comparative legal research pertaining to IP enforcement and contribute in drafting training materials, papers, case-law compilations, or guides, to be published by the Division, with a view to conducting training and awareness raising campaigns, as well as updating and further developing information on the website of the Division;

d.   Contribute to the development and administration of systems aimed at assisting Member States and other stakeholders to effectively and efficiently enforce IP rights;

e.   Contribute to the enhanced cooperation with other intergovernmental organizations and networking with national, regional and international non-governmental organizations that carry out activities in the field of IP enforcement and building respect for IP, and represent WIPO in, and contribute to, activities of such partner organizations;

f.    Participate in the preparations for WIPO meetings on IP enforcement and building respect for IP, including the Advisory Committee on Enforcement (ACE), by providing relevant support and coordinating commissioned studies and presentations;

g.   Support the drafting of internal reports and administrative documents for the Division; and

h.   Perform other related duties as required.

3.      Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in law.

Education (Desirable)

Specialization in intellectual property law.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant professional work experience in the area of intellectual property law, preferably in enforcement related areas.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken), including ability to draft legal texts.

Language (Desirable)

Good working knowledge of other UN languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Solid knowledge of international intellectual property law and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Excellent analytical and legal drafting skills.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex legal and policy concepts clearly in written and oral form, for different audiences.

Strong planning and organizational skills with the ability to work independently, quickly and accurately under pressure and to respect deadlines.

Team spirit and ease in working in a multicultural environment.

Excellent 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.

4.      Organizational Competencies

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.