Paralegal / Depositary Assistant

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 WTO seeks to attract and retain staff members offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity and to build an organization that is representative of the Members and People it serves. As an equal opportunity and inclusive employer, the WTO gives full regard to competence and welcome applications from qualified candidates irrespective of age, disability status, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, social origin or any other characteristic. Applications from non-represented Members (link) are particularly encouraged for all positions.

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The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Paralegal / Depositary Assistant in the Legal Affairs Division.

The Legal Affairs Division's main mission is to provide legal advice and information to WTO dispute settlement panels, other WTO bodies, WTO members and the WTO Secretariat.

GENERAL FUNCTIONS

Under the general supervision of the Director of the Division, and the direct supervision of a senior member of the Division, the incumbent will assist the Director-General in performing her responsibilities as the depositary of the WTO Agreement. The incumbent will also generally support the depositary team in running the day-to-day operation of the depositary function, and undertake functions as paralegal supporting dispute settlement panel and arbitration proceedings.

Specific responsibilities will include:

1.         Support the depositary functions of the Secretariat: receive and conduct an initial review of instruments; handle Member inquiries; research legal issues; attend meetings and taking notes; prepare treaty originals and certified copies of instruments; prepare and update depositary notifications and corresponding templates; prepare and effecte UN registration of instruments; process delegate credentials and other tasks associated with WTO Ministerial Conferences; and update relevant publications and internal records.

2.         Support dispute settlement panel and arbitration proceedings: organize information in submissions and exhibits; draft summaries of facts and data; prepare draft communications; compile information in various formats, including spreadsheets, charts, and tables; prepare summary records of internal meetings with panelists or arbitrators; accurately compile annexes to dispute settlement reports; and attend hearings and take notes.

3.         Prepare routine dispute settlement documents following established precedents and guidelines; assist senior staff in the Division in proofreading texts to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with legal and Secretariat editorial standards, as well as by verifying quotations, legal references, and footnote citations in documents.

4.         Support the work of the Division, including by assistance with registry functions, such as assisting with maintenance of electronic archives, databases, and the digital registry.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

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 and analysing information, preferably of a legal nature.

Knowledge and Skills:

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

General knowledge of the WTO, in particular on the structure of the organization and of the WTO Agreements. Basic knowledge of international treaty law. Basic knowledge of WTO dispute settlement procedures and rules of conduct.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, etc.).

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 including the ability to draft routine documents in English following established precedents and guidelines.

Openness to the use of Artitificial Intellegence (AI) tools, such as GPT4.5, following the WTO's guidelines on the use of AI.

Behavioural Skills:

Strong service orientation and interpersonal skills; excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently according to strict deadlines and time constraints; ability to pay close attention to detail; ability to exercise initiative and judgement within established guidelines.

Tact and discretion and 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 work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to achieve his/her objectives; ability to work harmoniously with Secretariat Staff, panelists, arbitrators and Members in a multi-cultural environment; ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues, as well as to communicate and understand clear factual information, and persuade others to a point of view using facts.

Organizational Competencies:

Core Competencies

• Communicating for Results
• Effective Collaboration
• Professional Accountability
• Relevant Digital Proficiency
• Cultivating Progressive Growth
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Work Experience:

At least five years' relevant professional experience in administrative or paralegal functions.

Languages:

Excellent English, including very good drafting skills. Good working knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be an important asset.

Additional Information:

As highlighted in the job description, this is a support position within the Legal Affairs Division.  It should not be confused with Dispute Settlement Lawyer or Legal Officer positions, which are professional positions with different requirements.

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.

The initial fixed-term contract for positions up to grade 10 shall normally be two years, which shall be probationary, as per Administrative Memorandum No. 997 (OFFICE(23)/4) on Probation Policy. For Director positions, the Policy on evaluation of directors apply as per Administrative Memorandum No. 978 (OFFICE(17)/29).

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.