Senior Legal Officer

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE\:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local date and time.

 

 

 

(a)       Organizational Setting

 

The post is located in the Madrid Legal Division of the Madrid Registry.  The Madrid Legal Division is responsible, inter alia, for the provision of legal advice to Contracting Parties and other stakeholders in respect of the development and implementation of the Madrid System.  This includes providing advice on the accession to and ratification of the Madrid System as well as the provision of legal information and advice, on general and specific issues, to the Offices of Contracting Parties, to users and to the International Bureau.  The Madrid Legal Division is responsible for the development of the legal framework of the Madrid System, to ensure that it better meets the requirements of Offices and users. 

 

(b)     Purpose Statement

 

The main role of the incumbent is to draft and interpret legal texts and provide legal advice to Contracting Parties (future and current) and other stakeholders, ensuring high standards of quality and timeliness of service delivery.  The incumbent is also required to provide secretariat services to the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (the “Working Group”) and the Madrid Union Assembly. 

 

(c)     Reporting Lines

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Madrid Legal Division. 

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

(a)      Provide legal advice to Contracting Parties and other stakeholders on the interpretation and application of legal instruments concerning procedural and substantive questions on the treaties of the Madrid System and on its functioning and better use.

(b)      Appraise the normative and administrative frameworks of potential and current Contracting Parties through analysis of legal framework and assessment of operational structures;  provide government officials with information, advice and assistance in the preparation for accession to the Madrid System, and subsequent implementation.

 

(c)      Propose and develop legal policies for the further revision of the legal framework in close cooperation with other work units in the Sector;  follow‑up on and monitor implementation.

 

(d)      Draft legal instruments, revisions to legal instruments guidelines on legal practices and procedures and other legal documents related to the Madrid System, ensuring consistency in interpretations of legal instruments.

 

(e)      Provide/coordinate secretariat services for the Working Group and the Madrid Union Assembly;  prepare background materials, reports and other documents;  provide advice and assistance to Contracting Parties and delegations.

 

(f)       Collaborate with concerned work units in the Sector and provide input for the simplification of the Madrid System including on operational procedures and automated processes.

 

(g)      Undertake capacity-building activities and plan, organize and participate in seminars, information meetings and training courses;  prepare legal documents and deliver presentations and lectures.

 

(h)      Represent WIPO at international, regional and national meetings and provide authoritative advice on the implementation and better use of the Madrid System.

 

(i)        Perform other duties as required.

 

 

 

Education

Essential

Advanced university degree in law or related field. A first-level university degree 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.

 

Desirable

Specialization in intellectual property law.

 

Experience

Essential

At least seven years of professional experience in the field of intellectual property in the public or private sector, including in the field of trademarks at the international level.

 

Extensive experience of working with the Madrid System.

 

Desirable

Professional experience working within a national or regional intellectual property office.

 

Languages

Essential

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.

 

Desirable

Good knowledge of French or Spanish, or of other UN official languages.

 

Job Related Competencies

Essential

Good knowledge of the international IP system.

 

Good knowledge of legal and policy issues in trademark law and the corresponding legal instruments.

 

Expert understanding of the Madrid System and its various procedures and transactions.

 

Proven capacity for critical analysis.

 

Ability to draft documents and texts of a complex legal nature.

 

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey legal and technical information to Contracting Parties and users of the Madrid System in a user-friendly manner.

 

Excellent networking and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

 

Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work under pressure and to respect deadlines.

 

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 June 2018 rate of 72.4%

 

P4
Annual salary	$70,647
Post adjustment	$51,148
Total Salary	$121,795
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.