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 Hague Legal Affairs Section of The Hague Registry, Brands and Designs Sector.  The Hague Registry is responsible for the management and development of the Hague System.  The Hague System is based on the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs that allows users to seek protection for their industrial designs in the various Contracting Parties by means of a single application filed directly with the International Bureau of WIPO, and to subsequently manage those rights under a single title, recorded centrally in the International Register.  The Hague Agreement is constituted by the Geneva Act of July 2, 1999 (1999 Act) and the Hague Act of November 28, 1960 (1960 Act).

The Hague Legal Affairs Section is responsible for the balanced evolution of the legal framework of the Hague System so as to ensure its global positioning as the system of choice for designs to be protected internationally and provide legal advice to management, Member States and other stakeholders on the application of the Hague Agreement.

 

 

b.    Purpose Statement

 

The incumbent is required to perform the Section’s activities, ensuring high standards of quality and timeliness of service delivery and liaising with the relevant internal WIPO services and external authorities.

 

 

c.    Reporting Lines

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Section.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.  Draft legal instruments such as treaty texts, regulations, recommendations and other legislative materials concerning the implementation and legal development of the Hague System.

 

b.  Prepare fundamental research and documentation for technical committees, the Hague Union Assembly or other bodies' meetings;  provide or coordinate secretariat services to such meetings, in particular, the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

 

c.  Provide legal advice and legal opinions to the management, Member States and other stakeholders on the application and better use of the Hague System;  provide interpretations and verify consistency of practices, policies and legal instruments, such as constitutions, statutes, treaties, agreements, regulations and resolutions with the legal framework of the Hague System.

 

d.  Participate in an expert legal capacity in seminars, training courses and information meetings for users of the Hague System and activities to promote a wider recognition, acceptance and effective use of the Hague System in the current and prospective Contracting Parties; develop and present technical documents and deliver lectures.

 

e.  Develop contacts and maintain relations with international authorities and national/regional Offices to coordinate feedback on the operation of the Hague System;  identify and initiate measures to strengthen the cooperation between different stakeholders.

 

f.   Represent the Organization at conferences and meetings convened by Member States, observer organizations and other stakeholders and provide expertise on all legal aspects of the Hague System and the related treaties; undertake consultations and participate in negotiations with representatives of Member States or other organizations.

 

g.  Perform other related duties as required.

 

 

 

Education

Essential

Advanced university degree in law with a specialization in intellectual property law.  Advanced university degree in law plus two years of relevant experience in addition to the experience mentioned below may be accepted in lieu of the specialization in intellectual property law.

 

 

Experience

Essential

At least seven years of relevant professional experience in the field of intellectual property rights, including experience in the field of industrial design law at the international level.

 

Desirable

Knowledge of, and experience with, the Hague System.

Experience within a national or regional IP Office.

 

Language

Essential

Excellent knowledge of English.

 

Desirable

Knowledge of other official UN languages.

 

Job Related Competencies

Essential

Extensive knowledge of the international IP system, with a high level of legal knowledge in the field of industrial designs.

Proven ability to formulate legal opinions and draft legal instruments or texts relating to complex questions, with clarity, rigor and concision.

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.

Excellent analytical skills.

Ability to cultivate innovation and manage change.  Proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives and accountability for delivering results.

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, 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 September 2018 rate of 75.1%

 

P4
Annual salary	$70,647
Post adjustment	$53,056
Total Salary	$123,703
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.

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

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.