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.

 

 

a.    Organizational Setting

 

The post is located in the Department of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications of the Brands and Designs Sector.

 

The Department is responsible for the formulation of policies and the provision of strategic direction to preserve and strengthen the role of WIPO as the principal international forum for trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications, as well as for supporting Member States in their implementation and use of these IP categories in accordance with their socio-economic objectives.  The Lisbon Registry, which forms part of the Department, is responsible for all aspects of the administration, promotion and further development of the Lisbon System, and for providing demand-driven legal and technical assistance to WIPO Member States interested in adhering to the Lisbon System, while pointing out the option of providing protection for geographical indications through the trademark system.

 

b.    Purpose Statement

 

The main role of the incumbent is to carry out tasks relating to the administration and further development of the Lisbon System, including the formulation of legal advice to Member States on the protection of geographical indications, and to the management of projects aimed at assisting WIPO Member States in creating an enabling environment for the development and practical use of geographical indications in accordance with their socio-economic objectives.

 

c.    Reporting Lines

 

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Director of the Lisbon Registry, Department of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications, Brands and Designs Sector.

 

 

 

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties\:

 

a.  Prepare and formulate legal advice and provide information concerning the protection of geographical indications and the Lisbon System, including in the framework of legislative advice on the legislation of acceding members to the Lisbon System.

 

b.  Elaborate proposals and manage projects concerning the further automation of the Lisbon System; provide the legal and administrative assistance necessary for the implementation of the changes in operation and administration of the procedures under the Lisbon System resulting from the further automation of these procedures.

 

c.  Provide the legal and administrative assistance necessary for the treatment of international registrations, requests for modification, declarations of refusal, statements of grant of protection, etc. and their recording in the International Register of the Lisbon System.

 

d.  Develop and manage projects to support Member States in creating an enabling environment for the development and practical use of geographical indications in accordance with their socio-economic objectives.

 

e.  Participate in internal and external awareness-raising activities, seminars, workshops and trainings on geographical indications and the Lisbon System, and deliver relevant trainings and presentations.

 

f.   Perform other related duties as required.

 

 

 

Education

Essential

First-level university degree in law.

 

Desirable

Specialization in intellectual property law and international law.

 

Experience

Essential

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

 

Experience of working with the Lisbon System.

 

Desirable

Experience of working within an international organization.

 

Language

Essential

Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English and French.

 

Desirable

Working knowledge of other UN languages, in particular Spanish.

 

Job Related Competencies

Essential

Ability to analyze legal questions and draft legal texts.

 

Ability to conduct research and analyze defined aspects of legal issues, including on the automation of procedures of international registration systems for intellectual property rights.

 

Good understanding of the Lisbon System and its various procedures.

 

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.

 

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 January 2019 rate of 70.0%

 

P3
Annual salary	$58,583
Post adjustment	$41,008
Total Salary	$99,591
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.