OFFICE( 19)/69 
19-5394 
 
 
 
The recruitment policy of the WTO is to seek to attract and retain staff members  
offering the highest standards of competence, efficiency and integrity.  
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the WTO gives full regard to merit and diversity.  
______________________________________________________________________  
 
Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/19 -55 Issued on:  22 August 2019  
 
Title:  Counsellor, Senior Dispute Settlement 
Lawyer  Application Deadline:  19 September 2019  
 
Grade:  10 
 Division:  Rules  
 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 160,669  net per annum  
(approximate)  Duration:  Two years with the possibility of 
extension  
 
Other 
Conditions:  In accordance with WTO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules and WTO Pension Plan 
Regulations.  
The World Trade Organization offers an attractive compensation package including 
an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions 
and health insurance), dependency  benefits, pension plan, health insurance 
scheme, separation grant, and 30 days annual leave.  Benefits for internationally 
recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and 
separation, installation grant, education grant, rental su bsidy, and home leave.  
Additional information on the compensation package is provided on the 
WTO website:  
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/compensation_e.htm  
 
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill two (2) positions of Counsellor, Senior Dispute 
Settlement Lawyer . 
 
 
General Functions  
 
The Rules Division is responsible for all aspects of WTO work, legal and technical, in the areas of 
trade remedies (anti -dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures), subsidies, Trade -Related 
Investment Measures (TRIMS), civil aircraft, and state tradin g enterprises. The Division facilitates 
and actively assists in negotiations, consultations, and monitoring of implementation, and provides 
implementation assistance, counselling and expert advice to WTO Members, in each of these areas. 
The Rules Division also provides full support to panels for disputes in these areas, which collectively 
account for roughly one -half of all WTO disputes.  
 
Reporting to the the Director of the Division, the principal responsibilities of the position of 
Counsellor, Senior Dis pute Settlement Lawyer include serving as lead lawyer on complex disputes 
and supervising more junior lead lawyers and other staff in the cases assigned to those staff, and 
otherwise contributing substantive, legal and policy expertise to the other areas o f the Division’s 
work. The specific duties include but are not limited to:  
 
1. Supervise dispute settlement teams led by, and serve as formal supervisor of, more junior 
lawyers in the Division, providing substantive, legal, and procedural guidance, traini ng, coaching, 
and feedback.  
  
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  2. In the formal supervisory capacity, in coordination with the Director and the other Senior 
Dispute Settlement Lawyers in the Division, work with the supervisees to set their objectives, review 
their output (legal drafts and  other), conduct their performance reviews, and support the 
development of their knowledge and skills, including by identifying and facilitating their participation 
in formal and informal training activities.  
 
3. Deliver substantive legal advice and assist ance to adjudicators and other lawyers, and serve 
as lead lawyer and team leader, in complex disputes.  
 
4. Conduct and direct research on complex substantive legal, technical and procedural issues 
arising in the context of WTO dispute settlement proceeding s. Prepare, and direct and review the 
preparation of, written analyses and legal opinions on these and other complex and/or novel issues.  
 
5. Deliver written and oral advice on legal and substantive technical and policy questions, and 
otherwise assist in t hese matters chairpersons of bodies and negotiating groups, other WTO 
Divisions, the Director -General, and WTO Members, as appropriate, on matters within the Division's 
areas of responsibility, independently or as part of a team.  
 
6. Contribute to the Division’s general work in support of dispute settlement (procedural matters, 
panel composition, etc.), and in support of Committees and other bodies.  
 
7. Deliver technical assistance and training on matters within the Division's areas of 
responsibility. C ontribute to, and direct the development and updating of, training materials, internal 
research materials, and WTO publications.  
 
8. Build and maintain relationships with adjudicators and WTO Members in order to serve the 
WTO as appropriate, while scrupulo usly maintaining neutrality and observing ethical obligations 
including the WTO's Dispute Settlement Rules of Conduct.  
 
9. Maintain close relations with colleagues in other Divisions of the Secretariat on issues of 
mutual concern.  
 
10. Represent the WTO Se cretariat in various public and academic activities in Geneva and abroad 
that address WTO dispute settlement matters and legal issues of relevance to the WTO.  
 
11. Undertake other tasks as may be assigned by the Director.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Educati on: 
 
Advanced university degree in law, including studies in international trade law. Studies in 
international economics are desirable. Licensed or eligible to be licensed to practice law in at least 
one municipal jurisdiction.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
A successful candidate must have the technical expertise and knowledge, as well as the skills and 
ability, to guide, empower and motivate dispute settlement teams assigned to particular disputes, 
including more junior lawyers and support staff, to produce exce llent quality work to tight deadlines. 
S/he must be able to build and maintain motivation and a positive spirit in supervised teams working 
under intense pressure.  
 
A successful candidate must possess and demonstrate significant leadership and organizatio nal skills 
and experience (motivating the team, planning and organizing work, providing constructive and 
effective feedback, creatively solving problems, and working effectively in a resource -constrained 
environment).  
 
A successful candidate must demonstr ate an expert level of knowledge in international trade law 
and litigation. He/she must have an excellent knowledge of economic and legal issues relating to the 
WTO, including in particular in the area of trade remedies. This includes thorough knowledge of  the 
WTO Agreements within the Division’s areas of responsibility.  OFFICE( 19)/69 
 
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  A successful candidate must possess and demonstrate an in -depth, expert theoretical and practical 
knowledge of both the technical and policy aspects of trade remedies. Particularly importan t in this 
regard is expert knowledge of and recent experience in, the quantitative, legal, and policy aspects 
of dumping and subsidization analysis in the context of domestic trade remedies investigations.  
 
S/he must also possess an expert level of legal and policy drafting skills, as well as excellent oral 
communication skills, including presentation and advocacy skills, in English.  
 
S/he must possess highly developed tact and discretion, and a high level o f political awareness and 
sensitivity.  
 
S/he must have the proven ability to interact and work with others in a harmonious and effective 
way, including as team leader, in a diverse international setting .   
 
Intellectual flexibility, creativity, and the ab ility to find solutions, are essential.  
 
High ethical standards and strict adherence to established rules of conduct are required, as is the 
ability to ensure adherence by supervisees to such rules.  
 
Work Experience:  
 
A minimum of 12 years relevant practi cal experience, including extensive supervisory experience 
and proven success leading teams of lawyers and other staff in a legal environment. Experience as 
a legal practitioner in either the public or private sectors, including considerable practical expe rience 
in trade law, trade litigation and dispute settlement mechanisms. Significant recent practical 
experience in the conduct of or participation in domestic trade remedies proceedings also is required, 
with recent experience in a domestic trade remedies  authority a considerable advantage.  
 
Languages:  
 
Fluent knowledge of English and an expert level of drafting skills in English is essential (at a level 
corresponding or equivalent to C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for 
Languages (CEFR)), including a demonstrated ability to write accurately, concisely and quickly, and 
to review and edit efficiently and effectively the written work of other lawyers on complex legal and 
policy matters. A good knowledge (oral and written) of  French and/or Spanish would be an asset.  
 
The English language skills of all candidates being considered for short -listing will be assessed. To 
this end, candidates may be requested to provide language proficiency certification (e.g. CEFR, 
IELTS, etc.) an d/or undergo remote testing or other assessment procedures.  
 
Additional Information:  
 
The position may be offered at a lower grade if the selected candidate does not fully meet all the 
required qualifications.  
 
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted.  
 
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.  
 
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  12 months, and may subsequently 
be called upon as and when  the need arises for additional resources.  OFFICE( 19)/69 
 
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  ______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS WILL  BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW  
______________________________________________________________________  
Please note that all candidates must complete an o nline application  form.  
To apply, please visit the WTO's E -Recruitment website at: https://erecruitment.wto.org . 
The system provides instructions for online application procedures.  
 
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) t ime –  
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.