OFFICE(13)/44 
13-4901 
 
 
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. 
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Vacancy Notice No.:   EXT/F/13-26 Issued on:   17 September 2013 
 
Title:   Dispute Settlement Lawyer Application Deadline (CET):   15 October 
2013 
 
Grade:   9 
 Division:   Legal Affairs 
 
Contract Type:   Fixed-term 
 
Starting Salary:   CHF 134,940  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 subsidy, 
and home leave. Additional information on the compen sation package is provided on the 
WTO website:  
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto _e/vacan_e/comp_p ackage_e.pdf.  
  
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill the position of Dispute Settlement Lawyer in 
the Legal Affairs Division.  Serving staff me mbers interested in the position are also 
invited to apply. 
 
 General Functions  
 
1. Deliver substantive legal advice and assistance to adjudicators and other lawyers and serve 
as team leader in less complex disputes or co-lead in complex disputes.  
2. Conduct or direct research on complex lega l issues, prepare or guide the preparation of 
analyses of difficult legal issues in the context of  disputes, and prepare or direct the preparation of 
legal opinions on complex and/or novel issues.  
 
3. Deliver advice and assistance to chairpersons of WTO bodies and negotiating groups, other WTO Divisions, the Director-General and WTO Memb ers as appropriate, on some occasions under 
the supervision of more senior lawyers. 
 
4. Deliver technical assistance and training on the WTO agreements and dispute settlement practices and procedures and make presentations in academic conferences and other settings.  
Contribute to the development of training material. 
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
Education: 
 Advanced university degree in law including studies in international trade law and public 
international law.  Studies in economics is an advantage;  licence or eligibility to be licensed to 
practice law in at least one municipal jurisdiction is an advantage.  
Knowledge and Skills: 
 Thorough knowledge and appreciation of international, legal and economic principles and issues, adjudicative process and practice, including relating to WTO jurisprudence. 
 
Excellent legal, analytical and problem-solving skills;  legal drafting skills of a very high standard and ability to provide constructive feedback on others' drafts;  presentation of thoughts in a 
logical, succinct, articulate and persuasive manner, both orally and in written form. 
 Ability to conduct advanced legal research as well  as analyze and synthesize often highly technical 
and complex information of a legal, factual and/or economic nature while working under tight 
deadlines;  to effectively supervise a dispute settlement team working under tight deadlines, manage aspects of the dispute settlement process including time management as well as prioritization of tasks of a team;  and to revise drafts to reflect various views in a coherent 
manner. 
 The following interpersonal capabilities are required: to act as a co-operative and effective 
member of a  team that works under severe time pressure and resource constraints and that must 
produce a coherent group product; to effectively direct or co-direct the work of a team and guide team members in carrying out assignments by prov iding constructive feedback and advice;  to 
develop and maintain relationships and forge consensus with colleagues, adjudicators and others 
both inside and outside the WTO, including repr esentatives of Members;  to persuade through 
sound argumentation and advice;  to adhere to  and ensure adherence by team members and 
adjudicators to set rules of conduct, ensuring confidentiality, impartiality and an absence of 
conflicts of interest;  and to apply tact and discretion. 
 Work Experience: 
 
At least eight years' relevant working experience as a lawyer, preferably with a mixture of private/public/academic sector work.  Experience in supervising others in teams.  
 
Languages:  Excellent command of written and spoken English and adequate skills in French or Spanish. 
 
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. 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION 
____________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SELECTED FOR AN INTERVIEW 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable the WTO to store 
your profile in a permanent database. 
 
Please visit the WTO' s E-Recruitment website at:  www.wto.org. 
The system provides instructions for online application procedures. OFFICE(13)/44 
 
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All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has 
been posted and well before the closing date – Central European Time (CET) –  
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.