OFFICE( 18)/85 
18-6868 
 
 
 
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/18 -59 Issued on:  13 November 2018  
 
Title:  Paralegal  Application Deadline (CET):  11 December 2018  
 
Grade:  5 
 Division:  Legal Affairs   
(511) 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 70,667 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 a position of Paralegal in the Legal Affairs 
Division.  
 
The Legal Affairs Division is responsible for providing legal advice on the WTO agreements 
and other legal issues as they may arise, to the Director -General and the WTO Secretariat, 
to the Dispute Settlement Body and other WTO bodies, to  dispute settlement panels and 
arbitral bodies, and, as appropriate, to WTO Members or the general public . 
 
 
General Functions  
 
Under the supervision of more senior staff, the incumbent will:  
 
1. Support dispute settlement panel and arbitration proceedings , including by: organizing 
information in submissions and exhibits; drafting summaries of facts and data; preparing 
communications; compiling information in various formats, including spreadsheets, charts, and 
tables; preparing summary records of internal meetings with panelists or arbitrators; verifying 
quotations, legal references and footnote citations in documents prepared by more senior staff; 
accurately compiling annexes to dispute settlement reports; and attending hearings and taking 
notes.  
 
2. Prepa re routine dispute settlement documents following established precedents and 
guidelines; assist more senior staff in the Division in ensuring that dispute settlement documents 
conform to the Legal Affairs and Rules Divisions Editorial Guide and the WTO For matting Guide.  
 
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  3. Support the depositary functions of the Division, including by receiving and conducting an 
initial review of instruments, handling Member inquiries, researching legal issues, attending 
meetings, preparing treaty originals and certified c opies of instruments, preparing and updating 
depositary notifications and corresponding templates, preparing and effecting UN registration of 
instruments, reviewing and processing Memoranda of Understanding, processing delegate 
credentials and other tasks associated with WTO Ministerial Conferences, and updating relevant 
publications and internal records.  
 
4. Support the work of the Division, including by assistance with registry functions, such as 
assisting with maintenance of electronic archives and the digital registry.  
 
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
Completion of secondary school or equivalent technical or commercial school; specialized training or 
proven expertise developed through relevant experience working as a paralegal, registrar, or 
functional equivalent, managing information and preferably legal information, is required.  
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Technical Knowledge and Skills:  
 
General knowledge of the WTO; basic knowledge of WTO dispute settlement procedures.  
Excellent knowledge of s tandard office software applications (including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, 
Excel).  
Ability to summarise often complex and voluminous information and compile and present facts and 
data in usable formats; very good English drafting and editing skills; abili ty to draft routine 
documents in English following established precedents and guidelines.  
 
Behavioural Skills:  
 
Excellent organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail; ability to manage time 
efficiently and prioritize and manage multi ple assignments subject to strict deadlines; ability to 
exercise initiative and judgement within established guidelines.  
Tact and discretion and the ability to adhere rigorously to requirements of confidentiality; ability to 
work within strict deadlines an d under pressure; ability to work independently according to 
established guidelines and instructions and as part of dispute settlement teams on multiple cases.  
Ability to relate to and build relationships with colleagues; communicate and understand clear factual 
information; persuade others to a point of view using facts; face and cope with conflict situations 
with colleagues; work as a member of a team, relating to others, while working independently to 
achieve his/her objectives.  
 
Work Experience:  
 
At least five years' relevant experience, including minimum two years working as a paralegal, 
registrar, or functional equivalent, managing information (and preferably legal information), 
preferably involved in litigation activities in a law firm, government or  corporate legal office, or 
national or international judicial institution or quasi -judicial agency.  
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent English, including very good drafting skills (at a level corresponding or equivalent to a 
minimum of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) ). 
Knowledge of French and/or Spanish would be an asset. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to 
provide proof of their language skills under a recognized framework  (e.g. CEFR, IELTS, etc.)  unless 
the lan guage in question is their mother tongue. The language skills of s hortlisted candidates who 
are unable to provide proof of their language proficiency will be assessed as part of the selection 
process.  
 
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  Additional Information:  
 
Please note  that as highlig hted in the job description this is a support position within the Legal 
Affairs Division.   It should not be confused with Dispute Settlement Lawyer or Legal Officer positions, 
which are subject to separate recruitment processes for professional staff.  
 
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 o r 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.  
__________________________________________________ ____________________  
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 in structions 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 – 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.