OFFICE (17)/107 
17-6599 
 
 
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 di versity.  
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Vacancy Notice No.:  EXT/F/17-74  Issued on:  30 November 2017  
 
Title:  Dispute Settlement Lawyer  (2 posts)  Application Deadline (CET):  3 January  2018 
 
Grade:  9 
 Division:  Rules  
(87, 361) 
Contract Type:  Fixed -term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 134,209  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, sep aration 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 compensation package is provided on the 
WTO website:  
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/comp_package_e.pdf . 
 
 
The Secretariat of the WTO is seeking to fill two positio ns of Dispute Settlement Lawyer  
to work  in the Rules Division . 
 
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, T rade-Related 
Investment Measures (TRIM S), civil aircraft, and state trading enterprises.  The Rules Division 
facilitates and actively assists in negotiations, consultations  and monitoring tasks, provides legal 
and other assistance to dispute settlement panels consid ering disputes , and provides 
implementation assistance, counselling and expert advice to WTO Members , in each of these 
areas.  
 
General Functions  
 
Reporting to the Director of the Rules Division or a more senior officer, the incumbents will be 
expected to c arry out the following functions:  
 
1. Deliver substantive legal advice and assistance to adjudicators and other lawyers and serve 
as team leader in less complex disputes or co -leader in complex disputes .  
 
2. Conduct or direct research on complex substanti ve legal and technical as well as procedural 
issues  arising in the context of WTO dispute settlement proceedings.  Prepare or direct the 
preparation of written analyses and legal opinions on these and other complex and/or novel issues .  
 
3. Deliver legal as  well as substantive technical and policy advice and assistance to 
chairpersons of WTO bodies and negotiating groups, other WTO Divisions, the Director -General 
and WTO Members as appropriate on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility, 
indepen dently or as part of a team .  OFFICE( 17)/107 
 
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4. Deliver technical assistance and training on matters within the Division's areas of 
responsibility . Contribute to the development and updating of training materials, internal research 
materials, and WTO publications .  
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  
 
Education:  
 
An advanced university degree in law . A licence or eligibility to be licensed to practice law in at 
least one municipal jurisdiction is desirable . Studies in international trade law and public 
international law would be an  advantage, as would studies in international economics . 
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
 
Very good  knowledge of international trade law  and f amiliarity with international legal and 
economic principles and issues ; familiarity  with adjudicative processes and practic e, particularly  
those of the WTO.  Very good knowledge of the WTO Agreements and familiarity with WTO 
jurisprudence is desirable . Thorough knowledge of the specific WTO Agreements  within the 
Divison's areas of responsibility would be an advantage, as would knowledge of national practices 
in trade remedies investigations.   
 
Excellent  legal, analytical and problem -solving skills and the ability to pay close attention to detail; 
legal drafting skills of a very high standard and the ability to draft texts reflec ting various views in 
a coherent manner; the ability to present thoughts in a logical, succinct, articulate and persuasive 
manner, both orally and in written form; the ability to familiarize oneself quickly and work with 
voluminous documentary records, and  to extract therefrom and analyse information that is often 
highly complex or of a technical and/or economic nature; the ability to contribute to a coherent 
team product under very high time pressure . 
 
Highly developed tact and discretion and the ability t o adhere rigorously to set rules of conduct , 
and to ensure the adherence by team members and adjudicators , to set rules of conduct ensuring 
confidentiality, impartiality and an absence of conflicts of interest.  
 
Ability to work independently as well as coo perate with others in a diverse international setting  as 
a member of a team that works under severe time pressure and resource constraints and must 
produce a coherent group product; to persuade others through sound argumentation and advice 
while remaining flexible and open to different points of view and evolving approaches; to meet 
strict deadlines within a dynamic work environment ; to develop and maintain  collegial , respectful  
and professional  relationships with colleagues  and adjudicators and , as appropr iate, with  others 
both inside and outside the WTO, inclu ding representatives of Members . Ability  to serve as leader 
of a team  working as  described  above, including ability to provide constructive feedback on others' 
work product and draft texts.  
 
Work Expe rience:  
 
At least eight years relevant practical work experience as a lawyer , preferably including 
government or private sector experience in national or international trade -related litigation and/or 
within international or national courts or adjudicative bodies or quasi -judicial agencies  of Members . 
Experience in trade remedy investigations would be an asset.   
 
Languages:  
 
Excellent English, including a demonstrated ability to write accurately, concisely, clearly and within 
tight deadlines. Knowledge of Fr ench and/or Spanish is desirable .  
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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 che cks. 
 
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 addition al resources.  
 
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO SIT A WRITTEN EXAMINATION  
______________________________________________________________________  
APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF SE LECTED 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 – 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.