OFFICE(14)/67 
14-6449 
  
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/14-34 Issued on:  5 November 2014 
 
Title:  Paralegal Application Deadline (CET):  3 December 
2014  
Grade:  5 
 Division:  Legal Affairs, Rules 
 
Contract Type:  Fixed-term 
 
Starting Salary:  CHF 71,892 net per annum 
(approximate)  Duration:  Two years with the possibility for 
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 two positions of Paralegal, one each in the 
Rules and Legal Affairs Divisions.   
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 trading enterprises.  The Rules Division 
provides legal and other assistance to dispute settlement panels considering disputes, facilitates 
and actively assists in negotiations, consultations and monitoring tasks, and provides implementation assistance, counselling and expert  a d v i c e  t o  W T O  M e m b e r s ,  i n  e a c h  o f  t h e s e  
areas. 
 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  
 
The main role of the Paralegal is to assist with dispute settlement activities.   
 Under the supervision of more senior staff, th e incumbent will undertake some or all of the 
following functions: 
 
1. Organize information in submissions and exhibits; draft summaries of facts and data; 
compile information in various formats, including spreadsheets, charts, and tables; prepare 
summary records of internal meetings with panellists/arbitrators; and attend hearings and take notes. OFFICE(14)/67 
 
- 2 - 
 
   
2. Prepare routine dispute settlement documents following established precedents and 
guidelines; verify quotations, legal references and footnote citations in documents prepared by 
more senior staff;  accurately compile annexes to dispute settlement reports; assist more senior staff in the Divisions in ensuring that dispute settlement documents conform to the Legal Affairs 
Division and Rules Division Editorial Guide and the WTO Formatting Guide. 
 3. Develop and maintain good knowledge of the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures 
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), as we ll as an excellent knowledge of the Legal Affairs 
Division and Rules Division Editorial Guide, the WTO Formatting Guide, the Legal Affairs Division and Rules Division DeskBook, and other sources and tools used in WTO dispute settlement.  For the position in the Rules Division, develop and maintain good understanding of the WTO 
Agreements within the Division's areas of responsibility. 
 4. Support the work of the other members of th e Divisions as requested by the Directors and 
more senior staff.  This may include providing assi stance with registry functions, such as assisting 
with maintenance of electronic archives and digital registry.  
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  Education: 
 
Completion of secondary school or equivalent technical or commercial school; specialized training or proven expertise developed through experi ence working as a paralegal (or functional 
equivalent) is required. 
 Knowledge and Skills: 
 
General knowledge of the WTO; basic knowle dge of WTO dispute settlement procedures. 
  Excellent knowledge of standard office softwa re applications (including Microsoft Word, 
PowerPoint, Excel). 
 Excellent organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail; ability to manage time 
efficiently and prioritize and manage multiple assignments subject to strict deadlines; ability to 
exercise initiative and judgement within established guidelines; ability to summarise often complex and voluminous information and compile and present facts and data in usable formats; very good 
English drafting skills; ability to draft routine documents in English following established 
precedents and guidelines.   Tact and discretion and the ability to adhere rigorously to requirements of confidentiality; ability to 
work within strict deadlines and under pressure; ability to work independently according to 
established guidelines and instructions and as part of dispute settlement teams on multiple cases.  
The following interpersonal capabilities are required: 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 in dependently to achieve his/her objectives. 
 Work Experience:  
At least five years' experience working as a paralegal (or functional equivalent), preferably 
involved in litigation activities in a law firm, government or corporate legal office, or national or international judicial institution or quasi-judicial agency. 
 OFFICE(14)/67 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Languages: 
 
Excellent English, including very good drafting skills. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish would 
be an asset.  For the position in the Legal Affairs Division, an excellent command of written and spoken Spanish, at a native speaker level, is highly desirable. 
 
Additional Information:  
Unsuccessful candidates whose performance in the selection process nevertheless shows them to 
be suitable for a paralegal position may be kept on a roster for up to 18 months, and may subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional paralegals.  
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. 
 
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.