OFFICE(15)/42 
15-2860 
 
 
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/15-26 Issued on:  2 June 2015 
 
Title:  Dispute Settlement Lawyer Application Deadline (CET):  30 June 2015 
 
Grade:  9 
 Division:  Rules  
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 looking for experienced Dispute Settlement Lawyers 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, Trade-Related 
Investment Measures (TRIMS), 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 considering disputes, 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.  
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-leader 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, 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 grou ps, 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.  
 OFFICE(15)/42 
 
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4. Deliver technical assistance and training on matters within the Division's areas of responsibility and contribute to the development of training materials, internal research materials, 
and WTO publications.  
  
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 
 Education: 
 
An advanced university degree in law, including studies in international trade law and public international law. Studies in international economics would be an advantage, as would a licence or eligibility to be licensed to practice law in at least one municipal jurisdiction. 
 
Knowledge and Skills:  
N.B. The position may be offered at a grade 8 level if warranted in light of the specific kowledge, 
skills and work experience of applicants. Disput e Settlement Lawyers recruited at the lower level 
will work under the supervision of more senior staff. 
 
Very good knowledge of international trade law and familiarity with international legal and economic principles and issues; familiarity with adjudicative processes and practice, 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 adva ntage, as would knowledge of national practices 
in trade remedies investigations.  
 
Very good 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 reflecting 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 to 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 cooperate 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 po ints 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 appropriate, with others 
both inside and outside the WTO, including repres entatives of Members; 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 Experience: 
 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 French and/or Spanish is desirable.  
 Additional Information:  
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted. OFFICE(15)/42 
 
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 The WTO may use various communication technologies such as video or teleconference for the 
assessment and evaluation of candidates. The re cruitment process may also involve the use of 
various forms of testing, assessment cent res, interviews and reference checks. 
 
Unsuccessful candidates 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 18 months, and may subsequently be called upon as and when the need arises for additional dispute settlement 
lawyers.  
_____________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS WILL 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 on-line application form. 
To apply, please visit 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. 
 
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. 
 
 
The WTO is a non-smoking environment.