OFFICE(14)/62 
14-6201 
 
 
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/14-32 Issued on:  24 October 2014 
 
Title:  Dispute Settlement Lawyer Application Deadline (CET):  24 November 
2014 
 
Grade:  9 
 Divisions:  Rules, Legal Affairs, Appellate 
Body Secretariat 
 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 f ill several positions of Dispute Settlement 
Lawyer in the Rules Division, Legal Affairs Division, and Appellate  Body Secretariat. 
 
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.  The Appellate Body Secretariat is responsible for de livering advice and assistance to the Appellate 
Body in connection with all aspects of appeals of panel reports. The Appellate Body Secretariat also 
often advises and supports arbitrators in proceedings to determine the reasonable period of time, and, occasionally, provides advice and/or information to the Director-General, other WTO 
Divisions, and WTO Members, as appropriate. 
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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, and prepare or direct the preparation of 
legal opinions on complex and/or novel issues. 
 
3. In the case of the Rules and Legal Affairs Divisions, deliver legal as well as substantive technical and policy advice and assistance to ch airpersons of WTO bodies and negotiating groups, 
other WTO Divisions, the Director-General and WT O Members as appropriate on matters within the 
respective Division's areas of responsibility, indepe ndently or as part of a team, on some occasions 
under the supervision of more senior lawyers. In th e case of the Appellate Body Secretariat, assist 
Appellate Body Members generally to stay abreas t of dispute settlement and other WTO activities, 
including through the preparation of analysis and materials for internal meetings and reporting on 
the activities of relevant WTO bodies and negotiating groups.  
4. Deliver technical assistance and training on the the WTO Agreements within the respective 
Division's areas of responsibility. 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: 
 
Thorough knowledge and appreciation of international trade law and public international law, including legal and economic principles and issu es, and of adjudicative processes and practice, 
particularly those of the WTO. Very good knowle dge of the WTO Agreements and familiarity with 
WTO jurisprudence. For the positions in the Rules Division, a good knowledge of the WTO 
Agreements within the Divison's areas of responsibility would be an advantage, as would 
knowledge of national practices in trade remedies investigations. For the positions at the Appellate 
Body Secretariat detailed knowledge of Appellate Body jurisprudence and appeal process is expected as well as advanced skills in producing drafts and supervising legal research under very high time pressure while ensuring coherence in jurisprudence. 
 
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 reflecting various views in 
a coherent manner; ability to present thoughts in a logical, succinct, articulate and persuasive 
manner, both orally and in written form.  
Highly developed tact and discretion and the ability to adhere rigorously to and ensure adherence 
by team members and adjudicators to set rules of conduct ensuring confidentiality, impartiality and an absence of conflicts of interest.  
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 provide constructive feedback on ot hers' work product and draft texts; to persuade 
others through sound argumentation and advice while remaining flexible and open to different 
points of view and evolving approaches.  
Ability to work independently as well as cooperate with others in a diverse international setting as 
a leader or member of a team that works under se vere time pressure and resource constraints and 
must produce a coherent group product; to effectively direct or co-direct the work of a dispute settlement team and guide team members in carry ing out assignments by providing direction, 
advice, supervision, and constructive feedback, an d managing all aspects of the process including OFFICE(14)/62 
 
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time allocation and prioritization of tasks; and forge consensus with colleagues and among adjudicators. To develop and maintain professional working relationships, when necessary and as 
appropriate, with others both inside and outside the WTO, including representatives of Members. 
 Work Experience: 
 
At least eight years' relevant practical work experience as a lawyer, preferably including government, academic or private sector experien ce in national or international trade-related 
litigation. Experience working with others in teams to produce a coherent group product, and 
experience leading teams. For the positions in the Rules Division, experience in trade remedy investigations, and/or within judicial institutions or quasi-judicial agencies of Members is desirable. For positions at the Appellate Body Secretariat and the Legal Affairs Division, work experience with 
international or national courts or adjudicative bodies would be an asset. 
 Languages: 
 
Excellent command of written and spoken English including a demonstrated ability to write accurately, concisely, clearly and within tight de adlines. Additional knowledge of French and/or 
Spanish is desirable. For one of the positions in the Legal Affairs Division, an excellent command of 
written and spoken Spanish, at a native speaker level, is a requirement.  Additional Information: 
 
Unsuccessful candidates whose performance in the selection process nevertheless shows them to be suitable for a Dispute Settlement Lawyer position may be kept on a roster for up to 18 months, 
and may subsequently be called upon if and when the need arises for additional dispute settlement 
lawyers.  
Only applications from nationals of WTO Members will be accepted. 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
APPLICANTS WILL 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.