OFFICE(12)/19 
12-2206 
 
 
The recruitment policy of the WTO is to seek to attract and retain staff members 
offering the highest standards of comp etence, efficiency and integrity. 
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, the WTO gives full regard to merit and diversity. 
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Vacancy Notice No.:   EXT/F/12-07 Issued On:   25 April 2012 
 
Title:   Paralegal Application Deadline (CET):   23 May 2012 
 
Grade:   6 
 Division:   Legal Affairs Division 
(270) 
Contract Type:   Fixed-term 
 
Starting Salary:   CHF 79,400 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 a ttractive 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 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 a position of Paralegal in the Legal Affairs 
Division.  Serving staff members interested in  the position are also invited to apply. 
 
 
General Functions  
 
The main role of the Paralegal is to assist WT O lawyers with dispute settlement activities.  The 
Paralegal may also be required to assist lawyers with outreach or training activities, in supporting 
negotiations, in preparing legal opinions for the Di rector-General's Office and other WTO Divisions, 
in preparing legal publications, and with other activiti es to be determined by the Director of the Legal 
Affairs Division (LAD). 
 Under the supervision of the Director and other staff in the Division, the incumbent will undertake 
some or all of the following functions.  
1. A range of duties as determined by WTO la wyers leading dispute settlement teams, which 
may include managing and organising informati on in submissions and exhibits, accurately 
summarising complex and voluminous facts and data, preparing summaries of internal meetings with 
panellists/arbitrators, drafting summaries of par ties' arguments, conducting basic research, compiling OFFICE(12)/19 
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  information including developing spreadsheets and charts, preparing PowerPoint presentations and 
other materials, and attending hearings.  2. Organize and maintain working files for dispute settlement teams as well as 
panellists/arbitrators;  create and organize b ackground files and compile appropriate reference 
materials for panel/arbitration meetings;  liaise with  the Dispute Settlement Registrar to ensure the 
registry file (electronic and hard copies) for the particular dispute is up to date and complete;  
 3. Draft routine dispute settlement documents  following established precedents and guidelines; 
verify quotations, legal references  and footnote citations in issu es papers, draft reports, and other 
internal documents;  accurately compile annexes to  dispute settlement reports;  collaborate with the 
Legal Editor in ensuring that dispute settlement  documents conform to the LAD/Rules Division 
Editorial Guide and the WTO Formatting Guide.  4. Develop and maintain good knowledge of the WTO Understa nding on Rules and Procedures 
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), as we ll as an excellent knowledge of the LAD/Rules 
Divisions Editorial Guide, the WTO Formatting Guide, the LAD/Rules Di visions DeskBook, and 
other sources and tools used in WTO dispute settlement.  5. Prepare documents and compile information fo r lawyers assisting chairs of negotiating groups 
or working groups;  maintain working files for negotiation sessions as required. 
  
6. Conduct basic research in support of the prep aration of legal opinions, speeches and other 
presentations;  verify quotations, legal references and footnote citations in legal opinions; prepare 
Excel spreadsheets and charts, PowerPoint presentati ons, and other materials in connection with the 
preparation of legal opinions, materials fo r technical assistance, and outreach activities. 
 
7. Assist with updating legal publications in cluding by verifying information and data. 
  8. Support the work of the other members of the Division as well as panellists/arbitrators as 
requested by the Director of LAD.       
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 
 
Education: 
 In addition to completion of secondary school or eq uivalent technical or commercial school, formal 
training or proven expertise as a paralegal (or e quivalent) is required.  The formal training may 
include specialized paralegal education programm es or university studies undertaken in law.   
 
Knowledge and Skills: 
 Excellent organizational skills;  ability to plan e fficiently and manage multiple assignments according 
to schedule;  ability to exercise initiative and judgement;  ability to summarise often complex and 
voluminous information and documentation from vari ous sources;  very good English drafting skills 
with a keen eye for detail;  ability to draft rout ine legal texts in English following established 
precedents and guidelines;  ability to conduct basic research.  
 
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of inform ation;  to work within  strict deadlines and under 
pressure as well as to work successfully in a team;  to work independently at times;  excellent 
interpersonal skills.   OFFICE(12)/19 
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  General knowledge of the WTO;  basic knowle dge of WTO dispute settlement procedures. 
  Excellent knowledge of st andard office software applications (including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, 
Excel).  Work Experience: 
 
Candidates who have completed formal training as indicated in the "Education" section above are 
required to have a minimum of six years' experien ce working as a paralegal (or equivalent) in a law 
firm, government legal office, international dispute se ttlement office, domestic or international court, 
or equivalent.  
Other candidates are required to bring a minimum of eight years' experience working in a position requiring the performance of similar tasks described  in the "General Functions" section above, with 
increasing levels of responsibility, in a law firm , government legal office , international dispute 
settlement office, domestic or na tional court, or equivalent. 
  
Experience working with digital court registry sy stems would be an asset;  experience researching 
from and uploading information to elect ronic databases would be an asset.  
 
Languages: 
 Excellent command of English, including very good drafting skills;  good working knowledge of 
French and/or Spanish would be an asset.  
Additional Information: 
 The position may be offered at a lower grade if th e selected candidate does not fully meet all the 
required qualifications.  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 encour aged 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 on line as soon as possible after the vacancy has 
been posted and well before the closing date - Cent ral European Time (CET) - stated in the vacancy 
announcement. 
 OFFICE(12)/19 
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  Offline applications should be sent to: 
 
Director, Human Resources Division WTO Centre William Rappard 
154, rue de Lausanne 
CH-1211 Geneva 21 Switzerland 
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE 
CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED 
 
The WTO is a non-smoking environment.