Title of Assignment: Legal Expert

Name of unit/sector: Administrative Law Section in the Office of the Legal Counsel

Place of Assignment: WIPO Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland (Hybrid)

Expected duration of assignment: Six (6) months, with the possibility of an extension

1. Objective of the assignment

Under the immediate supervision of the Deputy Legal Counsel, and the overall supervision of the Legal Counsel, the Expert will advise and act on legal aspects of human resources matters, and on cases arising in the Organization’s administration of justice system.

The assignment is limited in duration.

2. Deliverables/services

a) Prepare draft submissions before the WIPO Appeal Board and the ILO Administrative Tribunal, on behalf of the Director General and the Organization, respectively;

b) Draft decisions and other communications in relation to legal challenges filed by staff concerning their terms of appointment and performance appraisals, workplace-related grievances, as well as disciplinary matters;

c) Provide legal advice to diverse internal stakeholders on issues related to WIPO’s human resources legal framework (Staff Regulations and Rules, HR Manual, Office Instructions or other administrative issuances), as well as on potentially litigious cases.

d) Review drafts and/or assist HRMD in the preparation or updating of human resources policies;

e) Perform other related duties as requested.

3. Reporting

The Consultant will report immediately to the Deputy Legal Counsel, Office of the Legal Counsel.

4. Profile

Education:

• University degree in law, preferably with a specialization in public international law or administrative law.

Experience:

• At least nine years of professional experience (or at least seven years with an advanced university degree in law) in a legal department of an international organization, a court or tribunal, and/or a law firm (essential).
• At least four years of experience in litigation gained at the domestic or international level (essential).
• Experience providing legal and policy advice (essential).
• Experience in the application and interpretation of the staff regulations and rules of intergovernmental organizations or of comparable administrative legislation (desirable).
• Knowledge of case law, practices and procedures applicable to UN common system organizations (desirable).

Skills:

• Communication and legal drafting skills (essential), including the ability to
  • Argue clearly and logically, and formulate legal opinions on complex questions, in written and oral form;
  • Present well-structured (legal) arguments, using clear and concise language
• Analytical skills, including the ability to properly assess and characterize facts, correctly identifying, applying and interpreting the relevant legal framework and case law (essential).
• Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research independently (essential).
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work under pressure and to respect deadlines (essential).
• Interpersonal skills with the ability to work well in a multicultural team (essential).
• Confident user of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint (essential).

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English
• Good knowledge of French.

5. Duration of contract and payment

Six (6) months, with the possibility of an extension.

The applicant shall provide an indication of their remuneration expectations in Swiss Francs (daily rate). The contract may be renewed upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds.