Legal Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

a.        Organizational Setting

The position is in the Legislative, Policy and Technology Advice Section of the Patent and Technology Law Division, Patents and Technology Sector. The Division is responsible for the implementation of WIPO's strategic goal concerning the balanced evolution of the international normative framework for intellectual property in the area of patents and related fields, such as utility models and the protection of undisclosed information. The Section is responsible for providing legislative and policy assistance to Member States in the design and implementation of balanced legislative, regulatory, and policy frameworks in the aforementioned fields of IP.

b.        Purpose Statement

The main role of the incumbent is to conduct legal research and consultations in different areas of substantive patent law with the aim of providing legislative and policy advice to Member States. The assistance provided also covers utility models, trade secrets, and integrated circuit layout designs. The role includes reviewing legislative drafts and providing draft provisions or recommendations on policy options to requesting Member States. The role further includes contributing to the ongoing revision and implementation of the section's revised methodology of legislative and policy advice provision.

c.        Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the supervision of the Head of the Section.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Review and draft legislative provisions, draft bills, policies or other documents submitted to the Secretariat or requested by interested countries in the field of patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuit layout designs.

b.  Conduct research with the aim of drawing up advisory papers and legislative drafting aids on selected topics of substantive patent law.

c.  Contribute to the documentation, revision and implementation of legislative advice methodology, including the preparation of templates, checklists and toolkits for facilitating the provision of legislative assistance.

d.  Undertake visits to Member States or organize virtual meetings, as appropriate, to hold formal consultations with government officials, policymakers, legislative draftspersons and other relevant stakeholders in the framework of legislative assistance.

e.  Organize, conduct and/or participate as a speaker in seminars and workshops held by the Secretariat or other IGOs or NGOs.

f.   Foster a culture of providing high quality customer-focused services by identifying varying customer needs, recommending best practices which can improve customer interactions and, proactively addressing potential issues before they impact the customer experience.

g.  Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in law.

Education (Desirable)

Specialization in patent law.

Experience (Essential)

At least six years of relevant professional experience in patent law, including experience in at least one of the following in the field of patents\: policy design, law-making, legislative drafting, prosecution or litigation, and transactional work.

Experience (Desirable)

Professional experience in trade law and/or the law of treaties. Research or practical experience with emerging topics in IP policy (such as AI, public health or economic development).

Familiarity with IP office procedures relating to patent examination and oppositions.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Good knowledge of either French, Arabic or Spanish and knowledge of other UN official languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Ability to draft complex legal texts.

Ability to conduct comprehensive legal research independently.

Excellent analytical skills.

Good knowledge of legal and policy issues of patent law and the respective international treaties.

Ability to communicate complex legal subject matter to a diverse audience.

Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 

Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and the ability to adapt to new technologies quickly.

Ability to instill a customer-focused culture.

1.    Communicating effectively.

2.    Showing team spirit.

3.    Demonstrating integrity.

4.    Valuing diversity.

5.    Producing results.

6.    Showing service orientation.

7.    Seeing the big picture.

8.    Seeking change and innovation.

9.    Developing yourself and others.

Mobility:  WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization.  Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment.  Please note that this estimate is for information only.  The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice.  The figures quoted below are based on the October 2024 rate of 95.3%

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable, subject to satisfactory performance.  No fixed-term appointment or any extension hereof shall carry with it any expectancy of, nor imply any right to, (further) extensions or conversion to a permanent appointment.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

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By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link\: http\://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.  Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.