Title of Assignment: Legal Research Consultant
Name of unit/sector: WIPO Lex, WIPO Judicial Institute, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector
Place of Assignment: WIPO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
Expected places of travel (if applicable): None
Expected duration of assignment: 4 months, with possible extension
1. Background
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized UN agency, is the global forumย for intellectual property policy (IP), services, information, and cooperation.
The WIPO Judicial Institute provides online and offline platforms for the exchange of IP informationย and practices of common concern among national and regional judiciaries; supports Memberย States in strengthening the human and institutional capacities of the judiciary for IP adjudication;ย conducts and coordinates research and studies on judicial systems and decisions on IP; andย develops and maintains the WIPO Lex database.
The WIPO Lex database is the comprehensive, open and free global repository for over 20,000ย IP laws, treaties, judgments and judicial systems information. The WIPO Lex-Laws collectionย spans some 200 jurisdictions and 20 subject matters, while the WIPO Lex-Judgments collectionย contains some 1,700 notable IP judicial decisions designated by relevant authorities from 46ย participating jurisdictions. WIPO Lex-Treaties includes the 28 WIPO treaties and relatedย materials, as well as some 200 other IP treaties.
The position is located within WIPO Lex and focused on the Laws collection.
2. Objective of the assignment
The objective of this assignment is to significantly reduce the number of existing legislative entriesย pending review in the WIPO Lex database. This will be achieved through efficient and accurateย legal research, data entry, quality control, and collaboration with the existing team.
The Legal Research Consultant will also provide suggestions and implement approved strategiesย to accelerate the reduction of review backlog. The Legal Research Consultant will contribute toย ensuring that the database remains a comprehensive and up-to-date resource for legalย professionals and the public. The project will ensure the accurate recording and classification ofย Laws into the database in line with the appropriate procedures.
3. Deliverables
(a) Legislative review and quality control: Process a minimum of 60 legislative records perย month, through a combination of primary or quality control review of database entries withinย the context of established work processes, in accordance with direction by the Head of theย WIPO Lex Section.
(b) Backlog project management: Provide assessment of legislative entry backlog andย propose strategies for effective reduction of pending entries for review, both as stand-aloneย activities and within the broader processing workflow of the WIPO Lex section. Manageย approved tasks and projects under the backlog project umbrella.
(c) Documentation and reporting: Maintain accurate records of processed entries, challengesย encountered, and solutions implemented. Develop and maintain standard operatingย procedures (SOPs) for processing tasks.
4. Reporting
The Legal Research Consultant will report directly to the Head of WIPO Lex. Weekly reports willย be submitted detailing the number of entries processed, challenges encountered, solutionsย implemented, as well as progress on assigned projects and tasks. Regular meetings will be heldย with the supervisor to discuss progress, address any issues, and receive guidance.
5. Profile
a) Education:
โข University degree in law, including studies in intellectual property law.
b) Experience:
โข At least 2 years of relevant professional experience, including experience in intellectualย property law in a law firm and/or department or agency.
โข At least 2 years working with legal databases and information management systems.
c) Languages:
โข Excellent (written and spoken) knowledge of English.ย
โข Working level use of other UN official languages would be considered an advantage.
d) Specific skills and competencies:
โข Broad understanding of intellectual property law.
โข Excellent understanding of the legislative process generally.
โข Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
โข Excellent written and oral communications skills.
โข Excellent time management and organizational skills.
โข Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
โข Flexibility and team spirit. Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
6. Duration of contract and payment
โข The contract will be for a period of 4 months with the possibility of extension based onย performance and the availability of funding.
โข Applicants are requested to provide an indication of their remuneration expectations inย Swiss francs (daily rate).
โข Payment will be made on a monthly basis, upon submission of satisfactory progressย reports and approval by the supervisor.