Paralegal

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), part of the World Bank Group, seeks two paralegals to support its legal teams. The role involves drafting, proofreading, case management, coordination of submissions, research, and logistical support for hearings, requiring fluency in English and either French or Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Draft, format, proofread and finalize case-related correspondence in English and in French or Spanish, ensuring that the correct documents are attached.
• Prepare draft documents in cases in English, as well as in French or Spanish, for review by the Chief Counsel/Team Leader and legal counsel.
• File submissions and other case-related documents in ICSID’s document management system in accordance with ICSID’s information management standards and procedures.
• Coordinate and oversee parties’ submissions as uploaded to ICSID’s external file sharing site and provide technical assistance to parties and arbitrators as needed.
• Acknowledge receipt of parties’ submissions and review for completeness.
• Track and maintain case procedural details and milestones up to date in ICSID’s case tracking systems and external website.
• Create and maintain calendars of events (i.e., pending actions and deadlines) for each case and the team.
• Coordinate and oversee publication of case materials.
• Conduct research on assigned issues using existing case files and alternative sources (e.g., the internet, online portals, or other databases), analyze information, and summarize findings.
• Prepare budget estimates for cases to ensure sufficient funds in the case escrow accounts.
• Prepare letters to parties requesting advances on costs and assist counsel in monitoring the financial position of case escrow accounts.
• Coordinate with the Secretariat’s Administration and Finance Team on the closure of case escrow accounts at the end of each case and on fund balance refunds when appropriate.
• Assist with presentations and other materials for conferences and official meetings.
• Provide formatting (e.g., headings, tables of contents, footnotes), proofreading, editing, and cite-checking assistance with awards and decisions and other documents, ensuring consistency throughout.
• Prepare translations of case correspondence and other legal documents.
• Coordinate and review the translation of awards, decisions, and other documents.
• Assist with the logistical arrangements for remote and in-person hearings in Washington, D.C., and abroad by preparing lists of participants and travel certificates and assembling all hearing-related documents, among other things.
• Support the Secretariat’s Hearings Organizer and Assistants.
• Share miscellaneous responsibilities with Legal Assistants and undertake other ad hoc duties that the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and Chief Counsel/Team Leader may assign.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree, Paralegal certificate, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of relevant paralegal or legal experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and in French or Spanish.
• Ability to draft correspondence and edit materials in these languages using proper grammar, punctuation, and style.
• Knowledge of arbitration procedures is desirable.
• Sound organizational skills and ability to prioritize and deliver assignments promptly in a timely manner, with minimal supervision and often under severe time pressures.
• Knowledge of legal processes, procedures and terminology for reviewing, examining, preparing and processing legal documents.
• Ability to research, analyze, and synthesize legal and other information and present results clearly and concisely.
• Legal document drafting skills and experience preparing basic case-specific budget proposals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively in a team.
• Ability to assist team members by performing multiple, concurrent, and progressively more challenging assignments.
• Fully proficient in computer skills, particularly in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and in using information databases, internet/intranet services, and library sources.
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with videoconferencing platforms (e.g., Zoom, Cisco Webex, and MS Teams).
• Tact and discretion in dealing with senior officials and staff at all levels.
• Ability to adapt effectively to shifting work demands and institutional directives in a rapidly changing work environment.
• Sense of responsibility, integrity, flexibility, and positive attitude.

Skills

• Paralegal Work
• Legal Document Drafting
• Arbitration Procedures
• Legal Research
• Legal Terminology
• Case Management
• Budget Preparation
• Drafting Correspondence
• Editing and Proofreading
• MS Word
• Excel
• Power Point
• Information Database Use
• Internet Research
• Conferencing Platforms
• Zoom
• Webex
• MS Teams
• Organizational Skills
• Prioritization
• Bilingual Communication

Languages

English, French, Spanish