Legal Officer

The Legal Officer provides high-quality legislative and policy advice to Member States in the fields of patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuit layout designs. The role involves legal analysis, legislative assistance, outreach, and capacity-building to support the development of robust intellectual property systems.

Responsibilities

• Review, revise and provide legal and policy advice on legislative provisions, draft legislation, other legislative instruments, and policy documents submitted by Member States, and prepare such documents at the request of Member States in the fields of patents, utility models, trade secrets and integrated circuit layout designs.
• Conduct comprehensive legal, policy and comparative research on selected topics of substantive patent law, and prepare advisory papers, policy briefs and legislative drafting aids that are accurate, analytically robust and fit for their intended legislative and policy purposes.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of LPAS's legislative advice procedures and methodology, including the preparation and maintenance of templates, checklists and tools to support the delivery of legislative assistance.
• Promote PTLD's legislative assistance services by proactively engaging with Member States, identifying opportunities for legislative and policy support, and, as appropriate, conducting in-person and virtual consultations, seminars, workshops and other outreach and capacity-building activities.
• Contribute to a culture of delivering high-quality, customer-focused legislative and policy advisory services by understanding the evolving needs of Member States, being proactive and responsive to those needs, and identifying and addressing issues in a timely manner.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Requirements

• First-level university degree in law.
• Specialization in patent law (desirable).
• At least six years of relevant professional experience in patent law, including experience in at least one of the following: policy design, law-making, legislative drafting, prosecution or litigation, and transactional work.
• Professional experience in trade law and/or the law of treaties (desirable).
• Research or practical experience with emerging topics in IP policy such as AI, public health or economic development (desirable).
• Familiarity with IP office procedures relating to patent examination and oppositions (desirable).
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Good knowledge of either Arabic or Russian or Portuguese and knowledge of other UN official languages (desirable).
• 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.
• Proficiency in digital tools, AI-enabled applications, and online collaboration platforms.
• Commitment to continuous learning and the adoption of emerging technologies.
• Ability to instill a customer-focused culture.

Skills

• Patent Law
• Legislative Drafting
• Legal Research
• Policy Design
• Litigation
• Transactional Law
• Trade Law Research
• Law of Treaties
• IP Policy Analysis
• Patent Examination Procedures
• Opposition Procedures
• Legal Text Drafting
• International Treaties
• Legal Analysis
• Time Management
• Digital Tools Proficiency
• AI-enabled Applications
• Online Collaboration Platforms
• Capacity Building
• Stakeholder Engagement

Languages

English, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese