Paralegal / Depositary Assistant

About the role

The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization is looking for a Paralegal / Depositary Assistant to support the Legal Affairs Division. The incumbent will assist the Director‑General in depositary duties and provide paralegal support to dispute‑settlement panels and arbitration proceedings.

Key responsibilities

• Receive and conduct initial reviews of WTO instruments and handle Member inquiries.
• Research legal issues, attend meetings, take notes, and prepare treaty originals and certified copies.
• Prepare and update depositary notifications, templates, and UN registrations of instruments.
• Process delegate credentials and support tasks related to WTO Ministerial Conferences.
• Organise submissions and exhibits, draft factual summaries, and compile data in spreadsheets, charts and tables for dispute‑settlement panels.
• Prepare draft communications, summary records of internal meetings, and annexes to dispute‑settlement reports.
• Attend hearings, take notes, and prepare routine dispute‑settlement documents.

Required profile

• Relevant experience in legal or paralegal work, preferably within international trade or treaty administration.
• Familiarity with WTO legal instruments and dispute‑settlement procedures.
• Strong research, organisational, and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work under the supervision of senior legal staff and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

Required skills

What we offer

• Annual salary of CHF 76,551.
• Fixed‑term contract for two years with the possibility of extension.
• Opportunity to work in a high‑profile international organization and gain experience in WTO legal affairs.