Legal Advisor - Litigation, administrative law and institutional matters

Council of Europe; Strasbourg; Sur place; EUR 60 000 - 90 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

An international organization is seeking a Legal Advisor to join its Legal Advice and Litigation Department in Strasbourg. This role involves drafting responses to complaints, providing legal advice on internal frameworks, and reviewing legal instruments. Candidates should hold a master's degree in law, have at least four years of relevant experience, and possess very good English skills, with French as a preference. The position is contracted, at a mid-senior level, and applications close on January 5, 2026.

Qualifications

• Hold a master's degree in law permitting access to legal professions.
• At least four years of professional legal experience, preferably internationally.
• Very good knowledge of English and preferably French.

Responsabilités

• Draft legal responses to formal complaints and submissions.
• Provide legal advice on the Organisation's legal framework.
• Review draft legal instruments before adoption.
• Advise on privileges and immunities of the Organisation.
• Draft legal opinions and correspondence on various legal matters.

Connaissances

Legal research and writing

Interpretation of legal frameworks

Drafting legal documents

Advising on administrative law

Knowledge of international civil service law

Fluency in English

Fluency in French

Formation

Master's degree in law

Description du poste

Legal Advisor - Litigation, administrative law and institutional matters

Join to apply for the Legal Advisor - Litigation, administrative law and institutional matters role at Council of Europe

The Directorate of Legal Advice and Public International Law (DLAPIL) provides legal advice and assistance on all legal matters to the Organisation’s management, entities, institutions and organs. DLAPIL is looking to recruit a Legal Advisor to work in its Legal Advice and Litigation Department, Litigation Division, with a focus on litigation, international civil service law/administrative law, institutional law of the Organisation and privileges and immunities.

Your role:

• draft responses to formal complaints lodged by staff members and other entitled persons, as well as submissions before the Administrative Tribunal of the Council of Europe;
• provide legal advice on the interpretation and application of the Organisation’s internal legal framework, in particular with respect to the Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and other norms relating to the management of staff;
• review and provide legal advice on draft legal instruments before their adoption;
• provide legal advice on matters involving the privileges and immunities of the Organisation and its staff, and draft related Notes Verbales or other correspondence as required;
• draft legal opinions, observations, legal briefs, studies, correspondence, etc., on other legal matters affecting the Organisation, including those relating to the law of the host state.

Requirements to apply

You must:

• hold a higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a master’s degree (2nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area) in law permitting access to legal professions;
• have at least four years of professional experience acquired in legal matters relevant for this position, preferably in an international environment;
• have a very good knowledge of English and, preferably, also a very good knowledge of French.

You must also:

• be a citizen of one of the member states of the Council of Europe and fulfil the conditions for appointment to the civil service of that state;
• have discharged any obligation concerning national service (military, civil or comparable);
• not be the parent, child, stepchild or grandchild of a serving staff member of the Council of Europe;
• be under the age of 65 years.

Deadline to apply: 5 January 2026 (23:59:59 CEST/CET).

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Legal

Industries

• International Affairs