Legal Advisor on Social Rights

Eurimages - Council of Europe; Strasbourg; Sur place; EUR 60 000 - 80 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

An international organisation in Strasbourg is seeking a Legal Advisor to support the European Committee of Social Rights. The role involves conducting legal research related to the European Social Charter, drafting conclusions, and engaging with national authorities. Candidates must have a relevant legal degree and a minimum of 3 years of professional experience in human rights law. Proficiency in English and French is required, and the position is for a secondment without allowances.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in law or human rights.
• Very good knowledge of English or French and a good knowledge of the other.
• Must be a citizen of one of the member States of the Council of Europe.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on national law related to the European Social Charter.
• Prepare draft conclusions based on state reports.
• Support the European Committee of Social Rights in monitoring compliance.

Connaissances

Operational Planning and Work Organisation

Analysis and Problem Solving

Drafting Skills

Teamwork and Co-operation

Knowledge of International Human Rights Law

Formation

Higher education degree in law or a related field

Description du poste

General Information

Vacancy number: 1074/2025
Recruitment type: Secondment
Posted date: 24-Oct-2025
Deadline to apply: 30-Nov-2025
Duty station: Strasbourg
Entity: Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI)

Description & Requirements

Your Team

The team within which you will work, the Reporting and Collective Complaints Divisions within the Department of Social Rights, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, supports the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), in particular by conducting legal analysis and preparing conclusions under the reporting procedure and decisions in the collective complaints procedure. The team also ensures that monitoring findings follow-up work is carried out liaising with relevant stakeholders. Finally, the team also contributes to the implementation of Council of Europe Fourth Summit follow-up action in the social justice related field.

Your Role

As a Legal Advisor, You Will

• carry out research on national law and practice related to rights guaranteed by the European Social Charter and prepare draft conclusions based on state reports under the reporting procedure, draft decisions in the context of the collective complaints procedure and/or any other draft text to be adopted by the ECSR;
• in dialogue with competent national authorities, prepare draft documents in the follow-up procedures to reporting conclusions and/or decisions in collective complaints;
• participate in country-specific enhanced-dialogue activities to identify and promote solutions to problematic issues related to the implementation of Charter rights;
• carry out research and draft concept papers or factsheets about critical pan European social rights issues and/or relevant European Committee of Social Rights case-law;
• organise and/or participate in meetings and other activities, including awareness raising, capacity building, and the dissemination of standards and best practices to promote the implementation of social rights;
• contribute to the performance of other specific tasks of the Department.

Requirements to apply

You Must

• have the support of the member State seconding you to the Council of Europe;
• 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 or a related field;
• have at least 3 years of relevant professional experience acquired in the practice of law, whether in the exercise of judicial functions, or of policy drafting, monitoring or implementation in the fields of human rights or social rights or social policies;
• have very good knowledge of one of the two official languages of the Council of Europe (English or French) and a good knowledge of the other (French or English);
• be a citizen of one of the member States of the Council of Europe.

Key competencies

• Operational – Planning and work organisation
• Operational – Analysis and problem solving
• Operational – Drafting skills
• Interpersonal – Teamwork and co-operation
• Professional and technical expertise: knowledge of international human rights law, in particular social rights, including knowledge of the European Social Charter system and the European Committee of Social Rights case-law;
• Professional and technical expertise: experience in human rights research and monitoring;
• Professional and technical expertise: awareness of the international political, economic, social and cultural context.

Desirable competencies

• Managerial – Vision and Strategic Insight
• Interpersonal – Negotiating
• Interpersonal – Communication
• Professional and technical expertise: fluency in both Council of Europe languages would be a plus;
• Professional and technical expertise: previous professional experience in an international environment.

What we offer

This vacancy is for a secondment, ruled by Article 23 of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/Res(2012)2. You can consult the conditions of secondment to the Council of Europe (days of leave, allowances etc.) on the webpage What we offer. This secondment does not foresee any allowances or travel expenses from the Organisation. This secondment should start as soon as possible.

Applications and selection procedure

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page Our recruitment process of our Career's website. The deadline for applications is indicated in the General information section of this vacancy notice (see above) and is fixed at 23:59:59 (CET/CEST). Only applicants who meet the conditions of the Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/Res(2012)2) and who best meet the abovementioned criteria will be considered for selection and for the next stage.

Important information

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. Under its equal opportunity policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve gender parity in staff employed in each category and grade. At the time of appointment, preference between suitable people shall be given to the person of the gender which is under-represented in the relevant grades within the category to which the vacancy belongs.

Applicants with specific needs

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at [e-mail], we will ensure that your request is handled.

The information published on the CoE’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication of the vacancy notice. Any changes to these conditions during the recruitment process will be updated on our Portal and will apply at the time of the job offer. Our career's website is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Should you have remaining questions, please contact us at [e-mail].