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Law
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Law profiles
Videos
To find out more watch the video from some of the officials who work with us in this area: Agnis (European Commission Secretariat-General), Silvija (European Commission DG ENV) and Simonetta (Council of the European Union).
Lawyer (AD)
EU institutions deliver legislation which affects the lives of 500 million people in 27 EU countries.
Lawyers in the institutions work with colleagues of many different nationalities to:
- develop a wide range of legislation
- draft policy documents
- coordinate with EU national authorities to improve national legislation
- conduct in-depth research and analysis
- provide legal counsel to senior management
- implement programmes of activity
- supervise and assist colleagues
Qualifications (indicative)
You must have:
- a good command of at least 2 European languages (one of which must be English, French or German)
- a law degree (or be graduating this year) for entry at Grade AD 5
- several years’ relevant experience, to join us at a more senior level (Grade AD 7).
Selection procedure
After you have applied online, we will invite you to take a multiple-choice test of your verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning and situational judgment.
If you pass, you will be invited to an assessment centre in Brussels where we can meet you and find out more about your skills in:
- analysis and problem-solving
- communication
- delivery quality and results
- learning and development skills
- prioritising and organising
- resilience
- working with others
- leadership.
These will be assessed on the basis of case studies, group exercises, oral presentations and structured interviews.
More on the selection procedure: Permanent contracts
Lawyer-linguist (AD 7)
EU lawyer-linguists have a vital role in lawmaking, ensuring that all new legislation has the same meaning in every European language.
The job requires capable lawyers with outstanding linguistic abilities, who are experienced in drafting or translating, checking or revising legal texts. Lawyer-linguists must be able to discern precisely what EU legislation is intended to convey, and faithfully reflect that intention in their own native language.
Qualifications (indicative)
You must have:
- perfect command of one European language and a thorough command of at least 2 others
- a law degree
Previous experience of translating legal texts and additional languages are an asset.
Selection procedure (indicative)
After you have applied online and if your application fits the profile, we will invite you to take a computer-based preliminary translation test.
If you pass, you will be invited to an assessment centre in Luxembourg where we can meet you and find out more about your translation skills, legal and language knowledge and your general competencies in:
- analysis and problem-solving
- communication
- delivery quality and results
- learning and development skills
- prioritising and organising
- resilience
- working with others
- leadership.
These will be assessed on the basis of translation tests, group exercises, oral presentations and structured interviews. Your verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning skills will also be tested.
More on the selection procedure: Permanent contracts
See also the website of the Court of Justice for temporary contract opportunities: http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/Jo2_10298/postes-vacants
