Legal Advisor - Litigation, administrative law and institutional matters

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