Talent Pool for Lawyers

EPO - European Patent Office

The Hague, Netherlands

In anticipation of exciting future opportunities in different fields of law across our organisation, we are launching a talent pool for lawyers.

Are you a legal enthusiast with a talent for challenges on an international level? If so, why not apply to join us and contribute towards shaping the legal landscape in a dynamic and engaging environment. As a lawyer at the EPO you will play a key role in providing first-class legal support and guidance to decision makers.

We are looking for lawyers who have an agile mindset, are committed to their own professional development and who are open to the challenge of working in new and different legal fields.

We anticipate future opportunities in the following areas (more information on these areas can be found here):

Principal Directorate Employment Law and Social Dialogue Advice;
Appeals Committee Secretariat;
Data Protection Office;
Principal Directorate Legal Affairs;
Principal Directorate Patent Law and Procedures.

With us you will:

provide legal support, advice and expertise on the relevant field of law;
contribute to the development of the EPO's legal framework and the European and international patent system;
conduct legal analyses, draft legal opinions and take legally binding decisions, where needed;
advise senior management on new policies and projects;
assist in the management of legal risks to the EPO;
draft legal agreements and provide legal advice in the context of their negotiation, as well as their implementation;
represent the EPO in meetings with both internal and external stakeholders;
deliver presentations, training and workshops on legal matters;
serve on advisory bodies and participate in working groups;
attend hearings and internal discussions.

Apply if you have:

a master's degree in law or equivalent professional experience;
experience in at least one of the following legal areas, preferably more: administrative international law, private law (including employment and contract law), national public law including construction and tax law, public procurement law, IT law, European and international patent law, EPC and PCT procedures, international public law, EU law, data protection law or privacy law, legal tech solutions;
an agile mindset and the ability to quickly understand and deal with new legal topics;
the ability to understand legal issues in their wider context, including political and legislative processes;
strong legal analysis and advisory skills;
experience in drafting legal documents and legislation;
excellent communication skills;
proactivity, excellent organisational skills and commitment to achieving results within set deadlines;
strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach;
fluency in English, with proficiency in French or German an advantage.

Our minimum requirements for this post:

Diploma of completed studies at master's level or - in exceptional cases - equivalent professional experience;
Generally, an excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French and German) and ability to understand the other two; alternatively, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of at least one official language (in such cases, the willingness to learn the missing language(s) and to reach level B2 within a set time frame would be required);
Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation.

Process:

Please upload your updated CV and outline your motivation in the designated application field (character limit 4000). If you wish, you can also upload your motivation letter as a Word or pdf attachment under "Application document" in SuccessFactors. In this case, please indicate that you have done so in the designated field (by selecting "Please refer to attached motivation letter").

The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications and relevant experience, supplemented as appropriate by interviews, tests and/or a personality questionnaire, with the aim of constituting a reserve list (24 months).

You can find out more about how we recruit on the EPO jobs and careers site.

Key information:

Job group: 4
Grade: G7 to G10 (net (basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy: EUR 5 901 to 9 620, depending on experience and location)
Duration of appointment: Five years, with the possibility of extension
Career path: Technical
Location: Office-wide
Application deadline: 31 May 2024
Interviews planned for: June 2024

* after deduction of EPO-internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social security and pension schemes.

We welcome all applications for vacant positions. We consider each on its professional merits - regardless of your nationality, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, parental responsibilities, age, religion or belief.

Apply Now

Don't forget to mention EuroBrussels when applying.

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