Vacancy Notice N° e25/2010
Competition for the recruitment of lawyers (Grade A1/A2)
Office Wide


Closing date: 27 April 2010
Location :

Job mission

Duty stations: Strasbourg (or any other duty station)

 The Council of Europe is recruiting lawyers to start-of-career posts (grade A1/A2) in the following fields:
Profile A :        Lawyers :  Public international law
Profile B :        Lawyers : European Convention on Human Rights

Addendum: Please select one profile only.

PROFILE A:   LAWYERS: PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

Job mission

To carry out legal analysis, provide legal advice, draft legal texts and monitor developments of public international law in areas relevant to the work of the Council of Europe, supervise and ensure implementation of Council of Europe activities, ensure Secretariat services and/ or technical co-operation activities, participate in and organise events, in accordance with the Council of Europe’s values and procedures.

PROFILE B:   LAWYERS: THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Job mission

To manage case-files at the European Court of Human Rights,  to ensure the execution of the European Court of Human Rights’ judgments or other missions in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, the Court’s or the Council’s procedures and the Council of Europe’s values.

 

Key activities

PROFILE A:   LAWYERS: PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

The incumbent performs all or a combination of the following duties:
-       provides legal support and advice with respect to internal administrative matters;
-       provides Secretariat services to different internal committees;
-       provides Secretariat services to intergovernmental committees, parliamentary commissions, committees and working groups in the field of public international law;
-       organises and participates in meetings, conferences, seminars or visits in the field;
-       follows and keeps abreast of relevant legal issues in own field of competence;
-       ensures the quality of legal texts and the conformity between linguistic versions in the official languages;
-       assists in the exercise of the functions of depositary with respect to Council of Europe’s legal instruments.
-       elaborates legal studies and analyses necessary to prepare legal opinions; monitors relevant developments;
-       drafts reviews and assists in the preparation of legal instruments (e.g. treaties, recommendations, internal regulations, agreements, contracts);
-       drafts documents such as minutes, reports and decisions;
-       provides legal opinions, including on politically sensitive issues;
-       examines and deals with legal requests;
-       drafts and reviews contracts between the Organisation and external actors;
-       undertakes studies and research;
-       coaches and motivates own team; allocates responsibilities; sets objectives; motivates and evaluates performance; fosters co-operation, team spirit and a harmonious working environment with a view to increasing efficiency;
-       reports on the progress of activities, results achieved, on further requirements, risks and opportunities of developments or events;
-       ensures the dissemination of information to all those concerned;
-       establishes and maintains internal and external contacts with relevant commissions, committees, professional associations and national and international organisations, institutions and authorities;
-       represents the Council of Europe in meetings and conferences;
-       undertakes official journeys and/or participates in field missions in connection with activities;
-        promotes Council of Europe values internally and externally.

PROFILE B:   LAWYERS: THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

The incumbent performs all or a combination of the following duties:
At the European Court of Human Rights:
§         manages a certain number of case-files in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Court’s procedures:
-          examines and deals with applications lodged with the Court in accordance with the general time-limits, internal guidelines and specific country-management meetings instructions;
-          maintains correspondence with the applicants and, where appropriate, with Governments and third parties;
-          advises applicants in correspondence or, if necessary, in interviews, on the conditions of admissibility of applications to the Court;
-          prepares case-files for the examination by the Judge-rapporteur and for submission to the Court;
-          ensures legal analysis;
-          attends the Court's sessions and presents cases;
-          drafts judgments, decisions, minutes, reports, notes and other documents;
-          undertakes studies and research relating to the case-law of the ECHR and national law, including constitutional law;
-          analyses and distributes information concerning the Court’s case-law;
-          ensures training of junior and assistant lawyers and, if need be, checks their draft reports;
-          represents the Council of Europe in meetings and conferences;
-          undertakes official journeys and/or participates in field missions in connection with activities;
-          promotes Council of Europe values internally and externally.
At the Execution Department of the Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs:
·         examines and deals with cases submitted to the Committee of Ministers with a view to identifying the execution measures to be taken in order to prevent new, similar violations and in order to give full effect to the applicant’s rights, in accordance with the time-limits, internal principles and specific instructions relating to the Committee of Ministers Human Rights meetings;
-          prepares the necessary documentation for the Ministers Deputies’ Human Rights meetings according to Rules, in particular notes on the draft annotated agenda, memoranda, briefing notes, summaries of proceedings, draft resolutions and decisions;
-          deals with correspondence with the authorities of respondent States, the applicant or other parties, and co-operates with different bodies concerned (particularly with Permanent Representations);
-          participates in the relevant Committee of Ministers’ meetings and ensures the follow up of cases in accordance with the decisions taken;
-          prepares information documents, summaries, studies and reports for the attention of the Director General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, the Director of the Directorate of Monitoring and the Head of the Department;
-          actively contributes to the achievement of other specific tasks entrusted to the Department.
-          represents the Council of Europe in meetings and conferences;
-          undertakes official journeys and/or participates in field missions in connection with activities;
-          promotes Council of Europe values internally and externally.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Employee Core Values

Competencies

PROFILE A:   LAWYERS: PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW
Eligibility criteria
Only applicants who meet all these criteria will be considered in the preliminary selection:
  1. National of one of the member states of the Council of Europe specified above.
  2. Being under 65 years old.
  3. Completed university degree in law equivalent to a masters degree (2nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area).
  4. Minimum one year of relevant work experience at an appropriate level in the field public international law; part of the work experience required may be compensated by higher education if a candidate has a 3rd cycle degree in a relevant field.
  5. Thorough knowledge of public international law related to one or more of the Council of Europe’s fields of activity.
  6. Knowledge of one of the official languages of the Council of Europe (English or French) at level C1 at least, knowledge of the other language at level B2 (reading and listening) and B1 (spoken and written production) at least.
PROFILE B:   LAWYERS: THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Eligibility criteria
Only applicants who meet all these criteria will be considered in the preliminary selection:
  1. National of one of the member states of the Council of Europe specified above.
  2. Being under 65 years old.
  3. Completed university degree in law equivalent to a masters degree (2nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area) from one of the countries for which this competition is open.
  4. Minimum one year of relevant work experience at an appropriate level acquired in the legal field (preferably in the judicial service) in own country or in international Organisations; part of the work experience required may be compensated by higher education if a candidate has a 3rd cycle degree in a relevant field;
  5. Thorough knowledge of own country’s legal system and ability to handle cases arising in other jurisdictions; knowledge of constitutional and international law.
  6. Knowledge of one of the official languages of the Council of Europe (English or French) at level C1 at least, knowledge of the other language at level B2 (reading and listening) and B1 (spoken and written production) at least. Knowledge of the official language(s) of the relevant member state at mother tongue level.
Competencies required for both profiles
·         Personal values: integrity, loyalty and conscience, discretion, independence and confidence, respect for diversity.
·         Vision on international affairs: awareness of the international political, economic, social, and cultural context; organisational awareness.
·         Managerial skills: management of programmes and coaching of others.
·         Interpersonal skills: service and client orientation, team working, relationship building and networking, advising, negotiating and diplomacy
·         Communication and linguistic skills: communication, writing and presentation skills; can express oneself, present and draft clearly, concisely and convincingly in English or French knowledge of other European languages would be an advantage.
·         ICT skills: can use current ICT tools, including management software;

·         Personal attitudes: initiative and responsibility, result orientation and sense for continuous improvement, concern for quality and efficiency, adaptability, self-management and development, organisational alignment. 

Additional information

The Organisation
The Council of Europe is a political organisation founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members. It now numbers 47 member States.  The Organisation’s main aims are to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to develop common responses to political, social, cultural and legal challenges in its member States.  Since 1989 it has integrated most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and supported them in their efforts to implement and consolidate their reforms. The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France).  By Statute, it has two constituent organs: the Committee of Ministers, composed of the member States’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs, and the Parliamentary Assembly, comprising delegations from the national parliaments.  The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe represents the entities of local and regional self-government within the member States. The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body competent to adjudicate complaints brought against a state by individuals, associations or other contracting states on grounds of violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Applications
Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system.  By connecting to our website http://www.coe-recruitment.com you can create and submit your on-line application.  Applications must be submitted by 27 April 2010 (midnight Central European Time) at the latest.
Additional Information
The recruitment procedure consists of three stages: preliminary selection, written examination and interview with the Appointments Board (external recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Article 15 of the Regulations on Appointments).
Depending on the number of applicants, the Appointments Board reserves the right to raise the length of the required professional experience.
Following this competition, a reserve list of successful candidates, in order of merit, will be drawn up.  It will be notified to the applicants concerned.  This list will be valid for two years with the possibility of extending it to a maximum of four years. It should be noted that placement on a reserve list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe.  Moreover, the choice of candidates from a reserve list is not made solely according to the order of merit.
During the period of validity of the reserve list, candidates on the list may be offered employment of indefinite or fixed-term duration. The total length of employment under fixed-term contracts will not exceed five years.
Appointments will be made at grade A1 or A2, depending on the professional experience of the candidate. The first two years of employment will constitute a probationary period. The compulsory retirement age is 65.
Details on conditions of employment in Strasbourg, including salaries, allowances, pension scheme and social insurance can be consulted on our recruitment website. For employment in other duty stations, the salary scale for the relevant country will apply. Details can be found here.
The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.
During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities.
Under its equal opportunities policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve parity in the number of women and men employed in each category and grade. In the event of equal merit, preference will therefore be given to the applicant belonging to the under-represented sex (at the time of the Appointments Board making its recommendation).