Legal Advisor

The team within which you will work, the Public International Law Division and Treaty Office is part of the Directorate of Legal Advice and Public International Law (DLAPIL). 

The Division assists the Secretary General in depositary functions for Council of Europe treaties, manages electronic databases on treaties and agreements, and provides legal advice on public international law, treaty law, EU law, and the Council of Europe’s legal instruments and bodies. 

It services the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI) and plays a key role in the Organisation’s work on accountability, notably in relation to the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The Division also ensures the secretariat of the Advisory Panel of Experts on Candidates for Election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights.

As a Legal Advisor, you will:

• Work with the Secretariat of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI) to provide support to the Committee and its Chair, including the preparation and organisation of its two annual plenary meetings;
• Provide legal support on institutional, procedural, and jurisdictional aspects of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Legal Aggression against Ukraine and related accountability mechanisms. This includes preparing and organising meetings, drafting background notes and legal briefings, and contributing to the establishment and functioning of a dedicated secretariat to support the tribunal process;
• Draft legal documents, memoranda, and correspondence as required;
• Assist colleagues in the Public International Law Division and Treaty Office in preparing legal studies, analyses, and opinions on issues of public international law, EU law, and matters related to the Council of Europe’s mission, activities, and legal instruments.

• Operational - Analysis and problem solving
• Operational - Drafting skills
• Operational - Concern for quality
• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation

• Professional and technical expertise:

• Extensive experience in legal analysis and researching legal matters as well as good knowledge of public international law or criminal law; 
• Ability to apply legal principles, concepts and policies for the review and examination of complex legal issues and documents; ability to interpret and apply legal instruments;
• Solid experience in legal research and drafting on accountability and international justice;
• Sound knowledge of current IT tools, including database systems.

• Operational - Creativity and innovation
• Interpersonal - Communication

• Professional and technical expertise:
  • Postgraduate studies (e.g., Master’s degree – 3^rd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area – or higher) in the field of public international law;
  • Experience with accountability mechanisms would be a strong asset.

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.

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.

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 are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at [email protected], 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 [email protected].